Ireland wins Nations Challenge

Shirley Robertson pushed down to third in BVI Spring Regatta opener

Six teams - with two on the waiting list - entered the second annual Nations' Challenge Cup held on the North Sound in Virgin Gorda yesterday (March 30). With two flights of four races each in the morning and afternoon, Team Ireland led by nineteen year old Jeremy Wilmott, son of Crescendo's skipper Jamie Wilmott, racked up fifteen points in the eight races and took the Cup.

Team GB and Team West Coast, defending Team West Coast's honour from last year - albeit with a different team - tied on points with Team West Coast getting the second place on the tie-break. Team West Coast was made up of crew from Cosmic Warlord, winners of the racing class in the previous day's Bitter End Cup. Mike George was at the helm. The third place Team GB comprised of two-time gold medalist Shirley Robertson and Jamie Boag who will be competing in Bareboat A during the BVI Spring Regatta. They were joined by Barry and Sue Parkin, who are sailing again this year with the BVI Melges 24 Mistress Quickly during the regatta.

Team BVI, Germany and MidWest also competed in the event that was held in The Bitter End Yacht Club's fleet of Hunter 216s.

Final standings:

Team Ireland, 15 points
Team West Coast, 20 points
Team GB, 20 points
Team BVI, 32 points
Team Germany, 35 points
Team Mid-West, 46 points

The Nations' Challenge Cup is part of the Sailing Festival that has turned the traditional three days of racing action into a week-long sailing vacation that takes participants throughout the British Virgin Islands in "seven days of fun with two great events in one".

The three-day BVI Spring Regatta starts tomorrow (April 1) and takes place on the south side of Tortola in the Sir Francis Drake Channel on three different courses.