BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival - Warm water and hot racing

by Trish Jenkins on 14 Feb 2012 BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival 41st anniversary edition, presented by Nanny Cay Marina, is being held during 26th March and 1st April 2012.

With less than two months to the start of the festival, there is still time to experience one of the best loved regattas in the Caribbean. Gold Sponsor, The Moorings is the official charter partner for the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival and they offer a wide variety of modern yachts and packages to choose from.

At this year's BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, Dutch Grand Soleil 43, Antilope will count one of the world's most famous sailors in the race. Bouwe Bekking has competed in six round the world races, twice as skipper and Antilope's crew are also taking advantage of the excellent charter facilities in the British Virgin Islands.

'The BVIs is just a fantastic place and rather than put the crew in a house, we have chartered a catamaran for the event. It means that we can stay right in the marina and enjoy all of the dockside fun. Nanny Cay Marina is very sheltered so all the crew can enjoy a comfortable sleep on board with no problem at all and friends and family can also use the catamaran to enjoy a day out on the water.'

Among a large fleet of charter yachts expected for the event, yacht clubs from across the globe can also take part in the third International Yacht Club Challenge (IYCC).

The Commodore of the Royal British Virgin Islands Yacht Club has invited other yacht clubs from around the world to send a team to compete in the IYCC. Yacht clubs from around the world can select members to represent their club and charter a boat from Sunsail. The top prize is a Sunsail charter for a week, hopefully to be used returning the following year to defend the club's title.

For the IYCC, David Higgins, a physician, will be representing the Gavin's Point Yacht Club based in South Dakota:

'It is pretty chilly at home at the moment and I have to say that warm sailing in the beautiful islands is really appealing right now. Our crew will be made up of four couples, including my brother and his wife and also two couples that I often sail with. We have chartered a 53' from Sunsail, it's the largest yacht I have ever chartered but it will also be our home during the regatta. Honestly, one of the main attractions of the IYCC is winning a charter holiday for next year. We love to race and the British Virgin Islands is a wonderful location, at a time of the year when we are experiencing near freezing temperatures in the Mid-West. Role on March, we are all so looking forward to coming out to the BVIs!'

Yacht charter is very well established in the British Virgin Islands. Ready-to-go packages for the regatta include, race measurement and registration and full provisioning for your arrival. A local qualified skipper can also be arranged.

Sunsail's Josie Tucci explains why the British Virgin Islands is their Number One destination:

'The BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival is a superb combination of warm weather racing and fun partying. So it makes sense for us to support this important local event. There's nothing like racing in a Caribbean climate, beautiful blue water racing, friendly competition, great bars and local food.'

For more information about the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival and how to represent your club for the IYCC visit the event website.