IC24 take on the One-Design race course
Back by request, the BVI Spring Regatta’s One-Design race area will be part of the 2014 regatta March 31- April 6. For years the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival has had three separate race areas. It has been a signature of the Spring Regatta to give the classes more selection and the race officers more options.
The one-design joins the two race areas out on the water; one for cruising/bare boats and the SOL course for racing. Having a race area specifically for one-design boats sets them apart and gives them their own space and races. The area was started for the IC24’s, (converted J24) and now will include the fast growing J70 fleet.
“With the one-design area, the Race Committee can set courses that allows these boats to have up to five races a day. Being able to set a course on the fly with existing wind conditions is fantastic. The sailors can maximize their time on the water and get in plenty of tight racing,” said Robert Phillips, Race Committee Chairman.
Each year the Committee has innovative designs, techniques and ideas to up the game for all the sailors. The past few years the Committee has used a chart of each race area and surrounding water numbered with marks, islands and nautical markers. This allows the Committee to create the best race course for each class and each race. Checking wind, water and time limits, they can run windward/leeward courses, round islands and marks, and mix up the three days of racing. Another unique feature of the British Virgin Islands are its three bodies of water on which to race: The Atlantic Ocean, the Sir Francis Drake Channel and the Caribbean Sea.
The BVI Spring Regatta slogan of Warm Water~ Hot Racing, also includes “Something for everyone”, adding back the one-design area makes that even more true.
