23 March, 2012
Let's Get the Party Started: BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival 2012
26 March - 1 April 2012
Ready to Race? The BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival starts on Monday 26 March
Credit: Todd VanSickle/BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival
3 days to go: The British Virgin Islands are renowned for crystal blue waters and
heavenly weather and the stunning archipelago of islands offers one of the most
picturesque settings anywhere in the Caribbean. With only a few days to go to the
start of the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival, the event organizers are busy
preparing for a week of hot racing and legendary parties. The whole regatta starts
Monday 26 March. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Sailing Festival and
a record entry of yachts from all over the world will be taking part.
The BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival provides a myriad of fantastic sailing;
breathtaking coastal racing, renowned buoy and round the islands racing. Undoubtedly
the fastest yacht competing will be Paradox, skippered by Frenchman, Olivier Vigoureux.
The 63' multihull is capable of ballistic speed, hitting a mind boggling 38 knots
during this year's RORC Caribbean 600. Probably the fastest monohull will be American
Bill Alcott's STP65, Equation.
The Farr designed speed machine is a past winner of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race
and Alcott has a highly accomplished team on board visiting from Miami. Bill Alcott
won the first BVI Sailing Festival and he has been coming back ever since.
A huge variety of yachts will be competing including the legendary Whitbread Maxi,
Rothmans. Bill Erixon and his Swedish team is celebrating a world sailing tour and
chose the BVI Spring Regatta for their Caribbean adventure. From Los Angeles, California,
a Wild West duel is likely between two one design Farr400s. Mick Shlens' Blade should
be evenly matched with Dougie Baker's Magnitude. From Trinidad, Peter Peake will
be campaigning his new charge, Peake Yacht Services. The Reichel Pugh 37 is a real
pocket rocket and a former winner of the Cape Town to Rio Race. British entry, Diamonds
are Forever skippered by Annie O'Sullivan, should prove to be one of the more colourful
entries. The all-girl sailing school has a reputation for consistent form at regattas,
by partying as hard as they sail on the water!
The Sailing Festival kicks off the week long festivities and starts with an awe-inspiring
passage races from Nanny Cay to the Bitter End Yacht Club in beautiful Virgin Gorda.
With small bays and hidden coves, the British Virgin Islands are a wondrous sight
and winding through the pristine chain of islands is every sailors dream. Beyond
doubt the BVIs are a tropical paradise and there is ample opportunity to explore
the delights of Virgin Gorda on Lay Day. The return passage race down the channel,
to Nanny Cay Marina will complete the Sailing Festival, bringing the fleet back
to Tortola in time to join the party for the BVI Spring Regatta.
Nanny Cay Marina [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1109575136177&s=408&e=001m4Pp-MA1x5AbgYj1-1QRblDTzcTXjFqQhyGF0UjokrOQfXF8-EobsLfci8M-cJ92g3f7D-06Ey_llW2TVlNUXeQIrm4QfSspLOAVINVPpgc=]
will already be buzzing with excitement; Wednesday and Thursday 28-29 March, Nanny
Cay will play host to the GILL BVI International Match Racing Championships. Two
days of exciting duels between IC24's on tight windward leeward courses. Eight
international teams will battle it out in an ISAF sanctioned Grade 3 match racing
event. With expert race commentary, spectators can follow the drama as it unfolds
from the shore of Nanny Cay.
The BVI Spring Regatta attracts the largest fleet at the event and runs from March
30 - April 1. With three days of world-class racing action and famous beach parties
at Nanny Cay Marina, the regatta is not to be missed. The action off the water includes
the annual bikini show on Saturday and stilt walking Moko Jumbies on Sunday night,
so there's plenty to entertain racers and spectators alike. Every evening,video
footage from the day's event will be broadcast in the Race Village and there will
be daily results and race reports with awesome pictures of the sailing action and
evening festivities.
The party starts on Monday 26 March. For more information about the BVI Spring Regatta
& Sailing Festival go to: www.bvispringregatta.org [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1109575136177&s=408&e=001m4Pp-MA1x5AfjPcjS1W7ReMXZn5w1_xpUAYYsV8G1C_nm9jPegxZQwAC5n1RCmynIv33bAhITudOlckm3Q-ulSrgPbKh_MthvmW4pgi2tExiCINyCo1P8g==]
The BVI Spring Regatta Race Village on Nanny Cay Beach
Credit: Todd Van Sickle/BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival
Please credit: Todd VanSickle/BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival:
http://www.caribbeanracing.com/bvisr11/2011_pressphotos/index.htm
PROGRAMME
Note: A copy of the latest programme will be in the press packs and is available
here: SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Event Press | BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival | Tortola | Virgin Islands, British
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