It’s Not Too Late to Attend the BVI Spring Regatta
The 2020 BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival is going to begin on March 30 and run through April 5. While it may seem like a very last minute trip to book, there are still great options with luxury rentals. Not many travelers realize that the route for the regatta takes sailors around all of the islands. Whether you are at the far western end of Tortola, on a wonderful coastal spot on Guana Island, or anywhere on Virgin Gorda, you’ll be able to enjoy the views and comfort right from a private villa.
49 Years of Sailing Fun
The BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival has occurred for almost half of a century and begins with the Round the Island of Tortola race (racers are chasing the Nanny Cay Cup) on the first day of the event. After that are daily activities and races. For example, April 1 is a race to Scrub Island, which is an Invitational Race. This is followed up by an afternoon BBQ. The next day is “lay day,” and the perfect time to savor the relaxation available in your villa or to head out and enjoy the sights, beaches, shops, and dining. There is a Welcome Party that afternoon with lots of live music and fun.
The rest of the schedule (three days) is full of round-the-clock racing with 18 different classes competing for a prize. As the official site says, “Only the best survive to take home the Gold and the Glory, along with great stories and experiences that keep sailors [and race fans] coming back year after year.”
Where to Watch
As noted, the races go all through the islands, and the course marks are found near and around every island. This makes it possible to enjoy a luxurious stay on famous Necker Island, far to the northeast of the BVI island chain and still watch the boats glide gracefully past. You can also find a long list of premier locations on Virgin Gorda and Tortola and Guana Island.
In fact, almost all of Guana and Necker Islands are available for booking, but if you are heading to the BVIs with a much smaller group, on your own, or as part of a couple, there are many other options.
For example, Tamar is a lovely, four-bedroom property that sits just above Leverick Bay on Virgin Gorda. Part of a premier and private residential area, it is surrounded by its own gardens and grounds and provides the ultimate garden escape along with non-stop water views ideal for watching the Regatta.
Designed as the ultimate retreat, it has four master suites and is only a short distance to the harbor and the waterfront of Leverick Bay. Yet it also is a world all its own with an immense number of indoor and outdoor living spaces and multiple levels to enjoy the views of Bitter End and Biras Creek below.
Sea View Cottage is on Guana Island, near Tortola, and it lives up to its name as it offers amazing sea views from the hills above. A one-bedroom hideaway ideal for a solo traveler or couple on a romantic, last-minute retreat, it is the perfect choice for watching some of the races in the waters below or at sea in the distance. Walk to the beach nearby or just delight in the beauty of this charmingly appointed escape.
On the Wild Side is another great choice for its non-stop and totally unimpeded water views, but this three-bedroom masterpiece is located above Oil Nut Bay on Virgin Gorda. With its Atlantic Ridge location, as well as its all-glass walls and scenery from every room, it is the perfect choice for the family or couple eager to experience some of the Regatta’s racing events, but in total privacy and comfort. Part of a resort, it features the use of the beach club with pool and bar, the children’s club, many restaurants, a spa and wellness center, and much more.
Sunny Side Up is a three-bedroom island delight on a bluff high above the western end of Tortola. Part of the Belmont area, it promises unprecedented views of the Regatta in the waters far below. With its views of Long Bay Beach, it is a private and secluded spot surrounded by gardens and offering an abundance of outdoor living space. It has an excellent pool terrace that allows everyone to leisurely paddle around while taking in the action on the waters below. An expansive terrace ensures you remain cozy and cool at any time of the day or night.
If you are eager to have a true getaway with endless views of the waters around the BVIs, Jost House on Guyana Island is a good choice. Set amongst 800 acres of private island grounds, it features three luxurious bedrooms and a surprisingly long list of amenities. Visitors enjoy three meals daily at the Great House nearby, there is a beach club, lots of activities, water sports of many kinds, and transport from Tortola. Sitting as it does above the island, it promises great views of the races, as well as optimal luxury and comfort at all times.
The U.S. News and World Report has long cited the British Virgin Islands as their top choice in Caribbean destinations, and many visit for the excellence of the beaches, the waters, and the year-round option for sailing. If you have yearned to sample the best of the BVIs for yourself, you could pick no better time than during the annual BVI Regatta and Sailing Festival. A true celebration of the waves and turquoise waters around the islands, it is also the ideal pace for relaxing or exploring the area.
Head to the famous The Baths and find out why so many others love these immense boulders and the peaceful grottoes they create. Hit the many beaches, or, as we have already suggested, book a BVI luxury villa with a lot of indoor and outdoor spaces to simply recline, recharge, and rejuvenate.