The 53rd edition of the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival is now underway, with racing beginning this week in Tortola and a full schedule set to carry through several days of competition and events on and off the water.
The week opened with the Scrub Island Invitational, an 11-nautical-mile race from Tortola to Scrub Island Resort, Spa and Marina, marking the start of one of the Caribbean’s most established sailing events.
From there, the schedule builds quickly, with the Round Tortola Race for the Nanny Cay Cup following, a lay day midweek, and then the start of the three-day Spring Regatta, beginning with Mount Gay Race Day.
A Full Week of Racing and Events
The structure remains one of the defining features of the event.
The Sailing Festival opens with shorter, accessible races before transitioning into more competitive formats later in the week. By the time the Spring Regatta begins, the focus shifts to multi-day racing across different classes, drawing experienced crews from across the region and beyond.
The regatta is based out of Nanny Cay Resort and Marina, where boats, crews, and race officials are gathered for the week.
Conditions are expected to be consistent, with trade winds forecast in the 15 to 20 knot range, typical for late March in the British Virgin Islands and favorable for competitive racing across classes.
International Crews and Returning Teams
Participation continues to reflect a mix of regional and international teams.
Crews from Puerto Rico, Europe, and across the Caribbean have arrived in Tortola for the event, many returning year after year. Among them is a Swiss team racing aboard the Beneteau 47.7 Kali, competing in ocean conditions that differ from their usual lake-based racing in Europe.
A Puerto Rican team delivered the J/100 Freelance to the British Virgin Islands in advance of the regatta, completing the 85-mile crossing from San Juan in favorable conditions.
That mix of returning competitors and new entrants has been a consistent part of the event’s structure, contributing to both the competitive field and the broader atmosphere around the regatta.
Race Management and Leadership
The regatta’s race management team remains a central part of its reputation.
This year, race officer Diana Emmanuelli is taking on an expanded role, running her own course for the first time after more than a decade of involvement with the event. Her experience includes years of racing and organizing events across the Caribbean, along with work as an organizing authority representative for U.S. Sailing.
The transition has been supported by long-time race officer Dave Brennan, with continuity maintained across the race management structure.
Execution on the water, including course setting, mark placement, and real-time scoring, continues to be emphasized as a core component of the event.
Local Rivalries and Growing Classes
Local participation remains a key element of the regatta.
One of the more closely watched matchups this week is in the Sport Multihull class, where Tortola-based sailors Nathan Haycraft and Chris Haycraft are competing against each other in separate Corsair trimarans.
The class itself has grown, with additional Corsair 31 boats entering the field, increasing competition and raising the overall level within the category.
For local crews, the regatta continues to function as a centerpiece event on the annual sailing calendar, drawing both competitive focus and community participation.
Onshore Activity and Regatta Village
The event extends beyond racing.
At Nanny Cay, activity onshore includes the Regatta Village, where crews, spectators, and visitors gather throughout the week. The setting combines race operations with social events, sponsor activations, and nightly gatherings tied to the racing schedule.
That combination of competition and onshore programming has been part of the regatta’s structure over time, with the balance between racing and social activity continuing to define the event.
Scrub Island Resort, Spa and Marina, a long-time partner of the regatta, again serves as a key venue during the opening stages of the week, hosting participants following the Invitational race.
A Fixture on the Caribbean Calendar
The BVI Spring Regatta remains one of the longest-running and most recognized sailing events in the Caribbean.
Its format, combining multiple race types over several days, continues to attract a mix of professional and amateur crews, with repeat participation forming a significant portion of the field.
The event also serves as a showcase for the British Virgin Islands as a sailing destination, with consistent trade winds, protected waters, and established marina infrastructure supporting the racing schedule.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 edition continues through the week, with racing intensifying as the Spring Regatta portion begins.
Dates for the 2027 event have already been set for March 29 through April 4, reinforcing the regatta’s place as a fixed point on the regional sailing calendar.
For now, the focus remains on the current fleet, the conditions on the water, and a week of racing that continues to draw both returning competitors and new entrants to Tortola.
Guy Britton
2026-03-23 23:40:00