Big breeze BVI

Wind start expected to BVI Sailing Festival

With registration now closed for the BVI Sailing Festival, the low pressure precursor to the BVI Spring Regatta can now boast having the fourth largest fleet of handicapped racers in the Caribbean. In only it's sixth year, and with 55 boats entered, the BVI Sailing Festival nips at the heels of the big three - St Maarten Heineken Regatta, Antigua Sailing Week and BVI Spring Regatta. “In no way are we surprised by the success of the event as everyone wants to come and play in the BVI. That said, we’re ecstatic,” remarked Judy Petz, Regatta Director.

Racers, as large as Stuart Robinson’s Stay Calm, the Swan 70, to an IC24 sailed by Ed Proctor, can expect a breezy Caribbean day tomorrow and a spirited beat as winds are forecasted to be 20-22 from the East. Tomorrow’s race takes the competitors from event host, Nanny Cay to the Bitter End Yacht Club, as the fleet competes for the Bitter End Cup. Once there, there are a host of activities planned. On Wednesday, with even more wind forecast, competitors and fans have the choice to lay around by the pool, on the beach, or to spend almost every daylight hour on the water competing in the Nation’s Challenge Cup, where sailors race Bitter End’s dinghies, vying for the coveted cup for their nation’s honour.

Thursday should be a downhill sleigh ride back to Nanny Cay as the fleet competes for the Nanny Cay Cup. As the fleet finishes racing, the Nanny Cay Regatta Village will come alive with food, libations, entertainment and, Mount Gay party. All of this will lead up to the main event, the three-day BVI Spring Regatta which begins on Friday, April 4.

Held annually on the first weekend of April, the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival is celebrating its 37th anniversary. It is now a seven-day event with two events back-to-back attracting an average of 160 yachts per year with eighty percent of the competitors from overseas. The BVI Spring Regatta is presented by Nanny Cay Resort and Marina; the BVI Tourist Board is a Platinum sponsor; Gold sponsors are Bitter End Yacht Club, CCT Global Communications, First Caribbean International Bank, Heineken, Scrub Island Resort, The Moorings, Mount Gay, and SOL. Highland Springs and Maui Jim are Silver sponsors and supporting sponsors are Virgin Textiles, Sea Hawk, Tortola Yacht Services, and BVI Yacht Charters.

The BVI Spring Regatta is jointly owned by the Royal BVI Yacht Club and the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association.