BVI Spring Regatta

Rene Van Dop’s Dutch Team Aquaholics sealed Bareboat 1 class win with two bullets today The large expanse of the North Atlantic lies just to the North of The British Virgin Islands and on this morning, the BVI Spring Regatta competitors got a real taste of it. The sea state kicked up to 2 metres and the wind speed for the first start was 20 plus knots when a vicious squall darkened the horizon in The Sir Francis Drake Channel.

Blinding rain colder than the sea spray reduced visibility to just a few feet and had sailors scurrying for foul weather gear. With wet sails, slippery decks and the big easterly breeze blowing squalls in off the Atlantic, the last day of racing at the BVI Spring Regatta got under way. However, conditions improved during the day with the squalls diminishing to allow the competitors to dry out in the fresh 15-20 knots of warm breeze and glimpse of sunshine through the broken cloud.

With 20 knots of easterly funnelling into bullets of pressure of 25 knots, the second day of the BVI Spring Regatta hosted by Nanny Cay Marina produced some electric action in the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Pulses were racing, especially in the Melges and IC24 fleet who scampered downwind in a ball of spray, surfing at high speed. With no discard available in the BVI Spring Regatta, keeping clear of trouble was a major factor in the big breeze and the yachts that succeeded faired well on the leaderboard after a windy day in paradise.

Hamnett Hill’s Marten 49, Defiance from Montreal, Canada leads Performance Cruiser 1 after day one of racing Photo: Todd VanSickleIt was a day for watching the weather on the first day of the BVI Spring Regatta hosted by Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola. 10-12 knots of easterly pressure provided perfect conditions for the fleet at the start of the day and the Race Committee chose to use the string of beautiful islands on the south side of the Sir Francis Drake Channel as turning marks for the first race. The wind speed and direction oscillated somewhat to deliver shifty conditions and tactical racing. Later in the day, a heavy rainsquall caused an early end to proceedings due to unstable wind conditions.

After two days of fabulous racing in the BVI Sailing Festival, the BVI Spring Regatta starts tomorrow, Friday 29th March with three days of racing in the spectacular BVI archipelago based at Nanny Cay Marina & Resort in Tortola.

Crew of The Blue Peter, first across the lineDay Two of the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival was blessed with ideal conditions for the Caribbean Insurers Island Invitational Race to Norman Island.

Hosted by Nanny Cay, the biggest international sporting event in the BVI starts today, Monday March 25th with the 42nd BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival.
Registration for the Sailing Festival is now open and tonight a Welcome Party and barbeque at Peg Legs Beach Bar here at Nanny Cay, will start the social programme. A week-long event is scheduled, packed with fun ashore and superb racing in one of the world’s finest sailing grounds. The BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival is a celebration of sailing in paradise; sunshine, spectacular scenery, warm breeze and calm blue water.

25-31 March – Warm Water Hot racing Guaranteed!  

Beneteau First 42, Molto Bene enjoys some ‘hot racing’ during the 2012 BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival Credit: Todd van SickleWith less than three weeks to go until the 42nd edition of the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival at Nanny Cay, a truly international cast is making ready to take centre stage in our beautiful sailing grounds.
The BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival has always attracted sailors from around the world to take part and this year is no exception. Entries from at least 12 different nations will compete and include: Australia, Germany, USA, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, Luxembourg, Canada, Russia, Switzerland, British Virgin Islands and other Caribbean islands.

Racing in the BVI Spring Regatta, Roberto Tomasini Grinover’s Melges 32, Robertissima 1 from Lugano Yacht Club (SUI) Credit: Joy DuniganContinually evolving the race programme for the BVI Spring Regatta (March 29-31), the organisers are pleased to include the exciting one-design Melges 32 class in its regatta. We’ll be welcoming several of these fun, fast and highly competitive boats with crews to match, as part of the inaugural 2013 Melges 32 Virgin Islands Sailing Series.