With some of the worst weather on record gripping North America and Europe, the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival has never been more inviting. There are over 30 different boat charter opportunities, providing a range of packages for individuals and teams to live aboard or enjoy the comfort of Nanny Cay Marina, which is specifically designed to cater for visiting sailors.
With seven days of action, the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival takes place in the stunningly beautiful British Virgin Islands. Starting at Nanny Cay, the Sailing Festival kicks off with The Round Tortola Race, followed by a relaxed Island Race and a Beach Day at Nanny Cay.
After the warm up, the BVI Spring Regatta provides three days of hot racing, with some of the best sailing action anywhere in the Caribbean. Nanny Cay Marina is regatta central with all day fun for all the family and legendary parties after sundown with live music and dancing on the beach.
Gold Sponsor, The Moorings, has been providing charter yachts for over 40 years. There are seven different types of yacht to choose, starting from the Moorings Club 37.2, 2-cabin cruiser, comfortable for a crew of six to ledgendary 50.5 At the top of the range is the brand new spacious Moorings 4800 catamaran, which can comfortably accommodate 10 people, yes you can race multihulls.
Photo Todd VanSickle
In partnership with Sunsail, the International Yacht Club Challenge (IYCC) will its 6th year during the BVI Spring Regatta with a glittering prize. The international event is open to yacht clubs from around the world to send their enthusiastic racers to the BVI Spring Regatta to compete with one of the sleek Sunsail bareboats. Teams from all over the world arrive in Tortola with a full package provided and the racing is intense. Last year, Peter Neilson’s team, representing the Boston Yacht Club, won the event by a single point and nine yachts all scored podium finishes.
“Each club enters the International Yacht Club Challenge by chartering one of Sunsail’s high performance monohulls, fully equipped boats that offer spacious accommodations as well as superior race quality.”commented Chris Haycraft, Commodore, Royal BVI Yacht Club. “The winning Yacht Club team will win a full week charter from Sunsail, along with the honour of winning the International Yacht Club Challenge.”
Besides a wide range of bareboat charter opportunities there are also bespoke race charter options available at the BVI Spring Regatta for groups or individuals. From fast action-packed fleet racing in IC24s to powerful big-boat racing in ocean going high performance yachts, there are options to suit any standard of sailor or race team.
British based, Performance Yacht Racing have entered four yachts for the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival. J/120, El Ocaso is fully booked but Swan 51, Northern Child, First 40, Southern Child and First 47.7, EHO1 are still currently available for individual and whole boat charter.
“The BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival is one of our favorite regattas.” commented Southern Child skipper, Lucy Reynolds. ” There is a perfect balance of fun racing in the Sailing Festival, serious racing in the Spring Regatta and great parties every night, all set in the wonderful waters of the BVI, which makes this event very hard to beat.”
For more information go to: www.bvispringregatta.org
TIPS FOR CHARTERING
This article by Charter Savvy is excellent with tips for all charterers and racers alike.
Racing 101 and then some.
“But as well as a great tan and stories about lazing in a tropical anchorage while sipping icy rum drinks, some of these skippers will be taking home regatta silverware as well.
Bareboat charter racing has long been embraced by Europeans, who are more than happy to leave the snow and slush of winter behind to spend a week racing and partying around the Caribbean islands. And now North Americans are getting on the train, too.”
