Despite mixed conditions with shifts and gusts to 20, temperatures in the 80s, the 53rd BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival concluded with day 3 on Sunday, March 29, 2026, successfully. Photo: BVI Spring Regatta

Scenes from the 2026 BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival. Photo: BVI Spring Regatta

CSA Spinnaker 1st Place Apollo. Photo: BVI Spring Regatta

The annual Guy Eldridge Spirit of Enthusiasm Award went to the Regatta mark boat volunteers. Photo: BVI Spring Regatta

Regatta Chairman, Chris Haycraft, noted that while the wind could have cooperated a little better, the outcome of lots of happy sailors and outstanding races was the same. 

“It was a phenomenal regatta; Spring Regatta always delivers!…While the wind didn’t work out as well as we’d hoped, we got seven great races in most classes over three days. Race Committee did a phenomenal job and kept all of us busy with some very interesting racing,” he said. 

Winners of the 53rd BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival

The preliminary culminative results of the 2026 Regatta are as follows: 

• CSA Spinnaker: Apollo (1st Place), Lady M (2nd Place), Freelance (3rd Place) 
• CSA Performance Cruising: Panacea X (1st Place), Popombi (2nd Place), Kali (3rd Place)
• CSA Non-spinnaker: Libertas (1st Place), Crystal (2nd Place), Cricket (3rd Place)
• CSA Bareboat 1: Shore Thing (1st Place), Salish Sisters- Boatox (2nd Place), Roaz (3rd Place)
• CSA Bareboat 2: Mistral (1st Place), Topaz (2nd Place), Stingray (3rd Place) 
• Performance Multihull: Thunder and Lightning (1st Place), Layla (2nd Place), Sophia (3rd Place) 
• Sports Multihull: Airgasm (1st Place), Ting A Ling II (2nd Place), Ting A Ling (3rd Place) 
• Cruising Multihull: La Novia (1st Place), Avel Vaez (2nd Place), Little Wing (3rd Place)
• One Design RIP (1st Place), Bravissimo (2nd Place) 

Distinguished awards were also presented to Barney Crook and his crew on Airgasm, who took first in the Sport Multihull class to win the Best BVI Boat award. 

The annual Guy Eldridge Spirit of Enthusiasm Award went to the Regatta mark boat volunteers for their “incredible work on the racecourses” during the week. 

A special group of people- Regatta Director Cayley Smit

Regatta Director, Cayley Smit, expressed delight at the excitement of the people for the annual spring regatta. 

“It takes so many people to make this happen, and we are so grateful for all the wonderful people who come back year after year, and the new people who come in and don't know anything about sailing to help with this fabulous event. It’s a special group of people who give up their time to make something so special for other people – that’s the sailing community in a nutshell.”

Meanwhile, General Manager of Nanny Cay Marina and Resort, Miles Sutherland-Pilch, said the regatta is the highlight of the company’s year as it provides the opportunity to show off their facilities, services and sailing grounds. 

“Quite frankly, there's none better than this, so it's just fun showing off once a year.”

He added that the competitors who show up on the racecourse and in the village are the biggest part of the event. 

“It's a real team event to put this regatta on, from the regatta committee to the race officers, to my team here at Nanny Cay. It’s a great team effort, and we love doing it.”

The 54th BVI Spring Regatta is scheduled for March 29 to April 4, 2027.