A total of 154 boats have entered the 35th BVI Spring Regatta which starts from Nanny Cay tomorrow. This strong entry is the largest ever seen at the regatta with yachts ranging in size from the 75ft Reichel Pugh, Titan XII to Lasers, split into 16 different classes.

The Regatta officially kicked last tonight with the Mount Gay Welcome Party and the opening of the Regatta Village and sailing will begin tomorrow in the Sir Frances Drake Channel, continuing through Sunday on three different courses.

The last race of the BVI Sailing Festival – the Spring Regatta warm-up – led the competitors from Bitter End YC on a scenic jaunt through BVI waters. After a short upwind leg in North Sound, the fleets sailed out through Colquhoun Reef Channel, left Mosquito Rock and West Dog to port and sailed south of Ginger Island, Carvel Rock, Cooper Island, Salt Island and Dead Chest before entering the Sir Frances Drake Channel and proceeding to the finish line placed off of Nanny Cay. Weather conditions were good and all the boats completed the primarily downwind race in just over four hours.

No stranger to the Caribbean, but making it’s debut in this year’s BVI Sailing Festival, Roger Stergeon?s Rosebud placed first in today’s race. Tuesday’s winner, DSK Comifin was second and Highlife placed third. For the series, DSK Comifin took home the top prize, followed by Highlife and third place went to Equation. Rosebud was not in contention, as she did not compete in Tuesday’s race.

There was an altercation on the Cruising class start line, and rather than risk a DSQ, Avocation withdrew. Placing first in the today’s Nanny Cay Cup was Disco Inferno, Shamrock once again placed second and Tuesday’s first place finisher, Jeroboam CA NOVA finished in third place. Regardless, Jeroboam managed to hold on to the first place spot for the series winning a tie-breaker with Shamrock, the second place series finisher. Disco Inferno finished third overall.

In the Bareboat division, Dunbar continued his winning streak. He placed first again today winning the class overall. Shirley Robertson, sailing Inn Harmony, followed Dunbar with another second place in today’s race and a second place in the Festival. About Time, sailed by Tom Earls, placed third today but only fourth in the series as he finished sixth in Tuesday’s race. It was Team Germany that finished third after placing fourth in both of Tuesday’s and today’s races.