Nanny Cay, and the British Virgin Islands, will be the last stop in the 2024 44Cup at the end of November. The 44Cup is a five-venue international race circuit for high-performance one-design RC44s with amateur helmsmen and professional crews. The fleet will be based out of Nanny Cay Marina, and hosted by the Royal BVI Yacht Club, for the setup and five days of racing.
Racing will take place on one of the world’s best courses – the Sir Francis Drake Channel between Tortola and the smaller off-lying islands to the south, such as Peter Island, Norman Island and Ginger Island. While the race area is still relatively open to the typical easterly trade winds which blow in this part of the Caribbean, the effect of these low-lying islands is to flatten out the water.
“We have the space, skills, and equipment to handle the logistics of the 10 or more 40-foot containers that will arrive for the race,” said Miles Sutherland Pilch, general manager of Nanny Cay. “Once the boats are rigged and ready, they’ll be on our docks and minutes away from the start-line on the Sir Francis Dark Channel. It’s going to be an exciting time!”
The circuit last visited the Caribbean at the end of 2015, with the Virgin Gorda Cup. On that occasion the event was held out the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s clubhouse in the North Sound.
2024 44Cup Schedule
February 28-March 3 – 44Cup Calero Marinas, Canary Islands
May 8-12 – 44Cup Baiona, Spain
June 19-23 – 44Cup Marstrand, Sweden
August 21-25 – RC44 World Championship Brunnen, Switzerland
November 20-24 – 44Cup Tortola, British Virgin Islands
About the 44Cup
Five-time America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts conceived the series and the design of the light-displacement, high-performance one-design RC44 with naval architect Andrej Justin in 2005. Created for top level one design racing in international regattas under strictly controlled Class Rules, the concept and design features of the RC44 are aimed at the amateur helmsmen with professional crews.
The defining spirit of the 44Cup brings together the worlds of sailing and business, allowing amateur owner drivers to race high performance one-design yachts against some of the world’s best sailors, competing in some of the most beautiful and diverse sailing venues around the world.
Since its launch in 2007, the RC44 Championship Tour has established itself as a key series to compete on in the international yacht racing scene. After 12 years and as the class went from strength to strength, with new venues introduced the calendar and new teams joining the fleet, the class rebranded as the 44Cup for 2019.
For 2024 fleet size will kick off with nine entries for the first event and over the course of the season is expected to grow to more than ten with two brand new RC44s coming online for the new year.
