Brazilian windsurfing champion Wilhelm Schurmann made short work of the Highland Spring HIHO 2012 event. He won all but one race in which his boom broke. Photo: Provided

Highland Spring HIHO combines island-to-island racing, fun parties and a yacht flotilla. Photo: Provided

Brazilian windsurfing champion Wilhelm Schurmann made short work of the Highland Spring HIHO 2012 event. He won all but one race in which his boom broke. Photo: Provided

The $4,000 first place prize in the inaugural Painkiller Cup was won by Team Fanatic. The event, which saw 3-person teams which had to include a woman, sent racers from Trellis Bay to Jost Van Dyke. Photo: Provided

The $4,000 first place prize in the inaugural Painkiller Cup was won by Team Fanatic. The event, which saw 3-person teams which had to include a woman, sent racers from Trellis Bay down Tortola’s North shore to the Soggy Dollar Beach Bar on Jost Van Dyke.

A yacht followed each team allowing for changeovers as they made their way downwind in the 14-16-knot conditions. Team Fanatic comprising Chase Kosterlitz, Belar Diaz and Sarah Bryne dominated the 13-mile race to win by a hefty margin.

They were pressured at first by the stronger of two St Thomas teams, but stepped out after the first couple miles and never looked back. The St. Thomas team with Colin Butler and Gail and Eric Walker were 2nd pocketing $600, while Team Antigua with Shannon Falcone, Nik Bohachevsky and Joy Chien were 3rd. "This was an awesome race," exclaimed Kosterlitz.

Colin Butler said it was the "best race" he'd ever done. Racers and spectators all enjoyed Painkiller rum drinks on the beach afterwards.

Brazilian windsurfing champion Wilhelm Schurmann made short work of the Highland Spring HIHO 2012 event. He won all but one race in which his boom broke. This is the 4th time Schurmann has taken the overall HIHO event title but it was the first time he lost a race. He fared less well in the final races of the event allowing 2nd place finisher Rusty Henderson from the BVI to lead him around the course, but he still took wins in each of the races. Third overall in the windsurfing portion of the event went to Canadian Carl Speiss. In the SUP Open division Fanatic teamrider Chase Kosterlitz was equally dominant in winning each of the 5-races with commanding leads. Koasterlitz was pressured by team member Belar Diaz from Spain who took second. Don Alderman of South Carolina took 3rd. Don’s wife Jenny was first in the Fanatic One Design SUP class where racers compete on identical 12’ Fanatic Ray boards. Second in that class went to Barbara Sage from Key West while Sarah Bryne from Florida took third.

The North Sound, Scrub Island, The Baths, Sandy Spit, the Soggy Dollar Bar and all places in between; The Highland Spring HIHO race winds its way through the Virgin Islands with stops at some of the best beaches, private islands and iconic beach bars in the islands. Highland Spring HIHO combines island-to-island racing, fun parties and a yacht flotilla. Organisers lean on local knowledge to create a great itinerary. Lunch on Necker Island was a special addition, as was dinner and dancing at CocoMaya. SUP racers were treated to a course through The Baths while the windsurfing fleet took on the technically challenging race from the North Sound to The Baths. The event saw the debut of the Painkiller Cup, the 13-mile downwind SUP team race. "In a way this is an insider’s tour of the BVI's," said event owner Andy Morrell. "Its fun planning great racing and cool parties."