The BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, presented by Nanny Cay will be held March 31 - April 6, 2008.
In 2006, the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival celebrated its 35th anniversary as one of the most exciting events in the region. Sailors flock from around the globe to compete in one of the biggest regattas in the world. They compete in everything from Lasers to formula windsurfers, IC-24s, keelboats, catamarans, beach cats and cruising yachts, filling the Sir Francis Drake Channel and Nanny Cay with their colourful display of sailing skills, camaraderie and fun.
By Owen Waters
In addition to the local and inter-island competitors who consider the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival the pinnacle event of the year, international teams also fly or sail in to demonstrate their skills in "The Sailing Capital of the World."
Sailors can also come early to participate in three days of non-official races and fun prior to the Regatta, when many boats are chartered or sail in for the excursion from Nanny Cay to the Bitter End in Virgin Gorda. The evenings are planned parties winding up rather than down for the Regatta. As they make their way back down the channel to Nanny Cay, the sailors become more familiarised with the local conditions, environment and pace of the regatta, and are now ready to compete in the bigger classes and even bigger parties.
Working hard and playing hard whilst in the BVI is synonymous with the phrase often found on T-shirts in the BVI: "Sail fast, live slow." By combining a relaxed but focused pace to racing and partying, sailors find the rhythm of the BVI fairly quickly. Nestled on a man-made sandy beach, Nanny Cay Regatta Village hosts several bars, food vendors and small boutique concessions. After everyone has relaxed and eaten, they can settle down to enjoy live entertainment, such as the local band Quito Rymer and the Edge, scheduled to perform during the 2005 closing festivities. Drawn by the excitement and popularity of the Regatta, the islanders make their way down to join in the fun and party well into the night. The festival is open to all non-competitors and is family friendly, with everyone welcome and accepted in the spirit of the British Virgin Islands.
For the serious racers, racing committees are flown in to push them through as many races as possible to maintain consistency in results. There are fantastic support booths in the village providing up-to-date results and information. The BVI claim their own Olympic competitors and professional sailors, ensuring that the local competition is tough and the racing fast, competitive and, of course, friendly. Vantage points for getting a close-up view of the single-class design racing can be found all over Nanny Cay, while the bigger boats compete farther offshore around the islands named after old pirates. Those looking to crew a boat can search the crew notice boards, and several companies offer charter/rental yachts or single-class design boats for those who prefer to compete on their own. The BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival is growing larger every year and is fast becoming an event offering a broad variety of entertainment, competition and racing excitement. The regatta's philosophy is enlightening: You do all at your own pace, and as long as you have fun and are smiling, you're in the right place.
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In addition to the local and inter-island competitors who consider the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival the pinnacle event of the year, international teams also fly or sail in to demonstrate their skills in "The Sailing Capital of the World." 
The Moorings