With fantastic sailing conditions and beautiful scenery, the British Virgin Islands provide sailing enthusiasts with a perfect place to soak up the sun. The BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival is the highlight of the season in one of the world’s best sailing locations.

Antelope enjoying fantastic racing conditions went on to win Racing A in the 2011 BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival Credit: Todd VanSickle/BVI Spring Regatta& Sailing Festival

“With seven days of fun and five events to chose from, the regatta has a lot to offer, which is probably why it attracts so many different nationalities. It’s not all about hard-core racing, but we have that too. The regatta is a celebration of all that the BVIs have to offer,” commented Regatta Chairman, Bob Phillips.

Providing hot racing, great parties and a celebrated festival, the event includes a four-day Sailing Festival followed by a three day Regatta, punctuated with some fabulous shore side parties and events. For over 40 years, the BVI Spring Regatta has attracted some of the world’s most famous yachts and sailors and this year is no exception.

Nanny Cay from Sir Richard Branson's Necker Belle - Credit: Todd VanSickle/BVI Spring Regatta& Sailing Festival

The legendary 80ft super yacht Whitbread Maxi, Rothmans was one of the early entries. The yacht is in original and fantastic condition and has been continuously maintained by its present Scandinavian owners. Briton, Richard Balding’s magnificent Swan 60 yacht, Fenix was best placed Swan in last year’s RORC Caribbean 600 and his team have won the Swan European title on several occasions. In December, Croatian X-65 Karuba yacht had a victorious arrival into the British Virgin Islands, winning the Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta by over six hours against very impressive opposition. Early entrants boast competitors from the four corners of the world including; BVI‘s, Canada, Croatia, Great Britain, Puerto Rico, Holland, Russia, South America, Scandinavia and the USA.

Sailing Festival – March 26-29
The Sailing Festival kicks off with a welcome party in the beautiful surroundings of Nanny Cay Marina. The racing action starts with the Bitter End Cup, an awe-inspiring passage race to the Bitter End Yacht Club in Virgin Gorda, which will host three days of fun on and off the water.

Starting with a beach party in a tropical wonderland. Sailors can take part in the Nation’s Cup Challenge, racing Hobie Wave and Getaways for some great prizes. For those who fancy a day off the water, the Bitter End Yacht Club Quarter Deck Pub will be a very popular venue.

The Sailing Festival concludes on March 29 with a return race through the beautiful islands to Tortola. The winner will be awarded the Nanny Cay Cup and that evening, a prize giving for the Sailing Festival will be held at Nanny Cay Marina.

BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival Credit: Trish Jenkins

The GILL BVI International Match Racing Championship – March 28-29
During race week, the ISAF Grade 3 match racing event will take place, assisted by the Chicago Match Racing Centre coordinator, Mary Anne Ward. The world-ranking event has attracted an international field of eight teams. Two days of highly competitive racing on tight windward leeward courses, right off the beach of Nanny Cay will provide some high-octane action.

BVI Spring Regatta – March 29-April 1
Three days of racing and legendary parties are scheduled for the 41st edition of the BVI Spring Regatta, where the majority of the fleet will be moored in the safe harbour of Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola. Each day after racing, the regatta village will be party central with exciting events of all shapes and sizes.

The sailing grounds in the BVI’s are nothing short of spectacular and the race management committee are taking full advantage. The Norman Island Course winds through the scenic archipelago of islands.  The Lime one design course is located close to shore and is ideally suitable IC24 fleet. Whilst the SOL Course area offers racer/cruisers a real work out with up to five races a day of windward/leeward and round the islands on tight coastal courses.

This year the BVI Spring Regatta will host the third edition of the International Yacht Club Challenge (IYCC). Racing in one design Sunsail yachts, the victor will win the generous prize of a week’s charter from the IYCC partner Sunsail.