Beach Tennis Bonaire

all about beach tennis on bonaire

Beach Tennis: The new volleyball

Beach Tennis has now completely taken over any form of beach volleyball played on the island. The sport is super popular with locals and is growing fast in Bonaire and around the Caribbean. Looking for a fun activity to do with your kids while on Bonaire? Go watch a tournament and see if they want to give it a try. We think the sport will soon become very popular in the US and elsewhere. Maybe you can introduce it to your friends back home.

A little bit about the game

Play beach tennis on a volleyball court using stringless paddles with holes and non-pressurised tennis balls. On Bonaire the sport is pretty much all doubles.Beach tennis scores work the same as tennis but with no-ad after deuce. A team needs six games to win a set and best of three sets wins the match. In tournaments on Bonaire usually just one set is played to seven games. The players that win move on to the next round.

Where to play

Tournaments and practices are held at Coco Beach Bonaire near the north traffic circle. The parking entrance is at Eden Beach – Spice Beach. Beach Tennis Bonaire organizes about one tournament per month and anyone can join in the fun. Players pay $15 per person to compete.

Beach Tennis lessons on Bonaire

Don’t know how to play, want to improve your skills? Every Thursday night for only $5 a trainer coaches at Coco Beach from 7-8pm for beginners and 8-9 pm for intermediate players. The four courts themselves remain open all day every day free of charge until 9pm. If you need equipment it’s available for you to borrow. You can also buy a beach tennis racquet by getting in touch with Beach Tennis Bonaire. Everyone is welcome to join in the beach tennis fun.

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The 50th annual Bonaire Regatta

Sailboat navigating towards sunset at bonaire regatta

Come Celebrate The 50th annual Bonaire Regatta

October 2017 marks the 50th annual Bonaire Regatta. The sailing festival takes place October 11th – 14th. Regatta, a significant holiday on Bonaire has the entire island in celebration mode for one full week. The festival is so important on Bonaire that schools are closed for the week. Regatta themed activities, parties, food, games, drinks and celebrations for all ages take place all over the island.

Where

The basecamp for regatta festivities the last two years has been Coco Beach, formerly Sunset Beach near Den Laman Resort. But, according to the Regatta 2017 Facebook page, this year the festivities will be right along the waterfront promenade in Kralendijk. The promenade is where the festivities traditionally take place.

What

Expect entertainment galore, including local and international musicians performing live. In addition, expect drinks, food, a playground for kids, a windsurf show after sunset and much more. The line-up of artists performing at Regatta has not yet been announced but we will update here with more information when it’s available.

Who

Racers of all ages participating in Regatta compete for class championship in their division. The photo below showcases some kids from the five to ten year age division participating in a sunfish race in Lac Bay.  This younger division also competes in the windsurf division during Regatta week.

Races take place in-between Bonaire and Klein Bonaire, as well as north of Klein Bonaire and other venues on the island. For most divisions races consist of two short courses followed by one long course. For Sunfish and Optimist boats the races take place between Bonaire and Klein Bonaire.

Come out for this fun and casual event. Cheer on the sailors, try some local food at the food booths and trucks set up along the boulevard, take a windsurf lesson, watch the windsurf and seadoo show, listen to the live music and entertainment and most importantly, have fun!

For more information check out Regatta Bonaire’s website