Painkillers for Cowes

BVI Spring Regatta announce exciting prize to get to sail at their regatta next year

Some lucky competitors at this year's Skandia Cowes Week may see themselves racing in the Caribbean at next year's BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival presented by Nanny Cay Marina on 29 March-4 April, 2004). One Cowes Radio listener will win a seven-night charter on board a Bavaria 36 courtesy of BVI-based Horizon Yacht Charters while revellers who attend the BVI Spring Regatta Painkiller Party could find themselves soaking up the sun and sailing at the world-renowned Bitter End Yacht Club for a week; daily Painkiller prizes will be given to the most deserving crew.

On the first seven days that Cowes Radio is on air (Saturday, August 2 - Friday, August 8th) a daily question will be posed to the listeners. The questions will be related to either the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival, regatta host Nanny Cay Marina or Horizon Yacht Charters.

The first telephone caller to the Cowes Radio production office with the correct answer will receive a voucher for a Painkiller cocktail at The Kitten Club on the Parade in the Skandia Cowes Week Parade Village, but, more importantly, they will be eligible for the knockout final to be held live by Cowes Radio on Friday, 8 August at 5.15pm at the Skandia Cowes Week Parade Village.

The final winner will walk away with the seven-night charter on a Bavaria 36 with Horizon Yacht Charters for the 2004 BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival.

The BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival Painkiller competition kicks off with the Painkiller Party at the Sail for Gold Bar in the new Skandia Cowes Week Parade Village on the Parade on Saturday, August 2nd at 1700. Olympic gold medallists Ben Ainslie and Shirley Robertson will be on hand to officially open the Sail for Gold Bar - supporting British Olympic and Paralympic sailors.

Attendees can enter the draw for the 7-night/8-day fully inclusive Admiral's Package at the Bitter End Yacht Club. Only those still present at the end of four-hour party will be eligible for the draw. Happy Hour starts at 5pm with live music from 10-piece band Alka Salsa.

Located between the yacht clubs on Cowes Parade, the Skandia Cowes Week Parade Village offers something for the visiting yachtsman and spectator with the Skandia Cowes Week Race Office, Sail for Gold Bar, an exhibition on the History of Cowes Week and exhibits from GBR Challenge, the Volvo Ocean Race and much more.

And there's more. Each day of racing at Skandia Cowes Week, the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival Painkiller prize will be awarded to the most spectacular incident, worst performance or terrible start on the water and the crew that are most in need of a Painkiller - a cocktail synonymous with the BVI - to recover. The daily winner will be nominated by Dick Johnson, Cowes Radio's on-water commentator, and Simon Vigar, Royal Yacht Squadron presenter.

Each daily Painkiller prize winner will receive a goodie pack containing the much sought after BVI Spring Regatta red cap, polo shirt and t-shirts, which can be collected daily at the Cowes Radio Production office in the Media Center in Cowes Yacht Haven. However, the winner of the Painkiller prize on day one will be presented with the goodies at the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival Painkiller Party.

Also included in the goodie pack will be a complimentary drinks voucher for the much needed Painkiller cocktail for the whole crew at the Kitten Club on the Parade.

The largest ever BVI Spring Regatta concluded this year with 138 boats competing, substantially beating the record set last year of 114. The inaugural Sailing Festival - a low-pressure, three-day warm up for the regatta - saw 38 boats racing to and from the Bitter End Yacht Club in the North Sound, Virgin Gorda.

The expanded 7-day format has turned the traditional three days of racing action into a week-long sailing festival that takes participants throughout the British Virgin Islands. Three days of destination cruising, racing and Lay Day fun, in, around, to and from Virgin Gorda's enclosed North Sound lead up to the main three-day regatta starting on Friday. The three-day regatta takes place on the south side of Tortola in the Sir Francis Drake Channel on three different courses.

The 2004 BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival starts on Monday, March 29 with a welcome party at regatta hosts, Nanny Cay Marina.

"We have some of the best sailing grounds in the world and this week-long festival enables participants to sail and party in more parts of the BVI," explained Bob Phillips, chairman of the BVI Spring Regatta committee. "It's a flexible format for those that want to see more of the BVI," he continued. "People can participate in the entire seven-day BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival, just the four-day event, or just the three-day regatta."

Nanny Cay Marina will once again be hosting the regatta and the perennial "regatta village". This fully equipped marina and boat repair facility, located within a natural basin, has berths for 180 motor cruisers and yachts.