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Spring Regatta, Tortola
Of all the annual events held in Tortola, the Spring
Regatta is the one with the highest international profile.
Held on the first weekend in April every year, the BVI
Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, to give it its formal name, is now in its
37th year, having grown form a very local event into a yachting festival of
truly global significance. From its
humble three day beginning, it is now a week of continued festivities – both
in and out of the water. You see,
not only is the Spring Regatta a yachting event of note – it is also party
time of the year in Tortola!
The British Virgin Islands are indisputably the best
sailing waters anywhere in the world. With
consistent weather and winds and most of the islands in line of sight
navigation, this is a yachting paradise. Consequently,
it’s no great surprise that the Spring Regatta attracts such devoted
followers.
Spring Regatta and the BVI Sailing Festival
For the past 6 years, the Spring Regatta has been preceded
by the BVI Sailing Festival, to take the event into a full week’s sailing.
Mainly taking place in and near the Sir Frances Drake Channel, spectators
can be thrilled by the vista of yachts tacking and jibbing their way up and down
the waters. The Sailing Festival is a deliberately low-pressure event
involving racing boats – a record 55 of them in 2008 - from Nanny Cay on
Tortola to the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda on the Tuesday of the week
and then back on the Thursday, competing for the Bitter End Cup.
During the day’s break on Virgin Gorda, the competitors can either
lounge on the beaches or by the pool or, if they want more excitement, they can
participate in the Nations’ Challenge Cup – racing dinghies around the
Bitter End waters all day.
The Friday, Saturday and Sunday then witness the Spring
Regatta itself, with an average of 160 yachts each year, most of them being
crewed by competitors from overseas. This
is altogether a more competitive event, featuring truly world-class racing
action with top ranking sailors from all over the world.
Every day is separately scored, and skippers can elect to enter however
many of the 6 individual races they choose.
Spring Regatta and Regatta Village
It’s not just the sailing that’s fun at Spring Regatta
Week, though. There is the Regatta
Village at the Nanny Cay Marina, offering plenty to eat and drink from 2 pm
until 1 am. In addition, there are
many other partying events held throughout the week.
There is everything you would want in a Caribbean party setting – live
music from the top local bands as well as artists coming into the islands;
fashion shows; happy hours; limbo ‘jump ups’; the famous Mount Gay party; -
all culminating in the Sunday night awards ceremony and official closing party.
For the entire duration of the Regatta and Sailing Festival, the days
(and nights) are crammed with live entertainment, contests and, of course,
Caribbean cuisine and cocktails.
The whole of Tortola comes alive during Spring Regatta
Week. Be well advised, though –
if you’re thinking of coming to sample the unique atmosphere of the Spring
Regatta, you’d best off book your accommodation and flights early; it’s a
popular time!
Click here to return to Tortola Beaches Home from Spring Regatta.
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