Tortola to Bermuda Rally Set to Depart May 3
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Caribbean 1500 ralliers prepare to leave Hampton for last year’s event heading to the Caribbean (click to enlarge).The Cruising Rally Association announced today that Nanny Cay Resort & Marina, the British Virgin Islands’ flagship marina, will be the Caribbean Host Marina for its sailing events.
The first Cruising Rally Association event to be hosted by Nanny Cay will be the Atlantic Cup Rally departing from the Nanny Cay Marina on Tortola, May 3, and finishing in Bermuda 4-5 days later. The Atlantic Cup is the companion rally to November’s Caribbean 1500 and offers the opportunity for returning cruisers to enjoy the camaraderie, competition, and adventure of an 850-mile rally. Pre-start festivities and skipper briefings will begin on May 1 at Nanny Cay.
The Atlantic Cup is open to sailors with well founded offshore boats at least 38 feet long and crews of two or more. It is not limited to veterans of other Cruising Rally Association events.
The second event is the Caribbean 1500 slated to start November 2, 2009. The 2009 Caribbean 1500 Rally will be the 20th annual running of this event making it the largest and longest-running offshore cruising event in the Americas. Steve Black, President and Founder of the Cruising Rally Association, anticipates a record entry of returning Ralliers for the anniversary activities.
“We are very pleased to be part of the Cruising Rally Association events. The fact that we are attracting high quality events, shows that we are creating a world-class marina here in the British Virgin Islands. We’re extremely well suited to attend to the needs of the skippers, crew, and guests associated with these events,” said Miles Sutherland-Pilch, general manager of Nanny Cay.
“Nanny Cay, with its marina, hotel and boat yard offers a broad range of facilities, services, and amenities which will be a popular choice with our Atlantic Cup and Caribbean 1500 participants,” said Steve Black. “This will be the 20th year of the Caribbean 1500 and we believe that Nanny Cay will be a particularly fine place to celebrate.”
The Cruising Rally Association rallies retain some of the competitive elements of traditional sailboat races, but offer social, educational and technological enhancements that broaden the appeal of the event to couples and families, as well as racers – both experienced and first-timers.