| The British Virgin Islands is the Mecca for sailing which | | | | one can find all types of regattas being held - from |
| lends to the assemblage of some of the largest | | | | groups of junior sailors in small prams to the larger |
| sailboat racing fleets for sailing regattas in the | | | | fully crewed keelboats. Several organizations in the |
| Caribbean. The diversity of organized sailboat | | | | British Virgin Islands also hold racing clinics throughout |
| regattas in the BVI is one thing that makes sailing | | | | the year for both juniors and adults to hone in on |
| here in the BVI so unique. Regattas of all types | | | | their racing skills. One of the better-known sailing |
| spanning from a "whatever floats race," where crews | | | | clinics in the British Virgin Islands for teaching sailing |
| bring their "boats" to the regatta, assemble them, | | | | and sailboat racing for the children of the BVI is the |
| and set off racing, to high level international match | | | | Kids and the Sea (KATS) program, which are in their |
| racing regattas. | | | | sixteenth year of operation. |
| The BVI Spring Regatta, held on the waters off the | | | | In the British Virgin Islands, there are three main |
| capital island of the British Virgin Islands, Tortola, | | | | yacht clubs that maintain a busy regatta calendar |
| attracts about two hundred fifty yachts annually for | | | | during the year. The yacht clubs based in Tortola and |
| the event. All types of racing classes are spread out | | | | Virgin Gorda sponsor the majority of the regattas in |
| on five separate racing courses, from beach | | | | the BVI. The water sports oriented resort Bitter End |
| catamarans to eighty-foot maxi racers. The charter | | | | Yacht Club of Virgin Gorda, hosts a variety of |
| boat fleets also have a large racing class, giving those | | | | regattas held during the year on the Gorda Sound. |
| that don't have their own yachts based in the British | | | | The Bitter End also sponsors a Pro-Am regatta that |
| Virgin Islands, the opportunity to compete in the | | | | attracts some of the world's best sailboat racers |
| fabulous venue, with steady trade winds and warm | | | | from the top tier America's Cup teams along with |
| waters. The IC 24 class, which is built here on | | | | amateur sailors that are given a chance to sail with |
| Tortola, also assembles a large sailing fleet with an | | | | and against these well-known sailing personalities. |
| international blend of sailors. This upcoming year will | | | | Based in Tortola is the Royal British Virgin Islands |
| be the twenty-ninth running of the Sweethearts of | | | | Yacht Club that among being the sponsor of the BVI |
| the Caribbean Regatta, that has a diverse fleet of | | | | Spring Regatta, hosts a plethora of regattas during |
| the "oldies but goodies" wooden boats and also gives | | | | the year from dinghy races to keelboat regattas. |
| the vintage fiberglass yachts of decades back an | | | | Loyal West End Yacht Club holds many "fun" type |
| opportunity to test their skills against each other on a | | | | regattas that attract many of those racers that love |
| more even playing field. | | | | to compete, but also to have loads of fun doing it, |
| On nearly every weekend during the season, which | | | | with great parties and prizes for all that sail. |
| starts in October and goes through the end of July, | | | | |