New for 2010, the BVI Spring Regatta will host the BVI Windsurfing Championship. This event will run concurrently with the 39th annual BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, March 29 – April 4, 2010, and by doing so, will be able to take full advantage of the resources, parties and prestige that the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival offers.   
 
With the format of one board/three sails, amateur and professional competitors may compete in either the Formula or Open class. Classes will be further divided to by age and sex. Although on most days competitors can expect two to three races per day with distance and courses varying throughout Sir Francis Drake Channel, there is at least one downwind long-haul planned as the boards race from the flat water of North Sound to regatta central, Nanny Cay.
 
Nanny Cay Resort and Marina, the presenting sponsor and host, welcomes the board sailors and is allowing those without other accommodations to camp on the premises.  In North Sound, there will be facilities for rigging and ‘limin’ between races, group discounts on dinner and accommodations.
 
Owen Waters, local windsurfing champ is working closely with the BVI Spring Regatta committee in the planning of the BVI Windsurfing Championship. “There are several events worldwide that encompass aspects of what we are trying to do. We want to create a scenario where it is all in one, and the BVI Spring Regatta has created the arena. I expect this event to attract some incredible talent from the Caribbean, America and Europe as we will have BVI Spring Regatta’s professional race management, great venues, parties and the chance for no-holds-barred racing. Here in the BVI, we have a number of excellent board sailors, many of whom have won international competitions. They are looking forward to competing in their home waters and challenge others from throughout the Caribbean and the rest of world to come show us what they've got. With varied courses and stellar Caribbean conditions, we expect to have a lot of fun, challenging the elements and each other."
 
Bob Phillips, Chairman of the BVI Spring Regatta has high expectations, “Following this inaugural event, we plan to apply to the Caribbean Sailing Association to be the Caribbean Windsurfing Championship. We know that we can run a great regatta and know that we have a lot we can offer to the board sailors.”

BVI Spring Regatta

Held annually on the first weekend of April, the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival will be celebrating its 39th anniversary. It is now a seven-day event with two events back-to-back attracting an average of 150 yachts per year with eighty percent of the competitors from overseas.  The BVI Spring Regatta is presented by Nanny Cay Resort and Marina; the BVI Tourist Board is a Platinum sponsor;  Gold sponsors are Bitter End Yacht Club, LIME, First Caribbean International Bank, Heineken, The Moorings,  Mount Gay, and SOL.    
 
New for 2010, the International Yacht Club Challenge will pit competitors from yacht clubs throughout the world against each other in Sunsail Beneteau 39’s.  Participants will receive up to a 10% discount on the charter and compete for a grand prize of a free week’s charter.
 
Visitors can fly to the British Virgin Islands through San Juan, Puerto Rico with American Airlines, Cape Air and LIAT. Flights are also available through Antigua and Barbados on Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and BWIA.  Ferry service is also available from St. Thomas.
 
For full details on the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival including daily news, photos and complete results from the 2009 event, visit the official web sitehttp://www.bvispringregatta.org. For more information on the British Virgin Islands visit:  http://www.bvitourism.com.
For more information on Nanny Cay Marina visit:  http://www.nannycay.com.
 
The BVI Spring Regatta is jointly owned by the Royal BVI Yacht Club and the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association.
 
For further information on the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, please contact:
 
Judy Petz, BVI Spring Regatta Director
Tel:  + (284) 541  6732
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Linda Phillips, Press Officer
Tel: + (284) 542  1493
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Bob Phillips, BVI Spring Regatta Chairman
Tel: +(284) 494  2569
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