BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival
The BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival- one of the most famous festivals in the British Virgin Islands has grown in size and strength over the years, owing largely to the support of racing enthusiasts from around the world who return year after year to compete. The BVI Spring Regatta is now one of the Caribbean's premier annual racing events, with something for everyone, whether you come to race, cruise, or simply party!
The BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival begins with three days of coastal racing and parties, which are followed by a Maritime Heritage Day at Nanny Cay. The week concludes with the main Regatta, which features three days of nonstop, highly competitive racing action in three different areas in and around the Sir Francis Drake Channel, with racing divisions for one-design, bareboat, and performance cruising yachts.
The Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) uses a 'time on time' handicapping rule, as does the CSA Rating Rule. A low rating means that less time will be added to your total race time, whereas a higher rating means that more time will be added to your total race time. The higher the rating, in general, the faster the boat should sail. (For example, if all other factors are equal, a boat with a furling mainsail will have a lower rating than a boat with a fully battened mainsail, because a fully battened mainsail tends to increase sailing performance). This is an international race that may include any or all of the following: around the island, buoy racing, and/or point-to-point racing.
Sunsail charterers can also compete in the International Yacht Club Challenge, which will be held during the BVI Spring Regatta on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, for a chance to win a free sailboat on a future charter vacation. This challenge is open to yacht clubs, who can participate by chartering a Sunsail monohull.
Before, during, and after the races, the Regatta Village transforms into a carnival-like atmosphere with food, drinks, games, and dancing for landlubbers and yachtsmen who congregate to eat, drink, and have a good time.
Takes place: the last week of March
