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Yacht charter sailing holiday in the Caribbean
£425.00
End Date: Tuesday Feb-09-2010 18:42:05 GMT
Buy It Now for only: £425.00
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EAST CARIBBEAN 1 DOLLAR COIN 2002 WITH OLD SAILING SHIP
£0.99 (0 Bid)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-09-2010 20:32:55 GMT
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Chart for sailing in the Eastern Caribbean: Imray A24
£5.00 (1 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-10-2010 18:29:05 GMT
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Caribbean Passagemaking (Sailing Power Boat)
£16.99
End Date: Tuesday Feb-16-2010 22:43:21 GMT
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CAPTAIN'S PARADISE Dawson HB DJ Sailing Caribbean Yacht
£14.99
End Date: Sunday Feb-21-2010 12:44:04 GMT
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Caribbean Cruising: Your Guide to the Perfect Sailing H
£21.57
End Date: Tuesday Mar-02-2010 17:30:19 GMT
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HOTEL SEACRH

Town, Postcode, Attraction

RYA Tactics


The perfect Tactical xmas present for your helm or crew

Personally signed by the author

RYA Tactics by Mark Rushall sheds a new light on the complexities of sailboat racing. No other sport requires the combination of so many elements – preparation, strategy, speed, tuning and most importantly tactics. However, it’s good tactics which can so often be that elusive missing skill.

As one of the sports top tacticians and coaches, and 2006 RYA Squad Coach of the Year, Mark’s book will help you sail better and improve your results. With easy to follow and logical diagrams, this book breaks new ground in presenting this essential and complex element of our sport.

“Covering almost every conceivable tactical situation, the book is a real tour de force by Rushall….yet comprises one of the easiest to read tactical situation books we have come across.” The Daily Sail, 1 May 07

“This book has come about from years of sailing and coaching at the highest level by an extremely analytical person. Mark …. is one of those annoying people who learnt from every sailing / coaching experience and has built an extensive memory bank of tactical scenarios and understanding.”
Chips Howarth, Fireball World Champion 2005

Tactics is the most comprehensive and accessible guide to racing yet. Providing an awesome and unique insight of sailboat tactics, it breaks down the race to tell you exactly what to think about, how and when to do it, and most importantly, why you should be doing it! No matter what your level of racing experience, you’ll have something to learn from Mark Rushall….”
Georgie Corlett, Editor, Dinghy Sailing Magazine

Start your 2008 season ready prepared and don’t go afloat without having read RYA Tactics.

Order your personally signed copy from www.rushall.net or for UK delivery send a cheque for £16 including P&P to:

Mark Rushall Tactics
Watermark Offices, 8 Lumley Gardens, Lumley Road, Emsworth, Hants, PO10 8AG, UK

International orders – please email tactics@rushall.net and postage rates will be advised.

Also available from www.rya.org.uk and most leading chandleries and book stores.

ENDS

Dinghy Sailing

On a Neilson dinghy sailing holiday, everyone is welcome, from complete beginners to enthusiastic improvers and accomplished experts looking for sunshine and the best conditions. Our approach to dinghy sailing tuition, and the type and quantity of equipment varies from club to club, ensuring that whatever your needs we have a holiday to suit your requirements perfectly.

Sailing means many things to different people. Some like to potter around over crystal clear waters while others crave the excitement of zooming across the waves on a high performance skiff.

Whatever your level of experience, the sense of freedom that comes from sailing is hard to beat. We offer the best boats, instructors and sailing areas together with free RYA training courses, enabling you to step aboard and take advantage of our 25 years of sailing experience.

Dinghy Sailing Tuition

  When you go on a Neilson sailing holiday with tuition, every club is recognised as a RYA Training Centre. Each of our clubs is regularly inspected for standards of tuition, facilities and equipment and all must have qualified staff, suitable boats and adequate safety cover ensuring quality sailing tuition. Holidays with us will have you carving through the seas in no time!
We always include RYA tuition and courses in the cost of your holiday, whether you are a first timer aiming for your RYA Level 1 certificate, or an expert working on your performance sailing.

 

National Sailing Scheme

We work closely with the RYA in developing the National Sailing Scheme. This progressive approach to tuition provides a tried-and-tested way to learn to sail. Holidays shouldn’t feel like school, so we endeavour to make everything from your first taster to high performance race techniques, as much fun as possible!

Start Sailing - Level 1

Great for those new to learn to sail holidays, Level 1 provides a comprehensive introduction to dinghy sailing. It is designed to get you on the water using modern, single-handed dinghies and requires no previous experience.

The course covers a wide variety of skills to enable you to sail confidently such as; wind awareness, rigging basics, knots and sailing theory.

Start Sailing is available in all of our centres.

Basic Skills - Level 2

Level 2 aims to fine-tune the skills and boat handling manoeuvres learnt at Level 1. The course sets out the foundations of sailing with the aim of producing competent light wind sailors who are able to sail and make informed decisions in good conditions.

You can expect to learn more advanced techniques in a variety of craft including; rigging according to weather conditions, coming alongside a moored boat, capsize recovery and essential safety background.

Try Finikounda – Great for the progressing beginner. Holiday sailing at it’s best!

Seamanship Skills

Moving on from Basic Skills, the main focus of this course is fine-tuning skills already learnt and boat handling manoeuvres, whilst increasing your self-reliance and decision making skills.

Day Sailing

We are able to endorse most sections of this course, enabling competent sailors to confidently plan and execute a safe day cruise, aspects covered include pilotage, interpretation of charts and use of GPS.

Finikounda is the main place to go for day sailing.

Sailing with Spinnakers

Sailing with Spinnakers teaches you how to sail a dinghy rigged with an asymmetric or symmetric spinnaker and some trapezing.

Try Porto Heli for a fantastic destination for a sailing holiday with tuition.

Start Racing

You will learn to race a variety of craft from single handers to performance boats. The aim is to gain a good understanding of the rules and techniques of racing, including the course and starting sequence, boat preparation, tactics and racing rules.

Performance Sailing

This is an advanced course for experienced sailors using high performance craft and covers a range of sessions including rigging, tuning, teamwork, trapezing, hiking, tacking and downwind sailing.

Porto Heli is the ideal place for performance sailing.

Dinghy Sailing Equipment

Dinghy Sailing
Dinghy Sailing
Laser 3000
Laser 4000
Laser Vago
Dart 16
RS Feva
RS 200
RS 500
29ER
 
 
 
 
 
 

Advances in design and technology have continued to make dinghy sailing easier and more enjoyable than ever before. We've selected tghe best craft from leading British manufacturers Laser and RS, equipping our clubs with a range of kit to suit local wind and conditions.

Laser Funboats

Stable, safe and fun! Perfect for children. Available in all centres except Dahab

Laser Pico

A perfect beginners’ boat with easy-to-use controls. Available in all centres

Laser 1

The classic Olympic class single hander. Exciting sailing. Available in all centres except Vassiliki

Laser 2000

A popular boat for families and friends looking for a stable hull but no shortage of features.
Available in Halkidiki, Sivota, Ortakent, Finikounda and Porto Heli,

Laser 3000

A performance machine ideally suited to teenagers and lighter crews. Fast action with a spinnaker and trapeze. Available in Finikounda

Laser Bahia

A stable and spacious cockpit with space for up to 5 adults, together with a light hull and large gennaker makes a great day sail and cruising boat, with a performance edge.
Available in Lemnos and Lesvos

Laser 4000

Serious fun in the fast lane. A high performance skiff with adjustable racks and a large sail area. With tuition and practice, the 4000 flies. Available in Finikounda and Porto Heli

Laser Stratos

A good size family cruiser, the Stratos is ideal for day sailing, combining stability and performance features.Available in Lemnos, Lesvos, Halkidiki, Finikounda and Porto Heli

Laser Vago XD

Unmatched handling, versatility and exhilarating performance are harnessed by Laser in a unique modern design with high spec sails and trapeze. Available in Lemnos, Lesvos and Dahab

Dart 16

A popular catamaran equally at home pottering around on a day sail or on a trapezing joyride. The Dart 16 is a firm favourite in our centres. Available in all centres

Optimist

The definitive youth racer, the Optimist has traditionally been the first step on the road to success for competitive young sailors. Available in Porto Heli and Finikounda

RS Feva

A versatile dinghy, introducing several advanced features on a user friendly craft suited to younger sailors.Available in Finikounda, Porto Heli, Lemnos and Lesvos

RS 200

An easy to sail dinghy that brings the excitement of asymmetric sailing to everybody, including lighter sailors and youngsters. Available in Porto Heli

RS 400

LDC’s modern classic, a hiking asymmetric. The ultimate choice for the ambitious improver.
Available in Porto Heli

RS 500

Exciting performance with a simple user friendly layout and easy handling.Available in Porto Heli

RS 800

An exciting high performance skiff with twin trapeze that is remarkably easy for competent sailors to master.Available in Porto Heli and Finikounda

29er

A fast, exciting ride, the 29er is a high performance boat ideally suited to light weight sailors and youth racing.Available in Porto Heli

Children and Sailing Holidays

Hot Shots provides RYA tuition for 8-12 year olds whilst Starfish, Sea  Urchins, Surfbusters and Sharksters provide fun for younger children and those less inclined to get out on the water.

Hot Shots

The water based activity club, for those that want it all: sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, snorkelling and plenty of sunshine, Hot Shots is the place to be.

Our fully qualified instructors help your youngsters master new skills and get first timers confident in no time at all. In-fact all our RYA qualified instructors will help your Hot Shots improve quickly, with the RYA Youth Sailing Awards, available to those who want to prove their skills.

When not out on the water, Hot Shots enjoy loads of land-based activities and making new friends has never been easier.
      
If your children are particularly interested in dinghy sailing, they will benefit from choosing a resort that specialises in that particular activity, such as Porto Heli

Hot Shots is open to all children ages 8-12 years and is available for a supplement of £80-£150 per week with the second week half price.

Where to go

Hot Shots is avilable in  LemnosFinikounda, Vassiliki, Porto Heli and Dahab.

When not in our clubs, children under the age of 13 are welcome to windsurf with their parents. Children must be 13 years or over before they can join the adult windsurfing programme.

Flotilla Holidays

Flotilla Holidays - Another day. Another destination.
Explore hidden treasures every day; share your adventures in the evening with fellow sailors.
Life on flotilla is a holiday that just gets better every day.

Flotilla sailing holidays allow you to enjoy the independence of sailing your very own yacht from port to port during the day, but you also get to choose between pleasant evenings in the warm company of your fellow sailors, or spending them peacefully on your own deck.

On arrival

The Neilson Team will be there to greet you on arrival and show you to your yacht. Your lead crew will then join you on board to answer any questions you may have, show you where everything is and just check that everything is ship shape.

The remainder of the afternoon and evening is then yours to spend as you wish - enjoy a refreshing drink on deck, get to know some of your fellow sailors, explore the local area or stock up on any additional provisioning you require. You are then fully prepared for the start of your adventure the following day.

A day in the life…

As the morning sun peeps over your bow, your lead crew will join you for a chat about the day ahead, confirming the evening’s destination together with some great places to explore and idyllic lunch stops. Then as soon as everything’s ready, you’re free to slip your lines and set sail.

It’s entirely up to you and your crew how you reach your destination. You may want to race there before everybody else or meander there, anchoring for a lunch break and swim in a secluded bay. With the yacht to yourself, the day is yours to enjoy as you please. And if you wish to hook up with other parties on your flotilla they’re just a VHF radio call away - as is your lead crew, in case you need any help or advice.

As the afternoon drifts into evening and you glide into port, your lead crew will be waiting ashore to help you into your mooring, catch your lines and point out the location of shower facilities, bars and tavernas at your latest destination.

As the sun sets, you can settle in at one of the local tavernas, swapping stories with your fellow sailors over a bottle of wine and a hearty local meal. Of course, if all that sailing and sightseeing has taken it out of you, you can simply stay on your yacht and cook a meal in your own galley. That’s the beauty of flotilla holidays.

Your Yachting Experience

Our flotilla holidays in Greece and Croatia flotilla holidays require varying levels of confidence and experience due to the different routes and wind conditions in each area. It is important you select the right area for your party to ensure your safety and enjoyment.
The minimum experience we require on a flotilla holiday is that at least two people aboard each yacht are aged 18 years or over and must have had several day's active experience in charge of a yacht.

If this level of experience cannot be satisfied a Stay and Sail holiday, coupled with an Introduction to Yachting or Brush Up training course should be completed

Skippered Charter

If you want to regain your confidence afloat or just share the beginning of your flotilla with a like-minded sailor then you can pre book a member of the Neilson yacht team to join you on a skippered charter. They will spend the day with you, sailing from one place to another before retiring to the lead boat in the evening, allowing your party the privacy to enjoy some time alone. This option is available for one to three days for a supplement of £100 per yacht per day.
Please note, this option is not suitable for beginners who should complete an Introduction to Yachting course.

Bareboat Charter

Our Bareboat sailing holidays gives more experienced sailors the freedom to sail where, when and however they please. No itinerary, no set routes and no one to bother you. Bareboat  holidays are the ultimate getaway.

Plot your own route around the many picturesque bays, lively little harbour towns and fishing villages scattered about the coastlines of our huge sailing areas. Spend as long as you like at any stop, return to your favourite places over and over, or keep on the move to discover something new around every point.

Of course, since you’re with Neilson you’ll still have the benefit of our expertise. Before you depart, our bareboat co-ordinator will go through the route you’ve planned, pointing out the highlights of your journey. And it’s always worth picking their brains, because they often have a nugget of advice that could really make your holiday. And naturally, they’ll also call or text you each morning to pass on weather conditions and check that everything on the yacht is as it should be.

All of our Bareboat holidays are provided with the following:

• Full tanks of diesel, water and gas
• Marine insurance
• Flights and transfers
• Comprehensive tools and spares
• A quick fix manual for everyday repair and maintenance
• Handheld GPS
• Additional charts and pilot book
• Mobile phone and charger
• Extra warps
• Starter pack
• No damage waiver or deposit to pay

Bareboat Holidays support Includes:

• A dedicated bareboat co-ordinator
• A full skipper and engineer’s briefing
• Details of all flotilla routes, staff and contact numbers

Experience Levels

When booking bareboat holidaywe ask that at least two people aboard are aged 18 years or over and have plenty of sailing knowledge and experience, having been in charge of a sailing vessel for several cruises, possibly on previous flotilla holidays. Both must be comfortable sailing in a range of conditions. If this level of experience cannot be satisfied, a flotilla holiday may be more appropriate.

Sail Training Courses

Yacht Training Courses

It’s not as hard as you might imagine to pick up the skills to navigate a yacht around the Mediterranean coastline. With our tried and tested courses and fantastic yacht trainers, you will be sailing with confidence in no time at all. We offer a number of courses to suit all ages and abilities.

Introduction to Yachting - four days

A course designed to be fun but informative, equipping complete beginners with the knowledge and skills necessary to skipper their own yacht on flotilla.

The syllabus we follow is based on the RYA Keelboat Level 2 certificate. After having completed the course, followed by a second week on flotilla, most new sailors will be awarded their RYA Level 2 certificate.

The skills needed can be learnt in four days with tuition from our Royal Yachting Association qualified instructors. Whilst covering the necessary manoeuvres you will be hopping from pontoon to quayside to bay to harbour. Occasionally stopping for picnics, taverna lunches or swimming, there will be time to digest all that you are learning at a relaxed but steady pace.
A maximum of five guests will train per yacht with an instructor.

At the end of your course you’ll feel confident and competent enough to skipper your own yacht within a flotilla environment. Your lead crew will be aware of your training and will be on hand to offer their full support during your week afloat.

Brush-Up Course - two days

Ideal for those with a basic or fading knowledge of sailing, or experienced dinghy sailors looking to make the step to big boat sailing. This course is tailored around your existing experience and looks to build your ability to sail confidently once more. You will spend two days with one of our RYA instructors who will assist you in practising and reviewing the skills you wish to improve.

The Brush-Up course can also be suitable for confident, advanced dinghy sailors who sail regularly at a high level. This course enables you to transfer your well-practised dinghy skills onto a larger class of boat. Beginner or intermediate dinghy sailors should book the Introduction to Yachting course.

Private Courses - Ideal for Families

Our Private Introduction to Yachting and Brush-Up courses are designed for groups or families who wish to learn together, on the same yacht, up to a maximum of five people. The course content is the same as detailed previously but you are guaranteed to be learning as one group without having to share your training yacht with another party.

The added advantage of a private course is that we can welcome 13 to 15 year olds aboard when accompanied by a parent. Younger sailors will relish the opportunity to learn with their family as a forerunner to the flotilla week of their holiday.

Private courses are priced per yacht at four times the cost of the individual course.

One Week Learn to Sail

If you can only get away on holiday for one week or spending two weeks learning to sail is not an option for you, then our One week Learn to Sail holiday is a perfect solution - half the week will be spent at one of our yacht bases living on your yacht whilst learning to sail on the Introduction to Yachting course. For the second part of the week, you will join your fellow sailors on flotilla.

Sailing Holidays

Sailing Holidays are great for those who like to remain active on their vacation.

 

 

Techniques

Here you will find articles on a variety of different sailing techniques


Plans to drop cats as a youth class
The RYA has recently made submissions to ISAF to remove the catamaran as a youth boat for 2009, and to remove the catamaran as an Olympic boat for 2012.

These submissions by the RYA were made without any consultation with the sailing community. We request that the submissions are withdrawn before the ISAF conference in early November and replaced by alternative submissions which support the use of catamarans both in future Olympics (2012 and beyond) and for youth training.

 
Sign the online petition here
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/CatamaranSubmission/index.html

CATAMARANS OUT OF OLYMPICS
Amazingly the ISAF Council voted the Multihull out after the Events Committee had recommended that the cats stay in.
 
With a drive towards making sailing more media and TV friendly this is surely a retrospective step,  particularly as the so called experts were in favour.
oldsage2007-11-10 06:47:30
starter Boat for 7 year old
My sister wants to get her seven year old into sailing,  the Oppi would seem to be the obvious choice but waht about some of the newer designs like Tera,  Taz,  Open etc ?
 
Any real life experiences of these ?

Dinghy Sailing in the Midlands
OK a bit cold this time of year Wink,  but I am looking for ideaas for presents for my partner.
 
He is now in to Dinghy Sailing after a Sailing Holiday,  any suggestions for Sailing Clubs or Sailing Schools in the Midlands

Sailing Holidays
Ok help required, girl friend just arrived home for pile of holiday brochures. Usual girlie things of lying on the beach. I really want to do a sailing holiday, try out some new boats etc, can anyone help with experiences of Sunsail type holidays ?
New to Dinghy Sailing
I am looking to start Dinghy Sailing in the new year, will I learn anything by going to the boat show ?, or are there any good sailing magazines to read ?
Catamaran Sailing
Is catamaran sailing better than dinghy sailing?
Yacht Charter
Although I love dinghy sailing, thought I would try some yachting. Some friends are looking at bareboat charter.
Laser 4.7, Radial or Laser Standard
Thinking about a new sailing dinghy after my Topper Lasers seem to be the most popular, but am I best with 4.7 or Radial, what about the Olympic one
Sailing in Spain
Where is the best place for sailing in Spain
BBC Sport Personality of Year
Very disappointing not to see any sailors or any sailing action covered on last night's awards. Plenty of successes this year
Sailing Videos
We have now included videos of sailing action,  these can be found at
 
http://www.sailracer.co.uk/sailing/boats/
 
Then click on a class
 
EnjoySmile

Winter Sailing Clothing
Gosh wasn't it cold this weekend,  my hands were really frozen,  any ideas of the best winter sailing gloves ?
 
I need something that will keep my hands warm but I can still use the sheets

NEW Boats for Sale and Gear For Sale Section

SailRacer now has a new For Sale section,  here you will find 000s of items For Sale

You can advertsie for FREE,  now is the time of year to clear out your garage of all those unused sailing items.  There are sections for Boats,  Sails,  Gear,  Clothing,  Trailers and Trolleys
 
www.sailracer.co.uk/sailing/boats/forsale
 
 
admin2007-12-23 00:40:25
Why have the RYA decided to launch a race results

In the past, the RYA have asked clubs to send in their data at the end of every year. The data captured is limited and often open to subjectivity and goes through little validation by the RYA before being used in the statistical number crunching. After a very detailed review of the PYS by the RYA, it was highlighted that the data been captured by the RYA was become less and less meaningful, which was being reflected in the declining amount of returns being received by the RYA.

By launching the RYA Race results website, in collaboration with Simon Lovesey and SailRacer, the RYA are starting to increase the accuracy and meaningfulness of the data being collected by going straight to the source; individual race results. By asking clubs to upload their race results, the RYA are getting raw race data. The raw race data is also being subjected to an analysis in accordance with the RYA guidelines, which again increases the accuracy of the data being returned.

In summary, the RYA hope to collect more data, which is more meaningful to clubs as well as nationally, and start to increase the sailing publics confidence in the system and the numbers published by the RYA.


Problem with Race Dates
Using Sailwave, I've combined all the results from every series (some 40 races) and purged any duplicates, etc. and uploaded the file via Sailwave to the site.

When I try to import each race file I get the 'Enter Race Date' message.  No matter what I try it gets rejected.  The error messages shows any date either entered or chosen from the Calendar as 1/12/2010  for example  1-DEC-2009=1/12/2010.

I've tried to confuse the transformation by a date combination that might give me 12/1/2010 but with no success.

The dates of the races do not matter, but each race does need manual changes before benchmarking.

How do I get around this??

Barry McGibbon
Lyme Regis Sailing Club

{{Redirect

West Indian

the western part of India

West India}} {{Redirect

West Indies

other uses of the phrase

West Indies (disambiguation)}} {{Otheruses}} {{ infobox

bodyclass = geography

title = Caribbean

image = Image:Antillas (orthographic projection).svg

250px


label1 = Size

data1 = An archipelago, {{convert

4020

km

mi

-1}} in length, and up to {{convert

257

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0}} wide; region contains more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays

label2 = Population (2000)

data2 = 37.5 million<ref name=p2000 /> <!--

label3 = Population density

Density


data3 = -->

label4 = Ethnic groups

data4 = African people

Africans
(notably Igbo people

Igbo
, Akan people

Akan
, Yoruba people

Yoruba
, Fon people

Fon
, Kongo people

Kongo
),<ref>{{cite book

firt=John H.

Last=McWhorter

title=Defining Creole

page=379

publisher=Oxford University Press US

date=2005

url=http://books.google.com/books?id=zdxJJVY54nYC&pg=PT387

isbn=0195166701}}</ref> Indigenous peoples of the Americas

Native Americans
(Arawak, Caribs, Tainos), Ethnic groups in Europe

Europeans
(Spaniards

Spanish
, French people

French
, English people

English
, Portuguese people

Portuguese
, Dutch people

Dutch
), Asian people

Asian
(Chinese people

Chinese
, Indian)

label5 = Demonym

data5 = West Indian, Caribbean, Americas

American


label6 = Government

data6 = 13 sovereign states; also, 2 overseas departments and 14 dependent territories, tied to the European Union or to the United States

label7 = Largest cities

data7 = Havana<br/>Santo Domingo<br/>Port-au-Prince<br/>Kingston, Jamaica

Kingston
<br/>San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan
<br/>Port of Spain

label8 = Internet Top-level domain

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data8 = List of Internet top-level domains

Multiple


label9 = Calling code

data9 = List of country calling codes

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label10 = Time Zone

data10 = UTC-5 to UTC-4 }} Image:Central america (cia).png

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200px

Central America and the Caribbean
Image:Tectonic plates Caribbean.png

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Detail of tectonic plates from: :Image:Tectonic plates.png

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The '''Caribbean'''<ref>Pronounced {{IPA-en

?kær?'bi??n

}} or {{IPA-en

k?'r?bi?n

}}. Both pronunciations are equally valid; indeed, they see equal use even within areas of the Caribbean itself. Cf. Royal Caribbean, which stresses the second syllable, and Pirates of the Caribbean, which stresses the first and third. In each case, as a proper noun, those who would normally pronounce it a different way may use the pronunciation associated with the noun when referring to it. More generic nouns such as the Caribbean Community are generally referred to using the speaker's preferred pronunciation.<br>{{lang-es

Caribe}}; Dutch language

Dutch
{{Audio

Nl-Caraïben.ogg

''Caraïben''}}; {{lang-fr

Caraïbe}} or more commonly ''Antilles''</ref> is a region consisting of the '''Caribbean Sea''', its islands (most of which enclose the sea), and the surrounding coasts. The region is located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and Northern America, east of Central America, and to the north of South America. Situated largely on the Caribbean Plate, the region comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays. These islands, called the '''West Indies''', generally form island arcs that delineate the eastern and northern edges of the Caribbean Sea.<ref name="brief">{{cite book

first=Ridvan

last=Asann

year= 2007

title= A Brief History of the Caribbean

edition= Revised

publisher=Facts on File, Inc.

location=New York

pages= 3

isbn=0816038112}}</ref> These islands are called the ''West Indies'' because when Christopher Columbus landed here in 1492 he believed that he had reached the Indies (in Asia). The region consists of the Antilles, divided into the larger Greater Antilles which bound the sea on the north and the Lesser Antilles on the south and east (including the Leeward Antilles), and the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, which are in fact in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba, not in the Caribbean Sea. Geo-politically, the West Indies are usually regarded as a sub-region of North America<ref>[http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#ftnb ''Standard Country and Area Codes Classifications (M49)]'', United Nations Statistics Division</ref><ref>[http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/atlas/index.html?Parent=nameri&Rootmap=&Mode=d&SubMode=w North America Atlas]National Geographic</ref><ref>[http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/reference/international/north_america/referencemap_image_view "North America"] ''Atlas of Canada''</ref><ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/418612/North-America "North America"]. ''Britannica Concise Encyclopedia''; "... associated with the continent is Greenland, the largest island in the world, and such offshore groups as the Arctic Archipelago, the Bahamas, the Greater and Lesser Antilles, the Queen Charlotte Islands, and the Aleutian Islands."</ref> and are organized into 27 territories including Sovereignty

sovereign
sovereign state

state
s, overseas departments, and dependent area

dependencies
. At one time, there was a short-lived country called the West Indies Federation

Federation of the West Indies
composed of ten English language

English
-speaking Caribbean territories, all of which were then United Kingdom

UK
dependencies. The region takes its name from that of the Carib people

Carib
, an ethnic group present in the Lesser Antilles and parts of adjacent South America at the time of European contact.<ref>{{cite web

url = http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9020323/Carib

title = Carib

publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica

accessdate = 2008-02-20

archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/5ZDatLUlv

archivedate = 2008-07-11

quote = inhabited the Lesser Antilles and parts of the neighboring South American coast at the time of the Spanish conquest. }}</ref> ==Definition== The word "Caribbean" has multiple uses. Its principal ones are geography

geographical
and politics

political
. The Caribbean can also be expanded to include territories with strong cultural and historical connections to slavery, European colonization of the Americas

European colonization
and the plantation system. * Physiographically, the Caribbean region is mainly a chain of islands surrounding the Caribbean Sea. To the north is the Caribbean Sea bordered by the Gulf of Mexico, the Straits of Florida, and the Northern Atlantic Ocean which lies to the East and Northeast; the coastline of the continent of South America lies to the south. * Politically, "Caribbean" may be centered around socio-economic groupings found in the region. For example the bloc known as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) contains both the Guyana

Co-operative Republic of Guyana
and the Suriname

Republic of Suriname
found in South America, along with Belize in Central America as full members. Bermuda and the Turks and Caicos Islands which are found in the Atlantic Ocean are Associate members of the Caribbean Community, and the same goes for the Bahamas

Commonwealth of the Bahamas
which is a full member of the Caribbean Community.' *Alternately the organization known as the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) consists of almost every nation in the surrounding regions which lie on the Caribbean Sea plus El Salvador which lies solely on the Pacific Ocean. According to the ACS the total population of its member states is some 227 million people.<ref>[http://www.acs-aec.org/Trade/6thBusinessForum/background.htm Background of the business forum of the Greater Caribbean of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS)]</ref> ==Demographics== Image:TobagoBeach5.jpg

left

thumb



Beach in Tobago
The population of the Caribbean is estimated to have been around 750,000 immediately before European contact, although lower and higher figures are given. After contact, genocide and disease led to a decline in the Native American population.<ref>p. 486, A Population History of the Caribbean, Stanley L. Engerman, pp. 483&ndash;528 in ''A Population History of North America'', edited by Michael R. Haines and Richard Hall Steckel, Cambridge University Press, 2000, ISBN 0521496667.</ref><ref>[http://www.millersville.edu/~columbus/papers/goodling.html Stacy Goodling, "Effects of European Diseases on the Inhabitants of the New World"], Millersville University</ref> From 1500 to 1800 the population rose as slaves arrived from West Africa<ref>[http://countrystudies.us/caribbean-islands/8.htm The Sugar Revolutions and Slavery], ''U.S. Library of Congress''</ref> such as the Kongo people

Kongo
, Igbo people

Igbo
, Akan people

Akan
, Fon people

Fon
and Yoruba people

Yoruba
and immigrants from Ireland, Kingdom of Great Britain

Britain
, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark, although the mortality rate was high for both groups.<ref>pp. 488&ndash;492, Engerman.</ref> The population is estimated to have reached 2.2 million by 1800.<ref>Figure 11.1, Engerman.</ref> Immigrants from India, China, and other countries arrived in the 19th century.<ref>pp. 501&ndash;502, Engerman.</ref> After the ending of the Atlantic slave trade, the population increased naturally.<ref>pp. 504, 511, Engerman.</ref> The total regional population was estimated at 37.5 million by 2000.<ref name=p2000>Table A.2, [http://gisweb.ciat.cgiar.org/population/download/report.pdf Database documentation], Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Population Database, version 3, International Center for Tropical Agriculture et al., 2005. Accessed on line February 20, 2008.</ref> File:IMG 2908.JPG

left

thumb

Puerto Cruz beach in Margarita Island, Venezuela
The majority of the Caribbean has populations of mainly Africans in the French Caribbean, Anglophone Caribbean and Dutch West Indies

Dutch Caribbean
, there are minorities of mixed-race and European peoples of Dutch people

Dutch
, English people

English
, French people

French
and Portuguese people

Portuguese
ancestry. Asian people

Asians
, especially those of Overseas Chinese

Chinese
and Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin

Indian
descent, form a significant minority in the region and also contribute to multiracial communities. Many of their ancestors arrived in the 19th century as indentured laborers. The Spanish Caribbean

Spanish-speaking Caribbean
have primarily mixed race, African, or White Latin American

European
majorities. The Dominican Republic has mixed majority of African, European, and Native; Puerto Rico and Cuba have a mixed majority of the same components; however, census records show that many identify as white. The mixtures are those who are primarily descended from West Africans, Indigenous peoples of the Americas

Native American
s, and Spaniards. Trinidad and Tobago has a multi-racial cosmopolitan society due to the arrival of the Africans, Indians, Chinese, Syrians, Lebanese and Europeans. This multi-racial mix has created sub-ethnicities that often straddle the boundaries of major ethnicities and include Chindian and Dougla. ===Indigenous tribes=== * Arawak * Taíno * Carib

Kalinago
* Ciboney * Neo-Taino nations#Ciguayo

Ciguayo
* Galibi * Garifuna * Igneri * Lucayan * Neo-Taino nations#Macorix

Macorix
===Language=== Spanish language

Spanish
, English language

English
, French language

French
, Dutch language

Dutch
, Haitian Creole and Papiamento are the predominant official languages of various countries in the region, though a handful of unique creole language

Creole
languages or dialects can also be found from one country to another. ===Religion=== {{See also

:Category:Religion in the Caribbean}} The largest religious groups in the region are: Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Rastafari, Santería, and Haitian Vodou

Voodoo
among others. ==Geography and climate== {{Main

Geography of the Caribbean}} Image:Old San Juan aerial view.jpg

thumb

San Juan, Puerto Rico
<!-- Deleted image removed: Image:sautmathurine640.jpg

thumb

Ile a Vache, Haiti
--> The geography and climate in the Caribbean region varies. Some islands in the region have relatively flat terrain of non-volcanic origin. These islands include Aruba (possessing only minor volcanic features), Barbados, Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, Saint Croix, The Bahamas or Antigua. Others possess rugged towering mountain-ranges like the islands of Cuba, Dominica, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Saint Vincent (island)

Saint Vincent
, Guadeloupe, and Trinidad & Tobago. The climate of the region is tropical but rainfall varies with elevation, size and water currents (cool upwellings keep the ABC islands (Lesser Antilles)

ABC islands
arid). Warm, moist tradewinds blow consistently from the east creating rainforest/semidesert divisions on mountainous islands. Occasional northwesterlies affect the northern islands in the winter. Winters are warm, but drier. The waters of the Caribbean Sea host large, migratory schools of fish, turtles, and coral reef formations. The Puerto Rico trench, located on the fringe of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea just to the north of the island of Puerto Rico, is the deepest point in all of the Atlantic Ocean.<ref>{{cite web

url=http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03trench/welcome.html

title=Puerto Rico Trench 2003: Cruise Summary Results

author=Uri ten Brink

publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

accessdate=2008-02-21}}</ref> Hurricanes, which at times batter the region, usually strike northwards of Grenada, and to the west of Barbados. The principal hurricane belt arcs to northwest of the island of Barbados in the Eastern Caribbean. The region sits in the line of several major shipping routes with the man-made Panama Canal connecting the western Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. ===Historical groupings=== {{Main

History of the Caribbean}} Image:Political Evolution of Central America and the Caribbean 1700 and on.gif

thumb

300px

Political Evolution of Central America and the Caribbean from 1700 to present
All islands at some point were, and a few still are, colony

colonies
of European nations; a few are Dependent territory

overseas or dependent territories
: *'''British West Indies/Anglophone Caribbean''' – Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bay Islands (department)

Bay Islands
, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Croix (briefly), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago ''(from 1797)'' and the Turks and Caicos Islands,and Guyana *'''Danish West Indies''' – present-day United States Virgin Islands *'''Dutch West Indies''' – present-day Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, Virgin Islands, Saint Croix (briefly), Tobago and Bay Islands (department)

Bay Islands
(briefly) *'''French West Indies''' – Anguilla (briefly), Antigua and Barbuda (briefly), Dominica, Dominican Republic (briefly), Grenada, Haiti, Montserrat (briefly), Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Eustatius (briefly), St Kitts (briefly), Tobago (briefly), Saint Croix, the current French Département d'outre-mer

overseas ''départements''
of Martinique and Guadeloupe (including Marie-Galante, La Désirade and Les Saintes), and the current French Collectivité d'outre-mer

overseas collectivities
of Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin (France). *'''Portugal

Portuguese West Indies
''' – present-day Barbados, known as ''Os Barbados'' in the 1500s when the Portuguese claimed the island en route to Brazil. The Portuguese left Barbados abandoned in 1533, nearly a century prior to the British arrival to the island. *'''Spanish West Indies''' – Cuba, Hispaniola (present-day Dominican Republic, ''and until 1609'', Haiti), Puerto Rico, Jamaica ''(until 1655)'', the Cayman Islands, Trinidad ''(until 1797)'' and Bay Islands ''(until 1643)'' *'''Sweden

Swedish
West Indies''' – present-day France

French
Saint-Barthélemy and Guadeloupe (briefly). *'''Courland colonization of the Americas

Courlander West Indies
''' – Tobago ''(until 1691)'' Image:Caribbean spanish names.PNG

thumb

right

The mostly Spanish-controlled Caribbean in the sixteenth century
The British West Indies were united by the United Kingdom into a West Indies Federation between 1958 and 1962. The independent countries formerly part of the B.W.I. still have a joint cricket team that competes in Test cricket

Test match
es and One Day Internationals. The West Indian cricket team includes the South American nation of Guyana, the only former British colony on that continent. In addition, these countries share the University of the West Indies as a regional entity. The university consists of three main campuses in Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, a smaller campus in the Bahamas and Resident Tutors in other contributing territories. ===Modern day island territories=== Image:CaribbeanIslands.png

thumb

center

500px

Islands in and near the Caribbean
{{Main

List of islands in the Caribbean}} {{See also

Caribbean South America

Caribbean basin}} {{div col

cols=3}} * '''{{AIA}}''' (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

British
British overseas territory

overseas territory
) * '''{{ATG}}''' * '''{{ABW}}''' (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) * '''{{BHS}}''' * '''{{BRB}}''' * '''{{IVB}}''' (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

British
British overseas territory

overseas territory
) * '''{{CAY}}''' (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

British
British overseas territory

overseas territory
) * '''{{CUB}}''' * '''{{DMA}}''' * '''{{DOM}}''' * '''{{GRD}}''' * '''{{flag

Guadeloupe

local}}''' (overseas department (France)

overseas department
of France) * '''{{HAI}}''' * '''{{JAM}}''' * '''{{flag

Martinique

local}}''' (overseas department (France)

overseas department
of France) * '''{{MSR}}''' (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

British
British overseas territory

overseas territory
) * '''{{ANT}}''' (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) * '''{{PRI}}''' (Commonwealth (United States insular area)

commonwealth
of the United States) * '''{{flag

Saint Barthélemy

local}}''' (overseas collectivity of France) * '''{{SKN}}''' * '''{{LCA}}''' * '''{{flag

Saint Martin

local}}''' (overseas collectivity of France) * '''{{VIN}}''' * '''{{TRI}}''' * '''{{TCA}}''' (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

British
British overseas territory

overseas territory
) * '''{{VIR}}''' (Territories of the United States#Unincorporated organized territories

territory
of the United States) {{div col end}} ===Continental countries with Caribbean coastlines and islands=== {{Multicol}} * '''{{BLZ}}''' ** Ambergris Caye ** Belize City ** Big Creek, Belize

Big Creek
** Caye Caulker ** Glover's Reef ** Hicks Cays ** Lighthouse Reef ** South Water Caye ** Turneffe Islands * '''{{COL}}''' ** Archipelago of San Andres and Providencia ** Barranquilla ** Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena
** Riohacha ** Santa Marta * '''{{CRI}}''' * '''{{GTM}}''' * '''{{GUY}}''' * '''{{HON}}''' ** Guanaja ** Roatán ** Útila ** Cayos Cochinos ** Swan Islands, Honduras

Swan Islands
* '''{{MEX}}''' ** Quintana Roo *** Cancún *** Chetumal *** Isla Contoy *** Isla Cozumel *** Isla Mujeres *** Cozumel {{ColBreak}} * '''{{NIC}}''' ** Corn Islands ** Cayos Miskitos ** Pearl Cays * '''{{PAN}}''' ** Kuna Yala Islands (comprising more than 1300 islands) ** Bocas del Toro Archipelago (archipelago with approximately 300 islands) *'''{{USA}}''' **Florida Keys ***Florida Keys#Upper keys

Upper Keys
***Florida Keys#Middle keys

Middle Keys
***Florida Keys#Lower keys

Lower Keys
***Florida Keys#Outlying islands

Outlying Islands
**Navassa Island * '''{{VEN}}''' ** Isla Margarita **Coche, Venezuela

Coche Island
**Cubagua

Cubagua Island
**Los Monjes Archipelago **Las Aves Archipelago **Isla Aves **Los Hermanos Archipelago **Islas Los Frailes **Los Roques Archipelago **La Sola Island **La Tortuga Island **La Orchila **Blanquilla Island **Los Testigos Islands **Isla de Patos {{EndMultiCol}} The nations of Belize and Guyana, although on the mainland of Central America and South America respectively, are former British colonies and maintain many cultural ties to the Caribbean. They are members of Caribbean Community

CARICOM
. Nicaragua's Caribbean Coast, often referred to as the Mosquito Coast, was also a former British colony. It maintains many cultural ties to the Caribbean as distinct from the Pacific coast. Guyana participates in West Indies cricket tournaments and many players from Guyana have been on the West Indies Test cricket team. The Turneffe Islands (and many other islands and reefs) are part of Belize and lie in the Caribbean Sea. The nation of Suriname, on the mainland of South America, is a former Dutch colony and also a member of CARICOM. ==Biodiversity== {{Expand

section

date=December 2009}} The Caribbean islands are classified as one of Conservation International's biodiversity hotspots because they support exceptionally diverse ecosystems, ranging from montane cloud forests to cactus scrublands. These ecosystems have been devastated by deforestation and human encroachment. The arrival of the first humans is correlated with extinction of Tyto pollens

giant
Ornimegalonyx

owls
and Megalocnus

dwarf ground sloths
.<ref>[http://www.thegreatstory.org/charts/NA-extinctions.html North American Extinctions v. World]</ref> The hotspot contains dozens of highly threatened species, ranging from birds, to mammals and reptiles. Popular examples include the Puerto Rican Amazon, two species of solenodon (giant shrews) in Cuba and Haiti, and the Cuban Crocodile

Cuban crocodile
. The hotspot is also remarkable for the decimation of its fauna. {{wide image

Isla Saona.jpg

800px

<center> Saona Island, Dominican Republic</center>}} ==Politics== ===Regionalism=== Caribbean societies are very different from other western societies in terms of size, culture, and degree of mobility of their citizens.<ref>Gowricharn, Ruben. ''Caribbean Transnationalism: Migraton, Pluralization, and Social Cohesion'', Lanham: Lexington Books, 2006. pp. 5</ref> The current economic and political problems which the states face individually are common to all Caribbean states. Regional development has contributed to attempts to subdue current problems and avoid projected problems. From a political economic perspective, Regionalism (politics)

regionalism
serves to make Caribbean states active participants in current international affairs through collective coalitions. In 1973, the first political regionalism in the Caribbean Basin was created by advances of the English-speaking Caribbean nations through the institution known as the Caribbean Common Market and Community (CARICOM).<ref>Hillman, Richard S., and Thomas J. D'agostino, eds. ''Understanding the Contemporary Caribbean'', London: Lynne Rienner, 2003. pp. 150</ref> Certain scholars have argued both for and against generalizing the political structures of the Caribbean. On the one hand the Caribbean states are politically diverse, ranging from communist systems such as Cuba toward more capitalist Westminster-style parliamentary systems as in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Other scholars argue that these differences are superficial, and that they tend to undermine commonalities in the various Caribbean states. Contemporary Caribbean systems seem to reflect a “blending of traditional and modern patterns, yielding hybrid systems that exhibit significant structural variations and divergent constitutional traditions yet ultimately appear to function in similar ways.”<ref>Hillman, Richard S., and Thomas J. D'agostino, eds. ''Understanding the Contemporary Caribbean'', London: Lynne Rienner, 2003. pp. 165</ref> The political systems of the Caribbean states share similar practices. The influence of regionalism in the Caribbean is often marginalized. Some scholars believe that regionalism cannot not exist in the Caribbean because each small state is unique. On the other hand, scholars also suggest that there are commonalities amongst the Caribbean nations that suggest regionalism exists. “Proximity as well as historical ties among the Caribbean nations has led to cooperation as well as a desire for collective action.”<ref name=serbin>Serbin, Andres. "Towards an Association of Caribbean States: Raising Some Awkward Questions", ''Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs'' (2004): pp. 1</ref> These attempts at regionalization reflect the nations' desires to compete in the international economic system.<ref name=serbin /> Furthermore, a lack of interest from other major states promoted regionalism in the region. In recent years the Caribbean has suffered from a lack of U.S. interest. “With the end of the Cold War, U.S. security and economic interests have been focused on other areas. As a result there has been a significant reduction in U.S. aid and investment to the Caribbean.”<ref>Hillman, Richard S., and Thomas J. D'agostino, eds. ''Understanding the Contemporary Caribbean'', London: Lynne Rienner, 2003. pp. 123</ref> The lack of international support for these small, relatively poor states, helped regionalism prosper. Following the Cold War another issue of importance in the Caribbean has been the reduced economic growth of some Caribbean States due to the United States and European Union's allegations of special treatment toward the region by each other. ====United States effects on regionalism==== The United States under President Bill Clinton launched a challenge in the World Trade Organization against the EU over Europe's preferential program, known as the Lomé Convention, which allowed banana exports from the former colonies of the ACP countries

Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific states
(ACP) to enter Europe cheaply.<ref>[http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2001/April/The_US-EU_Banana_Agreement.html The U.S.-EU Banana Agreement] See also: {{cite web

url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2008/05/080516_sanders190508.shtml

title=Dominica: Poverty and Potential

publisher=BBC

accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> The World Trade Organization sided in the United States' favour and the beneficial elements of the convention to African, Caribbean and Pacific states has been partially dismantled and replaced by the Cotonou Agreement.<ref>[http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1196354821.32/ WTO rules against EU banana import practices]</ref> During the US/EU dispute the United States imposed large tariffs on European Union goods (up to 100% on some imports) from the EU in order to pressure Europe to change the agreement with the Caribbean nations in favour of the Cotonou Agreement.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/293114.stm No truce in banana war]</ref> Farmers in the Caribbean have complained of their falling profits and rising costs. Americas St Vincent hit by banana war]</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2005/01/050117_ukparliament-concern.shtml Concern for Caribbean farmers]</ref> ====European Union effects on regionalism==== The European Union has also taken issue with US based taxation extended to US companies via the Caribbean countries. The EU instituted a broad labeling of many nations as tax havens by the France-based OECD. The United States has not been in favor of shutting off the practice yet, mainly due to the higher costs that would be passed on to US companies via taxation. Caribbean countries have largely countered the allegations by the OECD by signing more bilateral information sharing deals with OECD members, thus reducing the dangerous aspects of secrecy, and they have strengthened their legislation against money laundering and on the conditions under which companies can be based in their nations. The Caribbean nations have also started to more closely cooperate in the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and other instruments to add oversight of the offshore industry. One of the most important associations that deal with regionalism amongst the nations of the Caribbean Basin has been the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Proposed by CARICOM in 1992, the ACS soon won the support of the other countries of the region. It was founded in July 1994. The ACS maintains regionalism within the Caribbean on issues which are unique to the Caribbean Basin. Through coalition building, like the ACS and CARICOM, regionalism has become an undeniable part of the politics and economics of the Caribbean. The successes of region-building initiatives are still debated by scholars, yet regionalism remains prevalent throughout the Caribbean. ==Regional institutions== Here are some of the bodies that several islands share in collaboration: * Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Trinidad and Tobago * Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), Trinidad and Tobago<ref>[http://www.caic.org.tt CAIC]</ref> * Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO), Trinidad and Tobago<ref>{{cite web

url=http://www.canto.org

title=CANTO Caribbean portal

publisher=Canto.org

date=

accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> * Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Guyana * Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Barbados * CDERA

Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency
(CDERA), Barbados * Caribbean Educators Network,<ref>{{cite web

url=http://www.caribbeaneducatorsnetwork.com

title=Caribbean Educators Network

publisher=CEN

date=

accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> * Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), Saint Lucia<ref>{{cite web

url=http://www.carilec.com

title=Carilec

publisher=Carilec.com

accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> * Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Barbados and Jamaica * Caribbean Food Crop Society * Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), Puerto Rico<ref>http://www.caribbeanhotels.org</ref> * Caribbean Programme for Economic Competitiveness (CPEC), Saint Lucia * Caribbean Regional Environmental Programme (CREP), Barbados<ref>{{cite web

url=http://www.crepnet.net

title=Caribbean Regional Environmental Programme

publisher=Crepnet.net

date=

accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> * Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), Belize<ref>{{cite web

url=http://www.caricom-fisheries.com

title=Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism

publisher=Caricom-fisheries.com

date=

accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> * Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM), Barbados and Dominican Republic<ref>{{cite web

url=http://www.crnm.org

title=Official website of the RNM

publisher=Crnm.org

date=

accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> * Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), Trinidad and Tobago<ref>http://www.c-t-u.org</ref> * Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Barbados * Inter-American Economic Council (IAEC), Washington, D.C. * Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Saint Lucia * Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry (LACNIC), Brazil and Uruguay * ECLAC

United Nations - Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
(ECLAC), Chile and Trinidad and Tobago * University of the West Indies, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago<ref>{{cite web

url=http://www.uwi.edu

title=University of the West Indies

publisher=Uwi.edu

date=

accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> * West Indies Cricket Board, Antigua and Barbuda<ref>{{cite web

url=http://www.windiescricket.com

title=West Indies Cricket Board WICB Official Website

publisher=Windiescricket.com

date=

accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> ==Culture== ===Cuisine=== {{Main

Caribbean cuisine}} ====Favorite or National dishes==== {{See also

National_dish#Country-Dish.2FFood}} *{{flag

Anguilla}} - Rice and Peas and Fish *{{flag

Antigua and Barbuda}} - Fungee & Pepperpot *{{flag

Bahamas}} - Conch

Crack Conch with Peas and Rice
<ref>http://www.caribbeanamericanfoods.com/?page=island_dishes</ref> *{{flag

Barbados}} - Cou-Cou and Flying fish *{{flag

British Virgin Islands}} - Fish and fungee *{{flag

Cayman Islands}} - Turtle Stew *{{flag

Cuba}} - Platillo Moros y Cristianos, Ajiaco *{{flag

Dominica}} - Mountain chicken *{{flag

Dominican Republic}} - White rice topped with stewed red kidney beans, pan fry

pan fried
or braised beef, and side dish of green salad and/or tostón

tostones
, or the ever popular Dominican dish known as Mangú (dish)

Mangú
which is mashed plantains. The ensemble is usually called ''bandera nacional'', which means "national flag", a term equivalent to the Venezuelan ''pabellón criollo''. *{{flag

Grenada}} - Oil-Down *{{flag

Guyana}} - beef/chicken/potatoe curry and roti, catahar, callaloo, dhal and rice, plantains, white pudding, pumpkin and rice, okra, pepperpot, catfish curry *{{flag

Haiti}} - Griot (Fried pork) served with Du riz a pois or Diri ak Pwa (Rice and beans) *{{flag

Jamaica}} - ackee and saltfish, callaloo *{{flag

Montserrat}} - Goat Water *{{flag

Puerto Rico}} - Cuisine of Puerto Rico#Puerto Rican Dishes

Arroz con gandules
with roasted pork shoulder, arroz con pollo, Mofongo *{{flag

Saint Kitts and Nevis}} - Coconut dumplings, Spicy plantain, saltfish, breadfruit *{{flag

Saint Lucia}} - Green Bananas & Dried and salted cod *{{flag

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}} - Roasted Breadfruit & Yam *{{flag

Trinidad and Tobago}} - Doubles (food)

Doubles
, Wrap roti

Roti
, Crab and dumpling, Pelau *{{flag

United States Virgin Islands}} - Kallaloo, fish and fungee ==See also== {{Caribbean portal}} {{main

List of Caribbean-related topics}} *African diaspora *Americas (terminology) *British Afro-Caribbean community *Caribbean Spanish *Caribbean English *CONCACAF *Council on Hemispheric Affairs *History of the Caribbean *Indo-Caribbean *Islands of the Caribbean *Latin American and Caribbean Congress in Solidarity with Puerto Rico’s Independence *List of Indigenous Names of Eastern Caribbean Islands *Middle America (Americas) *Mountain peaks of the Caribbean *Music of the Caribbean *Piracy in the Caribbean *Politics of the Caribbean *Tongue of the Ocean *Tourism in Caribbean *West Indies Federation ==References== {{reflist

colwidth=30em}} "Diversity Amid Globalization" 4th edition. Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff. ==Further reading== *Develtere, Patrick. 1994. "Co-operation and development: With special reference to the experience of the Commonwealth Caribbean" ACCO, ISBN 9033431815 *Gowricharn, Ruben. Caribbean Transnationalism: Migraton, Pluralization, and Social Cohesion. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2006. *Henke, Holger, and Fred Reno, eds. Modern Political Culture in the Caribbean. Kingston: University of West Indies Press, 2003. *Heuman, Gad. The Caribbean: Brief Histories. London: A Hodder Arnold Publication, 2006 *Hillman, Richard S., and Thomas J. D'agostino, eds. Understanding the Contemporary Caribbean. London: Lynne Rienner, 2003. *de Kadt, Emanuel, (editor). ''Patterns of foreign influence in the Caribbean'', Oxford University Press, 1972 *Knight, Franklin W.. The Modern Caribbean. na: The University of North Carolina Press, 1989. *Kurlansky, Mark. 1992. ''A Continent of Islands: Searching for the Caribbean Destiny''. Addison-Wesley Publishing. ISBN 0201523965 *Langley, Lester D. The United States and the Caribbean in the Twentieth Century. London: University of Georgia Press, 1989. *Maingot, Anthony P. The United States and the Caribbean: Challenges of an Asymmetrical Relationship. Westview P, 1994. *Ramnarine, Tina K., "Beautiful Cosmos: Performance and Belonging in the Caribbean Diaspora". London, Pluto Press, 2007 *Serbin, Andres. "Towards an Association of Caribbean States: Raising Some Awkward Questions." Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs (2004): 1-19. (This scholar has many articles referencing the politics of the Caribbean) ==External links== {{sisterlinks}} * [http://wikitravel.org/en/Caribbean Wikitravel - The Caribbean] * [http://www.dloc.com Digital Library of the Caribbean] *[http://countrystudies.us/caribbean-islands/ Federal Research Division of the U.S. Library of Congress]: Caribbean Islands (1987) *[http://www.bristol.ac.uk/is/library/collections/specialcollections/archives/#west West Indies papers] Miscellaneous personal and estate records, 1663-1929, University of Bristol Library Special Collections * [http://lanic.utexas.edu/country/caribbean/ LANIC Caribbean country pages] {{Regions of the world}} {{Coord

14

31

32

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display=title

type:waterbody_source:dewiki_scale:15000000}} <!-- Please respect alphabetical order --> Category:Caribbean

Category:Caribbean islands

Category:Biodiversity hotspots Category:Regions of the Americas ar:???????? az:Karib hövz?si bg:???????? ??????? ca:Carib cs:Karibik da:Caribien de:Karibik el:?a?a?ß??? es:Caribe (zona) eo:Karibio eu:Karibe fa:??????? fr:Espace Caraïbe gd:A' Chairibìan gl:Caribe (rexión) ko:??? ?? hi:???????? hr:Karibi id:Kepulauan Karibia it:Caraibi he:????? ???????? ka:???????? sw:Visiwa vya Karibi kg:Karibe ht:Karayib ku:Karîb lv:Karibu regions lb:Karibik lt:Karibu juros regionas hu:Karib-térség mk:?????? mr:???????? ms:Caribbean nl:Caraïben ja:?????? no:Karibien nds:Karibik pl:Karaiby pt:Caribe ro:Caraibe qu:Chawpi Awya Yalap Wat'ankuna ru:????-????? sco:Caribbean sq:Karaibet simple:Caribbean sk:Karibik sl:Karibi sr:?????? fi:Länsi-Intia sv:Västindien tl:Karibe ta:???????? th:?????????? tr:Karayipler uk:????-????? vec:Caraibi vi:Vùng Caribe war:Caribe yo:Kàríb?´ánì zh:?????