Hosted by the Anguilla Sailing Association and the Anguilla Tourist Board, the island is getting ready for its Sixth Annual Regatta, which will be held on May 9-11, 2008. The event supports the Anguilla Youth Sailing Club, a non-profit club that teaches local youngsters how to sail after school and during breaks.

The 2008 Regatta is expected to be the biggest and best attended to date. The majority of activities will take place in the secluded harbor of Road Bay, including the many parties at bars and restaurants on the beach. Many of the races will be run close to shore so observers can easily enjoy the sight of hotly competing racing boats under full sail.

The 2007 Regatta featured 28 boats contending in eleven races over the event weekend. Five classes of boats competed every day -- two spinnaker classes, non-spinnaker, open and multi-hull. In addition to races involving yachts and local boats, the Regatta also included three 12-meter challenges where local companies chartered designated boats and raced against each other for bragging rights and prizes.

There will be enjoyable free entertainment every evening of the event on the beach and in some of the Sandy Ground restaurants. Various local vendors will provide partiers with all kinds of barbecued delights and local dishes, and some hotels will offer special rates for the occasion.

Anguilla is an internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The capital city is The Valley. The territory has a population of approximately 13,500, according to a 2006 estimate. The island's name comes from the word for 'eel' in any of several Romance languages (ex: Spanish, French and Italian), probably because of its eel-like contours.

Dave Elliott is the owner of Caribbean Art and Prints, which carries gorgeous art prints of Anguilla, and other beautiful islands in the Caribbean.