A desire to give young sailors on St. John a chance to keep enjoying life on the water brought the community together for a weekend fundraiser in Coral Bay. Billed as a flotilla and chili cookoff, supporters took a path through the bush to reach a scene filled with fun, song and potfuls of delight.
Organizers said the Saturday event had become a tradition of sorts, harkening back close to 30 years when members of the Coral Bay Yacht Club teamed up with parishioners from Emmaus Moravian Church for trips to Norman Island.
Yacht Club secretary Mary Burks welcomed guests from a seat at the registration table. “The funds are going for youth sailing on St. John; any child is eligible. We have formed a unique collaboration — St. John Yacht Club, Coral Bay Yacht Club, KATS (Kids and the Sea), and Gifft Hill School are collaborating to put our resources together to make boats, and coaching and funds available for teens,” Burks said.
Behind the registration table along the shore, young sailors stood waist deep in the water, having already taken part in different water sports, and waiting for the next one to begin.
Next to the table stood a series of tents where those who bought tickets could sample different chilis.
Hand lettered signs labelled one pot holding “Coral Bay Tropical Heat with corn and green olives,” another, invited tasters to sample green chili with pork. Matt Wilkerson filled tiny cups with “Southwest Chili – no beans.”
Then came the table with two pots — both prepared by Gifft Hill Students from the culinary arts class.
“… There’s one from my senior class which is short rib chili and then I have one made by my underclassmen which is oxtail chili,” said Chef Parris Ceasar.
The oxtail chili which featured rings of softened oxtail bones suspended in a seasoned sauce won praise from those who dug in. Others found favor among the others.
The taster’s task was to sample each offering and jot down their favorite on a paper ballot for the judges to pursue. “We bought 14 tickets and I shared half of every chili with my husband,” said taster Theresa Charow.
Even as the band ended a set to let organizer Dave Dostall make some remarks, a musician was seen scooping samples from a paper chili cup the size of a shot glass.
Support from the St. John business community brought in close to $20,000 before the Saturday event began, he said. Dostall urged the crowd to turn in their ballots for the judging to begin.
“We’ve been doing this particular fundraiser for over 30 years. We used to partner with folks from the Moravian Church who used to cook food, and we used to sail over to Norman Island to raise money for the church. We did that for 10 years, and then we did that for Guy Benjamin School, and now we’re doing it for the kids,” he said.
