Philippe Moortgat and Patrick van Heurch's Belgian Swan 45, Samantaga, won the inaugural Absolut Full Moon Race. Photo: Event Media

Yachts enjoyed great sailing conditions for the Island Invitational Race on the second day of the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival. Photo: Alastair Abrehart

Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert aka 'Gus' thanked sailors from 14 countries for choosing to race at the 47th BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival and for helping with the recovery of the territory by doing so. Photo: Alastair Abrehart

Philippe Moortgat and Patrick van Heurch's Belgian Swan 45 Samantaga finished the Absolut Full Moon Race around the VI islands in 24 hours, 35 minutes and 4 seconds. Photo: Event Press

Samantaga finished the 165 NM around the Virgin Islands (VI) race in 24 hours, 35 minutes and 4 seconds, taking the Best Overall Trophy for the race.

‘We missed the wind’

"The first six hours were very difficult - we were comfortable until Beef Island, making good advances, but after rounding Beef we missed the wind," said Philippe Moortgat who is a co-partner/skipper in the Swan 45 with Patrick Van Heurch. "We stopped at West End for an hour - we didn't throw out the anchor but thought about it as it felt like we were going backwards!"

Around 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday March 27, 2018, the breeze suddenly picked up in front of a storm that came through bringing wind and rain - lots of it. Within minutes, Samantaga was flying along in 17 knots which held steady to Anegada where they hit breeze over 22 knots. They worked hard on sail changes throughout the race using all sails on board: an asymmetrical 1.5 kite, a S2 spinnaker and three jibs.

"After the rain blew through, it was really an almost perfect sail... and almost a full moon," Moortgat smiled. "Everyone did a great job and we're glad to be here."

Moortgat and Van Heurch have owned and campaigned Samantaga throughout Europe for the past 15 years. Every year, the pair along with family and friends have vacationed at Anegada but they've never actually sailed in the area. They finally decided to bring their boat to the Caribbean to race this season in part to support the recovery following Hurricane Irma. They won division at the recent St Thomas International Regatta, and will be a force to contend with during the BVI Spring Regatta which starts on Friday, March 30, 2018.

‘A race from hell’

Tatonka, a Beneteau Cyclades 50 with plenty of local Tortola knowledge on board, completed the around the VI race in 25 hours, 21 minutes and 22 seconds. "It was the race from hell!" Bob Phillips, Regatta Chair and longtime Tortola resident joked. "The first part which should have taken 4 hours took 8, then when we finally got to Nanny Cay around 6:15 P.M. Tuesday night, it was like someone turned a switch. By the time we got to Dead Chest we were in 30 knots and sheets of rain. We spent a good 4 hours soaking-ass wet and cold!"

Better conditions

Tuesday's (March 27, 2018) hearty breeze was also much appreciated by the fleet who raced the Island Invitational which took boats on a challenging 12 NM course around Ginger and Peter islands.

Taking first in CSA Racing was Tony Mack on the J/122 Team McFly/El Ocaso. Second went to Spike, the J/111 skippered by Sam Talbot, and in third Liquid, the J/122 owned by Pamela Baldwin. Girls For Sail, racing Hot Stuff, a Beneteau First 40.7, took first in CSA Cruising, while Maissa, a Sunsail 47, skippered by Petr Kochnev, took first in CSA Bareboat. WOW, the Stealth 14GT skippered by David Liddell, took first in Multihull.

"Today was a jolly good antidote to yesterday," Mack laughed. "The race got very exciting at the end. Taz and Liquid got ahead of us at the first and second marks, then we got ahead of Liquid. At the end we got into a tussle with Spike who just beat us at the finish. We were always close to someone which makes for great racing especially in conditions like today. The breeze was between 10-18, generally from the NE, with quite big shifts. It was a lovely day!"

‘Things are looking brighter @ Nanny Cay’- McColl

At the prize giving, Cameron McColl, Nanny Cay Chairman, offered his gratitude to the sailors and guests visiting the VI this week. "We were determined that the Regatta would go ahead, although, to be honest, it's been a pretty brutal six months. We plan to take this opportunity to improve the infrastructure at Nanny Cay as well and there are hundreds of boats that are being fixed. Things are looking brighter and we're so glad that you are here."

ABSOLUT.® Full Moon Regatta winners were presented with prizes from ABSOLUT®. Susana Arguello, Regional Marketing Manager at Pernod-Ricard, commented, "To create a more sustainable environment around the world it all comes down to the actions of passionate people who want to make a difference for the better. Innovative improvements are just one part. Our day-to-day work is equally important. Supporting events which are forward-thinking and have vision to reduce environmental impact, such as the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, go hand-in-hand with ABSOLUT.® brand vision."