After a stunning opening party, the anticipation of Race Day 1 had everyone buzzing with excitement mixed with a little trepidation for the yachts whose inaugural race it was today. The conditions were perfect for the new boats to test out with 14 to 15 knots of wind and a short 17.5 mile course around Dog Islands. With Zefira and Twizzle, Aiyana and Lady B spreading their full sails in a regatta for the first time, it was all hands on deck for the slick older hands at the race track, Hanuman and Sojana and Moonbeam.
A windward start and a long downwind leg not only gave the boats exciting sailing and unbelievable views but created some interesting jostling for position. Twizzle takes Hanuman, Zefira takes Twizzle, Sojana surfs Twizzle’s transom to one of the marks and takes her on the inside with a stunning gybe set, exciting stuff!
While we are not normally competitive we aim to kick transom,’ said the owner of Twizzle. ‘It’s a great class and great to have these other yachts to play with...I would come back and do this again 100 percent, sign us up!’
Day 1 began with an early morning cast off of lines for eight of the attending motor yachts as they began a cruise in company through North Sound to Peter Island, approximately 12 miles to the southwest in brilliant skies. Many of the yachts took different routes to investigate various other islands before converging on White Sand Bay at Peter Island. Here yachts tendered ashore where they were shuttled from the beach to a private estate called Falcon’s Nest - truly the highest perch on the island. At a luncheon sponsored by BVI Tourism, guests enjoyed a spectacular seafood buffet with a view encompassing most of the British Virgin Islands. For many of the guests it was a superb chance to mix and mingle, some swapping yachts for the return ride to YCCS Marina.
‘The view was spectacular', commented Marty and Lisa Sutter, owners of the classic Burger, Chanticleer. 'Even though we keep Chanticleer at Virgin Gorda every winter, we’ve never been to this bay before. It was a fantastic way to spend a day with friends.'
Perhaps the highest praise for the inaugural day of this event came in the form of a question from Mike Gaynor, who was cruising with lifelong buddies aboard his 100-foot Hargrave Vitesse when he asked, “you’re going to do this again next year, aren’t you?”
This evening, superyacht owners are invited to an exclusive Owners Dinner at Oil Nut Bay Beach Club, nestled on a private peninsula on the eastern tip of Virgin Gorda. Captains and crew look forward to the Platinum Party at Leverick Bay Resort, sponsored by SkyNet Aviation Group and Platinum Yacht Services.
For further information please contact:
Alexis Naylor
Events Executive
Boat International Media
T: +44 (0) 7971 438671
E: alexis.naylor@boatinternationalmedia.com