ANGUILLA

This island is well known among the well-to-do and is a favorite getaway for those couples who are really looking to escape. Don't expect mega-resorts here; it is definitely for couples looking to discover their own fun. It's an easy order to fill.

This tiny island is the king of the Caribbean beach world, a mecca for beach buffs in search of that perfect stretch of sand. Although only 16 miles from end to end, and little more than 35 square miles in all, the island packs in over 30 beaches and numerous nearby cays to tempt sunlovers, snorkelers, sailors, scuba divers, and those just looking for a good beach walk or hike. A few beaches bustle with activity, but most are quiet, pristine boundaries between land and sea.

Festivals

Although Anguilla enjoys a festive atmosphere year-round, definitely the biggest blowout of the year for romantic travelers is Carnival. Starting on the first Monday in August and continuing to mid-August, Carnival brings colorful parades, pageants, and lots of music to the island. Swimsuit competitions, a bands festival, street dancing, arts and crafts exhibitions, and Caribbean Night with calypso, soca and reggae artists are scheduled. Carnival also brings boat racing ­ the island's number one sport.

Boat racing is considered the national sport of Anguilla. Races are conducted using sleek vessels, 15 to 28 feet in length. The boats are made on the island and recall the history of Anguilla. Boat racing dates back to the early 1800s to the days when Anguillians, realizing that the low rainfall made sugar cane and other agricultural crops unsuccessful, turned to the sea. Sailors and fishermen worked the waters around the island in boats about 17 to 20 feet in length. Like today's racing boats, these vessels did not have a deck and were powered by a jib and mainsail held by a single 25-foot mast. At the end of a workday, fishermen often raced each other back to shore.

By the early 1900s, boating wasn't just a way to quicken the commute back to Anguilla, it became a competition. Fishermen and sailors raced back to Anguilla to take part in competitions such as August Monday, the start of the island's largest festival. Today the boats are primarily constructed in Island Harbour on the northwest side of the island. On competition days, Anguillians and visitors line the shores to cheer on the competitors.
You'll see the boats, their sleek, shiny hulls reflecting the Caribbean rays, as you drive around the island. Most are kept dry docked in their captain's front yard, proud reminders of the racing sport that binds together Anguillians many times a year.Races are scheduled on festival days, including:

• New Year's Day
• Easter Monday
• Anguilla Day, late May
• Whit Monday, late May
• Queen's Birthday, mid-June
• Heineken Regatta, August
• August Monday, early August
• August Tuesday, early August
• August Wednesday, early August
• August Thursday, early August
• Champion of Champions Race, mid-August
  

The viewing grounds are typically at Island Harbour or Sandy Ground, and occasionally at Blowing Point or Meads Bay.

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