BVI Spring Regatta: Magnificent Mount Gay Race Day
YouTube: https://youtu.be/pyytLEnZX94?si=9YGqEmPMWpylZ0iC
Mother Nature threw out another wild day on the water on Mount Gay Rum Race Day, day 1 of racing in the BVI Spring Regatta. Gusts to 30 knots and the occasional squall blasting through the three courses running eleven divisions made for lively racing. With two days of competition earlier in the week behind them, leaders are already emerging across most classes. The Reichel Pugh 37 Warthog, owned and skippered by Jim Vos (ANT), unsurprisingly took two bullets in CSA 1, while Jax (USA), the stunning Brooklin Boat Yard custom 43’er – a new boat and somewhat of an unknown – giving Warthog a sure run and taking two second places.
Two bullets went to Layla (GBR), the Gunboat 72, racing in Performance Multihull, and it was great to see Spike (BVI), the brand new Rapido 40 back on the water and taking a second in the first race after incurring serious rudder damage earlier in the week. Preferring to mitigate any risk of further damage, Sam Talbot, boat captain and co-skipper, decided to retire from race 2 which took the boats around Ginger Island where conditions were more than sporty. “We were happy to be able to get the boat repaired in time to race on day 1 but opted to play it safe and not sail race 2.”
 Reichel Pugh 37 Warthog |  Modified Cal 40 Huey Too |
 Gunboat 72 Layla |  Corsair 31 Airgasm |
Two bullets for Alice Martin’s Sunsail 46 racing in Bareboat 1 on Painkiller/Sea-Battical (USA) © Alex Turnbull/Tidal Pulse Media
Skipper Alice Martin (USA) and her talented young crew sailing in Bareboat 1 on Painkiller/Sea-Battical, a Sunsail 46, also took two bullets on day 1 after winning in class in the Scrub Island Invitational earlier in the week. Dutch team Orange Breeze, also racing on a Sunsail 46, were in the chase finishing the day with 2 second places.
Racing in Cruising Multihull, it was no surprise to see La Novia, the Leopard 50 owned and skippered by the Georges Coutu (DOM) and a Spring Regatta regular, take two bullets, begging the question; when was the last time this team did NOT win! The Moorings 4500 Baja Jaga skippered by Frank Kastelein (NLD) Team No Escape were in hot pursuit finishing the day with two second places.
A very special bottle of Mount Gay XO for class winner – Georges Coutu’s Leopard 50 La Novia (DOM)
Other leaders after day 1 include the J105 Umakua (PUR) in CSA 2 / Julio Reguero; in Sport Multihull, the Corsair F27 Ting-A-Ling (BVI) / Graham Harney; in Bareboat 2, Mi Piba, Sunsail 42 / Charlie Gerrard (USA), in Jib & Main, the Beneteau First 40 Libertas / Walter Keenan (USA); in Performance Cruising A, the Modified Cal 40 Huey Too / Bernie Evan-Wong (ANT); in Performance Cruising B, the IC24 Bravissimo / Mike Feierabend (USVI); and in VX One, Flying Jenny / Sandy Askew (USA).
Results HERE.
Graham Harney and team on their Corsair F27 Ting-A-Ling (BVI) © Alex Turnbull/Tidal Pulse Media
If there was ever a day where a post-race cocktail was just the panacea for a challenging day on the water, race day 1 was it, and the Nanny Cay Regatta Village was the place to be. After the day’s winners were celebrated, Mount Gay Rum drinks flowed and a huge crowd danced in the sand to the irresistible 3Gs and DJ Wiz rounding out another exhilarating day at the BVI Spring Regatta.
“Supporting the BVI Spring Regatta for 52 years, Mount Gay is a relationship we cherish,” said Chris Haycraft, Regatta Chairman. Keiani Worrell Thomas, Remy Cointreau Area Caribbean Manager – Western Caribbean Barbados, who had been racing, later presented the awards to winners of the day.
“Thank you so much for your continued attendance to this amazing event. Today was awesome. This is the first time I’ve done it for a long time, but It was great to be on the seas here in the beautiful BVI. On behalf of Mount Gay, I wanted to say ‘thank you’ for this continued partnership.”
For all the latest news, videos and updates on the 52nd BVI Spring Regatta, please go to: https://bvispringregatta.org/
Mount Gay Rum Race Day Photos HERE
Mount Gay Rum Race Day Awards Photos HERE
All Images © Alex Turnbull/Tidal Pulse Media
After a superb day out on the water, it was time to celebrate on Mount Gay Race day at the BVI Spring Regatta
© Alex Turnbull/Tidal Pulse Media
