The 2025 BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival has been deemed a success, with sailors leaving the Virgin Islands (VI) already promising to return. Photo: BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival

Mr Chris Haycraft, 2nd from left, and Ms Cayley Smit, centre, were guests of Talking Points on ZBVI 780 AM on Monday, April 28, 2025, when they spoke of the regatta’s success. Photo: Facebook

Scenes from the 2025 BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival. Photo: BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival

Scenes from the 2025 BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival. Photo: BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival

The 2025 BVI Spring Regatta and Saiing Festival. Photo: BVI Spring Regatta and Film Festival

Mr Chris Haycraft and Ms Cayley Smit from the regatta committee were guests of Talking Points on ZBVI 780 AM on Monday, April 28, 2025, where they spoke of the regatta’s success. 

This year, the regatta received support through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development.

“It’s a perfect fit because we do sailing, there’s arts and culture at the village, and it's a tourism product. So it worked really, really well. We found a way to put it under one umbrella and work everything together,” Ms Smit said.

She added that Minister for Tourism and Culture Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4) was present throughout the regatta, supporting them. 

Regatta brought 1000 people to the VI in 1 week

About 72 boats from fifteen countries across the world participated in this year’s regatta.

“We bring in about a thousand people in one week. They’re flying in, they’re booking ferries and taxis, they’re booking dockage, they’re staying in Nanny Cay, they’re staying in villas, they’re staying in hotels, some of are spending money, they’re eating…getting a taste of the BVI and hopefully coming back,” Ms Smit added. 

Mr Haycraft added that some sailors came to the regatta with their families and took time out to explore the territory outside of regatta activities. 

“It is very important that we showcase and allow the whole BVI to be seen,” he said, explaining when race management is being done, time is carved out for the activities of the regatta to be held at different points in the territory, because while they’re sailing, they’re looking”. 

He added that a majority of the North American sailors said that they will be coming back to the VI to visit. 

‘The regatta belongs to the BVI’- Cayley Smit

Meanwhile, Ms Smit said the regatta “belongs to the BVI”, and the more local support received, the better.

“So we have tried to make sure that everyone knows that we’ve got the live music and the drinks and food every evening.”

She said afternoon family-oriented programmes were on the schedule this year to include children's arts and craft activities. 

These activities, she said, allowed more families to come out. 

“Just a little more relaxed, a little more chill, and then the boats start coming in, they can watch the boats…so we’re trying to do more things like that.”