PRESS RELEASE: 10 January 2013
Latest News: BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival - March 25-31
Competitive One-Design Fleet heads for BVI Spring Regatta
Continually evolving the race programme for the BVI Spring Regatta (March 29-31),
the organisers are pleased to include the exciting one-design Melges 32 class in
its regatta. Regatta host, Nanny Cay Resort & Marina will welcome several of these
fun, fast and highly competitive boats with crews to match, as part of the inaugural
2013 Melges 32 Virgin Islands Sailing Series.
Roberto Tomasini Grinover's Melges 32, Robertissima 1 from Lugano Yacht Club (SUI)
Credit: Joy Dunigan
Entries in the BVI Spring Regatta includes one of the movers-and-shakers behind
the series inception, BVIs Mark Plaxton, who along with top Caribbean sailor Peter
Holmburg, recognised that this as one of the hottest classes on the circuit right
now. Plaxton's BVI team INTAC from the BVI Royal Yacht Club, will be hot on the
heels of another BVI Spring Regatta regular, Jaime Torres' Smile and Wave who will
be back from Puerto Rico with his team to compete in a new boat and class.
Stepping up with a new boat: Smile and Wave (PUR)
Ready to take their racing to a new level and stepping up their game with their
new Melges 32 is Puerto Rican, Jaime Torres' Smile and Wave. This will the third
visit to the Spring Regatta for the team who secured a runners-up victory in their
Beneteau First 40 in 2012 and are proud holders of the Guy Eldridge Spirit and Enthusiasm
award:
"The BVI Spring Regatta offers some of the most competitive, challenging and scenic
racetracks of anywhere in the world, along with an awesome shoreside party scene,"
enthuses Torres. "What could possibly make it better for the racing sailor? To do
it in high performance one-design keelboat! That is why I upgraded from my beautiful
Beneteau First 40 to the amazing Melges 32. I can't wait to sail against the world's
best sailors in the world's best waters."
Top International Teams to Watch
Other Melges 32 entries in the non-sanctioned BVI event include one of the circuits
top players: Roberto Tomasini Grinover's Robertissima 1 from Lugano Yacht Club (SUI),
who at the end of 2012 narrowly missed out on securing the Melges 32 Gold Cup in
Fort Lauderdale. With legendary Italian sailor, Vasco Vascotto on tactics, the
team fell to finish second overall after leading the event.
The Melges 32 fleet will be highly competitive and non-more-so than Valentine Zavadnikov's
entry from Moscow, Synergy GT (RUS). This well-known Russian politician, businessman
and public figure will helm the boat with a team whose motivation is: 'Their love
for the sea and passion for sailing.' The Synergy team became the RC44 Match Racing
World Champion and a debut in the dynamic Melges 32 promoted Synergy to the honour
of the 'Best Russian Sailing Team'. In 2013 Synergy will continue racing in RC44
and Melges 32 classes and will participate in more than 15 regattas in Europe,
the USA, the Caribbean and the Middle East. We look forward to welcoming them to
Tortola and hot racing in the British Virgin Islands.
Calling Swan Owners
At the 2012 BVI Spring Regatta, six Swan yachts competed for the Swan Cup which
was won by Christian and Lucy Reynolds' Swan 51, Northern Child (GBR).
Christian and Lucy Reynolds' Swan 51 Northern Child (GBR) won 1st in class in the
2012 BVI Spring Regatta and the Swan Trophy Credit: Todd van Sickle
The fleet also included Bob Beltrano's Swan 53, Nai'a (USA). Owners, Bob and Kristin
have been cruising the Caribbean and US East Coast since 2000, spending summer in
Annapolis and winters in Tortola at Nanny Cay. With the event on their doorstep,
they will be back to challenge any other Swan yachts taking part, even though:
"We are probably the only boat racing with a cappuccino machine, full freezer and
a 40' HDTV on board!" exclaims Beltrano.
Bob & Kristin Beltrano's Swan 53, Nai'a (USA) will compete once again Credit: Todd
van Sickle
Other Swan owners taking part in the Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean at Yacht Club Costa
Smeralda (YCCS), Virgin Gorda from 11-15th March are invited to sign up to the BVI
Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival to continue their BVI racing experience, on and
off the water.
The week long sailfest includes a newly formatted 3-day Sailing Festival (March
25-28), followed by the three-day BVI Spring Regatta starting on Friday 29th March.
The Regatta includes the International Yacht Club Challenge and culminates in the
awards ceremony for the overall prize winners on Easter, Sunday 31st March.
Charter a Race boat or Join as Crew - Still time to race!
The BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival includes an extremely competitive charter
boat fleet and in 2012, The Moorings - Gold Sponsors, provided racing yachts to
groups who wanted to join in the Regatta fun. Many more crews were able to enjoy
the warm water and hot racing, even if they were unable to bring their own personal
yacht to the Caribbean. Sunsail also offer a chance to race in the bareboat fleet,
a good option for individual sailors wanting a slice of the action. Sunsail sponsor
The International Yacht Club Challenge (IYCC) where teams of sailors from clubs
around the world compete in high performance racing yachts for the much sought-
Challenge Cup, as well as the chance to win a full week's charter to return to the
BVI to defend their title the following year.
There's still time to book an individual place on one of the many racing charter
boats in the Caribbean or to secure a bareboat to race with a team. For full details,
see the Charter pages on the event website: http://www.bvispringregatta.org/bvi/RACEINFO/CharterOptions.aspx
For full details of the Event Schedule, please click here: http://www.bvispringregatta.org/bvi/SCHEDULE/Events.aspx
The Notice of Race for the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival is online at: http://www.bvispringregatta.org/bvi/BVISR2012/NOR.aspx
Enter online: http://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=712
Follow us on Facebook and check online for latest news: www.bvispringregatta.org
ENDS/...
Event Press | BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival | Tortola | Virgin Islands, British
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