Brian Duff, Broker - BVI Yacht Sales
Latest posts by Brian Duff, Broker - BVI Yacht Sales (see all)
- 5 Reasons Why Bareboating is Best - October 31, 2014
- The Best Season for Sailing - June 2, 2014
- You think it’s all over? - May 1, 2014
- Ideas for Sailing Season’s End - May 1, 2014
- BVI’s 5 Most Expensive Yachts Sold this Season - March 18, 2014
The Race is Not Over
Photography courtesy of Team BVI Sailing
With Spring Regatta, the biggest sailing festival of the year passed until next year, visitors and residents will be happy to know that there are still plenty of events to look forward to as the high season comes to a close. One such event is the BVI Dinghy Championships; the flagship event for the Youth Sailing Development Programme and the chief fundraiser for the year.
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This regatta is for both young and old sailors alike. 100% of the money raised by this event funnels to the Youth Sailing Development Programme of the BVI National Sailing Federation in support of instructor wages, equipment maintenance and acquisition.
Established by the Royal BVI Yacht Club, the Dinghy Championships itself is an annual competition showcasing the yearlong training and diligence invested by our nation’s youths. Hosted at Nanny Cay and attended by sailors from all over the Caribbean, the enjoyable spectacle has gathered immense popularity.
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Last year marked a high point in the event’s participation numbers and audience. Andy Morrell took the reins and pulled together a very special occasion, bringing in professional race management from the USVI and directing efforts to draw competitors from Antigua, St Lucia, Trinidad, Cayman and more, to come and challenge the youths here to the championship post.
In 2013, Coach Omari Scott worked yearlong to put our kids in the best position they could be and the event was hard fought. This event also marked the culmination of the Triple Crown Series which is a set of three events – first in St Croix, then in St John and finally here in BVI for the title of ‘Champion of all The Virgins.’
Last year, the Race Committee ran a total of 28 races over two days with Virgin Island sailors posting top results in all classes, including first-place finishes in two of the three Optimist Championship fleet divisions and the IC24 Class.
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The competition in the Optimist Championship Fleet was dominated by Teddy Nicolosi from St Thomas, who won seven of the eight races.
“I had great boat speed,” the 12-year-old sailor was reported to have said. Top VI Optimist sailor Jason Putley scored a notable second overall in the challenging championship fleet and took top honours in the Optimist Red Fleet. His impressive second-place finish in the final race secured his victory over Scott McKenzie from St Thomas.
This year, the event is set for even greater highs with sailors coming in from afar to take on our BVI youths. At the recent Caribbean Dinghy Championships, Team BVI took first place so the competition should be fierce this time around.
The organisers have had racing shifted two weekends later in hopes of finding better winds than the previous two years. Sponsors have really stepped up to the plate and there will be a ‘Dinghy Champs Lounge’ set up on the beach deck at Nanny Cay all three days May 16 -18 where the public are invited to come, eat and drink to the benefit of the Youth Sailing Development Programme.
The youth sailing initiative offers sailing lessons to children at a substantially lower rate than most sailing clubs around the world and hosts the BVI Racing Team that takes kids around the globe representing the BVI.
BVI Dinghy Champs Schedule
Friday May 16 Dinghy Champs Regatta kicks off – Registration table and welcome party. – ‘The Dinghy Champs Lounge’ opens at 5pm
Saturday May 17 Race Day
– 8:00am Last minute registration – 9:00am Skippers’ meeting at Nanny Cay, wooden deck by the beach – Regatta viewing from ‘The Dinghy Champs Lounge’ – Open House & Information Session; Main dinner party (call to reserve)- After dinner entertainment
Sunday May 18 Closing Day
– Regatta viewing from lounge and spectator boat – Awards Ceremony – Dinghy Champ Lounge closing party – Drink the bar dry
