New Format & Dates For BVI Regatta

The organizers of the annual BVI Sailing Regatta & Sailing Festival hosted by Nanny Cay have announced changes to both the format and the dates for 2013.  First, the dates have been changed to March 25-31, so mark your calendars.

Second, the Festival program will now include a race around Tortola for the Nanny Cay Cup, a race to Norman Island with beach time planned at Pirates Bar in The Bight, and then a fun day on and off the water at Nanny Cay, followed by the traditional Mt. Gay Rum Welcome Party for the Regatta. 

More than 125 yachts are expected to compete, and there are two classes just for bareboat charters.  The regatta website has a long list of charter companies providing bareboats suitable for racing, but get your reservations in early!

And, if you can beat the 4hr 15min ‘round Tortola record for monohulls, you’ll win a jeroboam of champagne, dinner for 15 at Peg Legs Restaurant, and pretty cool bragging rights.

The regatta website is www.bvispringregatta.org  

Sunsail Goes Racing On San Francisco Bay!

We mentioned earlier that Sunsail was opening a base in Sausalito on San Francisco Bay, and the first eight of the Sunsail First 40s have just arrived. 

What is particularly appealing about these Beneteau-built 40s is that they are Farr-designed, performance-oriented yachts that are fully equipped with spinnaker gear and triple-spreader rigs so that local sailors can charter them for the many regattas on San Francisco Bay. 

The First 40, which has been adapted to Sunsail specifications, has built an envious record for a production boat: winner of the 2010 Rolex Sydney-Hobart race, winner of Cowes Week, winner of Spi Ouest France, and winner of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez.  If you don’t take home silverware with this Sunsail charter, well, it’s not the boat’s fault.

The Sunsail First 40 is a three-cabin layout with a generous sail plan and niceties such as a chartplotter, autopilot and a heated interior that is perfect for Bay sailing.

Details from Sunsail, www.sunsail.com/sanfrancisco or 800-797-5907.