 Welcome Harbor Cruise
The Pro Am kicks off with a welcoming harbor cruise. Tour North Sound at sundown with your fellow Pro Am enthusiasts, officials, skippers, and crew alike. It’s a great chance to meet the Pros, and find out the inside story on sailing in North Sound, all while sipping your favorite beverages, and sampling hors d'oeuvres. Naturally, the trash talking and posturing starts among the skippers. But more importantly, crews can figure out who they want to race with.
Sunday Awards PartyNormally, Bitter End’s weekly Sunday Regatta awards party takes place at the Watersports Center. During the Pro Am, we move it to the Pub, as the prizes are enhanced by the Scuttlebutt Sailing Club regatta’s preliminaries and qualifiers. The Sunday awards party also doubles as the information session for the following day’s Defiance Day Regatta (and yet another opportunity to size up the competition for the coming week).
 Defiance Day Mount Gay Awards Party (Monday)
Many consider this the first real party of the week. Why? Because this is where we roll out the famed Mount Gay Rum red hats. Sure, there are prizes for the races to and from the Baths to be distributed. But people primarily line up for a sampler of the latest offerings from Mount Gay, and for their red hat.
Traditional Weekly Guest Cocktail Party (Monday)Directly following the Mount Gay Party is Bitter End’s weekly Guests' Gathering at the Almond Walk. It is at this party that guests (pros and ams alike) have the chance to meet the staff of Bitter End Yacht Club in a social environment. Caribbean rhythms, open bar, and great eats are on offer!
 State of the Sport Seminar (Tuesday)
It’s hard to really call this informal gathering a seminar. But any time you gather great sailing minds like Paul Cayard, Ken Read, Anna Tunnicliffe, Zach Railey, and many others, excellent discourse follows. The Curmudgeon of Scuttlebutt, Tom Leweck, leads the round-table discussion. Guests fire the questions. This year, I suspect a lot of the focus may be on America's Cup 34 and the next Volvo Around the World Race. But it will also stray into the Olympics and other interesting topics.
West Indian Beach Barbecue and Limbo Jump-Up (Tuesday)Zach Railey may be an Olympic Medalist, but “how low can he go in the limbo?” People want to know! After a fantastic dinner of true West Indian treats: Jerk Chicken, Grilled Fish, Plantain Salad, and more, the Latitude Stars cranks up, and the fun begins.
 The Lay Day Excursion
With all the great sailing, one typically needs a little time off. So mid-week, a Lay Day is scheduled. One can chill out and shake off the previous night's cobwebs. Have a Spa treatment, take a kiteboarding lesson. Or head out for a little additional practice. Or better still, join skippers and other crew on a great excursion. This year, the trip goes to Anegada. Enjoy great snorkeling, beachcombing, and a fantastic lunch.
The Wine DinnerMuch as the Lay Day is a chance to chill out and forget about the racing, Wednesday evening’s Wine Dinner slows the pace down, and allows guests an opportunity to drink in the finer things in life: good friends, great food, and excellent wine. Executive Chef Evan Lee and local wine experts come together to pair up top notch wines with some of the best appetizers, entrees, and desserts in the Caribbean.
 Thursday Theme Party
Every year, we come up with a theme night for Thursday. The last two years, Vineyard Vines hosted a popular “Preppy Party, “ complete with their ever popular “whale hats.” VV broke out beach balls, mini-footballs, frisbees, and all kinds of toys. When a brief squall chased everyone under cover, an impromptu (removable) tattoo party ensued. Expect this year’s theme to be equally fun. Expect this year’s theme to be equally fun.
Final Awards NightThe week comes to a close with an elegant cocktail party around the pool, followed by a rousing awards dinner and ceremony in the Carvery Restaurant. Winners are recognized, speeches are given, phone numbers and e-mail addresses are exchanged, and photographs are taken. And without fail, people promise each other to “see you back at the Bitter End next year.” And, it’s not unusual to see late night Pro Am revelers at the Pub later in the evening, challenging each other on the pool and foosball tables!
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