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!

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