Notice of Race & Entry Open for 2013 BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival

Winner of the Premier's Trophy for Best BVI Boat in the 2012 BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival was awarded to Rushin' Rowlette, Kevin Rowlette's Olsen 30 © Todd van Sickle

The new format for the 3-day Sailing Festival prequel to the BVI Spring Regatta is outlined in the Notice of Race which is now available online along with registration for Entry.

Racing takes place on the spectacular waters of the British Virgin Islands on three sailing playgrounds: the Atlantic Ocean, Sir Francis Drake's Channel and the Caribbean Sea. Many sailors who return each year will enjoy the new changes for racing the Sailing Festival and the traditional, but always reinvented, BVI Spring Regatta hosted by Nanny Cay on Tortola, where the islands are naturally part of the course.

Highlight of 'our' year since 1995

Winning Class 1 in 2012 with the STP 65, Equation, Skipper Bill Alcott explains: "We love the Islands and our racing - which ends with the BVI Spring Regatta - has been the highlight of our year, every year since 1995 for Equation. In my opinion, the sailing conditions are perfect and the regatta is well run. With luck we'll be back many more times."

The 42nd edition of the week-long BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival will run from Monday March 25th to Easter Sunday, 31st March 2013 and up to 120 boats from 20 countries as well as local sailors are expected to converge at Nanny Cay for this 'compact regatta'. where competitors, whether bareboat, charter individuals, racing teams or pro sailors are treated to top racing on some of the world's most magnificent sailing grounds. 2013 will also include the International Yacht Club Challenge, which sees club members from around the world competing.

Surfing down Drake Passage riding amazing trade winds

From Puerto Rico, Jaime Torres' Team Smile and Wave will be back in 2013 with a new boat: "The BVI Spring Regatta is an amazing event ashore with the super fun and cool race village at Nanny Cay, but it's the on-water action that calls us back year after year and 2012 should be even more fun because Team Smile and Wave is coming back to the BVI with a great new boat. We have downgraded in size but upgraded in performance to a Melges 32 and can't wait to find ourselves surfing down the Drake Passage riding the amazing trade winds." In 2012 the team won the Guy Eldridge Spirit and Enthusiasm award.

Outstanding sailing and perfect venue

Winner of the Premier's Trophy for Best BVI Boat in the regatta went to Kevin Rowlette's Olsen 30, Rushin' Rowlette: "It's common knowledge among sailors that the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival is one of the best run regattas in the Caribbean. All the sailors I talk to from other islands look forward to our regatta more due to the outstanding sailing and the perfect venue of Nanny Cay."

For full details of the 2013 programme go to bvispringregatta.org/bvi