2022 BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival set to go
Nov 25, 2021
The 49th BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival will take place between March 28 April 3, 2022. It is one of the top three Caribbean sailing events, with an average of 110 yachts per year with 60% of the competitors from overseas.
Longtime sponsor Nanny Cay Resort and Marina will again be the host of the 2022 event which will be 100% focused on world-class racing, delivering the top-notch experience to which sailors and regatta followers have become accustomed over 49 editions of this beloved regatta.
With a modified format, the Sailing Festival will begin on Wednesday, March 30th, with the Scrub Island Invitational Regatta, a fun race taking the fleet to the eastern islands, such as Virgin Gorda, before arriving at the host for the day, Scrub Island Resort and Marina where sailors can enjoy an afternoon of festivities, food, and music at the resort.
Hosting the BVI Spring Regatta since 2002 – Nanny Cay Resort, Boatyard and Marina will once again be the focal point for the 49th edition of the regatta in Tortola, British Virgin Islands © Alastair Abrehart
The racing will continue the next morning with a race towards the BVI western island group for an afternoon of camaraderie and…more fun. This new format allows for an abundance of informal racing, a view of the different islands of the BVI, and acts as a warm-up to the 49th BVI Spring Regatta, which will kick off on Friday April 1st with the Mount Gay Race Day.
Multi-class starts using the BVI’s array of stunning islands as marks will provide excellent challenges as well as spectacular racing throughout the Sir Francis Drake Channel and the Caribbean Sea. Post-race gatherings will be at Nanny Cay’s Peg Legs and Beach Bar.
St Catherines ON’s Larry Huibers, now crew on J122 Apollo (he for many years crewed on Canadian Rob Butler’s Touch2play), is excited to be heading back to the Caribbean. “After a season away, like everyone, Apollo is super excited to be coming back to the BVI Spring Regatta,” Huibers comments.
Although the future course of Covid-19 is still present, the British Virgin Islands Ministry of Health has approved for the race to go on, with updated protocols. All participants will be required to comply with guidelines set by the BVI Government and the event organizers at BVI Government site and BVI Spring Regatta Covid Update. Social distancing and proper sanitization will be implemented. Group contact will be limited at registration, the committee desk, and other official proceedings.
