The 8th Annual KATS Chief Ministers Regatta was held July 7th – 9th on Tortola, BVI, at Nanny Cay Marina. Friday was an arrival day for the competitors where they were given the opportunity to practice up against the IC 24 racing fleet in the late afternoon.
Eight teams made up the field coming from all over the Caribbean. The venue at Nanny Cay was ideal for the regatta, with camping tents set up on the lawn next to the pool and docks for all the junior sailors to spend the weekend along side each other meshing new and old friends together from previous regattas.
The racing started Saturday morning and went to lunchtime where the Rotary Clubs of Tortola fed the teams. The timing was perfect, as a severe squall passed over minutes after the sailors raced back to the dock. A rotation of boats was made for the second part of the day's racing, making the playing field as fair as possible, even though the IC 24 sloops are a strict one-design class. The team from St. Thomas dominated the day by winning most of the races, showing great teamwork and obvious determination to take the Cup back to the U.S.V.I. once again. The newest team to the Cup Regatta was from Puerto Rico who gave the "Tomians" a run for their money.
Sunday brought perfect conditions with winds blowing 15-18 knots with a steep chop making the sailing downwind exhilarating. The Regatta format changed slightly from Saturday with the sailors racing past the lunch break to get in enough races prior to a team having to leave early to make a flight home.
At the end of the day, St. Thomas managed to hang onto their lead even after being disqualified in one of the races for being over the starting line early. Taking second place and showing the most promise for next year's regatta was Team Puerto Rico, followed by the ever challenging Team Antigua, St. Croix, Team Yellow Tortola, Team Green Tortola, Anguilla, and then Team Bequia.
Hat's off to all of the volunteers, Nanny Cay Marina, Peg Legs Landing, Rotary Clubs of Tortola, and all of the sponsors that made the regatta possible.