International Yacht Club Challenge at the BVI Spring Regatta

In the centuries old tradition, the Commodore of the Royal British Virgin Islands Yacht Club is inviting other yacht clubs from around the world to send teams to compete in the inaugural International Yacht Club Challenge. The IYCC will be part of the 2010 BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, March 29 ? April 4. To sweeten the pot, Sunsail Yacht Charters is providing up to a 10% discount for all those booking for the IYCC, a free charter to the winning team and a perpetual trophy. Although this is the inaugural year for the IYCC, it will be the 39th for the BVI Spring Regatta and as in the past eleven years, the 2010 edition will be hosted and presented by the Nanny Cay Marina and Resort. Simon Wood, Commodore of the Royal BVI Yacht Club, who is planning to skipper a boat and be part of the BVI team, is excited about the possibility of pitting the best sailors in the BVI against their rivals. ?We are looking forward to welcoming teams from around the world. The support we have seen from both the BVI Tourist Board and Sunsail is phenomenal and we expect to have a very positive response.? He went on to say, ?When faced with a month or two more of cold, dreary weather in other parts of the world, the Caribbean looks quite inviting. When you add some spirited competition on the water, I think it will be hard to turn down our invitation. While there is no doubt I?ll be rooting for the home team, I?m keen to mix it up.? To promote the inaugural IYCC, the BVI Tourist Board is joining with Sunsail and the BVI Spring Regatta to officially launch the event, August 1 ? 8, at one of the world?s largest regatta, Cowes Race Week. Besides banners and the inclusion of the 2010 BVI Spring Regatta brochure in the 1000 or so skippers? bags, there will be some BVI give-aways and radio ads. Worldwide excitement is high. An invitation will go out in September to all the yacht clubs in the U.K with the help of the BVI Tourist Board. The German BVI Tourist Board is planning to translate the 2010 BVI Spring Regatta brochure to German and then promote the IYCC throughout the yacht clubs there and a similar programme is being planned for the US. With discounts of up to 10%, the chance to win a week?s charter and great competition, Josie Tucci, the Sunsail Brand Manager expects a lot of interest. ??The IYCC is a perfect opportunity because it opens up racing to a lot of people who don?t have their own boats in the BVI.??Our Beneteau 39, the boat of choice to race, has performed well in past regattas. ?The event will also promote good camaraderie among the yacht clubs throughout the world as they will be competing in like boats in gorgeous Caribbean conditions.?? Ends Held annually on the first weekend of April, the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival will be celebrating its 39th anniversary. It is now a seven-day event with two events back-to-back attracting an average of 150 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, LIME, First Caribbean International Bank, Heineken,? The Moorings,? Mount Gay, and SOL.??? New for 2010, the International Yacht Club Challenge will pit competitors from yacht clubs throughout the world against each other in Sunsail Beneteau 39?s. Participants will receive up to a 10% discount on the charter and compete for a grand prize of a free week?s charter. Visitors can fly to the British Virgin Islands through San Juan, Puerto Rico with American Airlines, Cape Air and LIAT. Flights are also available through Antigua and Barbados on Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and BWIA.? Ferry service is also available from St. Thomas. For full details on the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival including daily news, photos and complete results from the 2009 event, visit the official web site: https://www.bvispringregatta.org. For more information on the British Virgin Islands visit: www.bvitourism.com. For more information on Nanny Cay Marina visit: www.nannycay.com. The BVI Spring Regatta is jointly owned by the Royal BVI Yacht Club and the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association.