Entry Open For 2026 BVI Spring Regatta
Registration has opened for the 2026 BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival, one of the Caribbean’s top regattas. The event has moved forward a week from previously published dates and will take place March 23-29. This move away from the Easter period should make it easier to attend in terms of flight, accommodation, and boat availability.
With over 60 islands and cays, and sheltered sailing waters, the British Virgin Islands are known as the ‘Sailing Capital of the World’. The Regatta attracts a diverse fleet of international racing boats in addition to a strong bareboat fleet. Sailors can enjoy the two-day Sailing Festival, the three-day BVI Spring Regatta, or all five days of racing.
The Scrub Island Race will kick off the Sailing Festival on Tuesday, March 24, and the Nanny Cay Cup Round Tortola Race will take place on Wednesday. After a Lay Day on Thursday, the three-day BVI Spring Regatta kicks off on Friday, March 27.
While most sailors compete on their own boats, a sizeable number of the annual fleet compete on charter boats, and there are plenty of charter options available, from bareboat to performance race boats.
Dutch Team No Escape raced on Baga Jaga, a Moorings 4500 this year; they’ve been ahead of the cat curve having chartered multihulls for some ten years in the BVI. Team No Escape are good friends who met years ago as students, and now, they all sail as often as they can on bigger keel boats; each of them owns a yacht and belongs to the Willemstad sailing club in North Brabant, Netherlands.
“This is our fourth time racing Spring Regatta although we’ve been coming here for ten years, and we always charter a catamaran,” Frank Kastelein, skipper, noted. “We have been trying other racing destinations; we went to Thailand last year and raced in the Phuket King’s Cup, but it was very serious – their Queen was there and all her entourage, it was crazy and uptight, not like the BVI which is so relaxed, so we came back. What we enjoy most about being here is that the wind is good and the people are nice; there is a really good spirit here.”
Bernie Evan-Wong from Antigua took advantage of the opportunity to sign up ‘offline’ with the BVI Tourist Board at Cowes Week where has was racing on Dan Law’s Beneteau 33.7 in Club Cruiser C Class. However, Bernie, a true ambassador of Caribbean racing, has been famously sailing the Caribbean circuit for decades on his Modified Cal 40 Huey Too, and RP37 Taz.
“The BVI Spring Regatta is one of the highlights of the Caribbean sailing calendar. I’m excited to be heading back in 2026 – the racing is always top-class, with spectacular courses between the islands. Each time you go, the racing is always a bit different and challenging, which is what we like. Plus, the shoreside atmosphere is second to none – it’s the perfect mix of serious competition and laid-back island hospitality,” enthused Evan-Wong.
In five days of racing, the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival embraces its unique topography, setting courses that create a bucket list regatta using a combination of islands and buoys. This format provides a scenic tour of the BVI, matched with perfect courses for all classes. The racing is managed by a world-class race management team with two course areas, ensuring that the right classes get the right courses and racing for the day.
The focal point of regatta social activities for the week is the Regatta Village at Nanny Cay which features the Big Top bar, satellite bars, food village, nightly DJs and live bands, tastings and demos, Moko Jumbies, art shows and more.
As the 2025 event wrapped on three days of iconic Caribbean racing, renowned offshore sailor Brian Thompson, racing on Layla, the Gunboat 72, commented: “This is a wonderful venue with great race organisers, race committee and just the welcome here in Tortola has been brilliant, it’s a great sailing community, we’ll be back!”
Sponsorship & Support
Nanny Cay Resort & Marina returns as host and presenting sponsor for the 24th year. The Government of the Virgin Islands has increased its support of the event and long time regatta partner, The Moorings, also returns for 2026.
