1st Annual Escape BVI Regatta

IC24's racing at the
1st Annual Escape BVI Regatta
Smugglers Cove, Tortola BVI

The 1st Annual Escape BVI Regatta held May 13, 2006 at Smugglers Cove, Tortola was greeted with sunny skies and light winds. Torrential flooding rains and thunderstorms plagued the Territory just days before the event making many wonder if conditions would be too extreme to have the Regatta go on, but nothing could hold the avid sailors back! Four classes competed, the IC 24 one design, Wind Surfer, Laser, and Dinghies with handicap ratings.

The IC 24's sailed two races with a course starting just out in front of Smugglers Cove beach, taking them around Sandy Cay off the East end of Jost Van Dyke, back over to a buoy off Gun Point and finishing at Smugglers Cove.

Laser's racing at the
1st Annual Escape BVI Regatta

The Windsurfer, Laser and Dinghy classes sailed three races around the buoys triangle course set by Kuralu Charters outside the reef at Smugglers Cove with swirling, shifty winds making the sailing very challenging.

After the racing was completed for the afternoon, the racers were refreshed with Highland Spring Natural Mineral Water, enjoyed live music and tropical drinks at the Smugglers Cove Beach Bar, and a great barbeque offered up by the Jolly Roger Restaurant.

Prize giving was held during lunch, with trophies being given to first and second place finishers of each class.

Catching some wind at the
1st Annual Escape BVI Regatta

A tie for first place in the IC 24 class needed to be broken, and the Race Committee made a decision that the two teams would have a tug-of-war at the waters edge to settle the tie. Due to some sore knees and backs on the Intact crew, the tug-of-war was canceled, so the decision was made to award the first place trophy to CONCH-QUERER, going by the weight of their crew! The beautiful trophies were picture frames provided by Images Custom Framing, with Yacht Shots photos of the recipients racing, being set into the frames.

Jim Linskey presents Andrew Waters
1st place for IC 24 class

Special awards presented by Columbian Emeralds International were given to two junior sailors for their great efforts sailing in the adverse wind conditions. Justin Penn was awarded a sailing watch and Dontai Hodge was the recipient of a Swiss Army backpack.

A great crowd of families, swimmers, sunbathers and onlookers gathered on the beach to watch the racing and partake in the shore-side festivities, making the Escape BVI Regatta the largest event ever held at Smugglers Cove, Tortolas number one beach! The Cove was teeming with boats throughout the day taking in the beautiful beach and crystal-clear water.

Lisa Gray of Images Custom Framing
presents 3rd place award for the
Laser Class to DonTae Hodge

Genny Kung of Columbian Emeralds
and Jim Linskey of Escape BVI
present a special award

View more photos of the 1st Annual Escape BVI Regatta in our Photo Gallery.