Racing In Paradise

Nanny Cay Nations Cup Day One - 'Fresh To Frightening

Teams competing in the 4th annual Nanny Cay Nations Cup enjoyed a vigorous days racing in the St Francis Drake channel just off Nanny Cay Marina. Early morning squalls had cleared away by 8am leaving the entire NE Caribbean under a strong and steady trade wind flow bang out of the East.

Racing got underway shortly after 9am with 8 of the 12 teams getting a baptism of fire. After three races each of the teams counted two results which produced a 3-way tie. Defending champions Peter Holmberg along with brother John (Team Ondeck USVI), BMobile(LIME) BVI and ‘Hirst Brothers’ BVI shared the lead with 4 points a piece. 

It should be noted that the vastly experienced Holmbergs were being challenged by a pair of youngsters. Alec Anderson (17) helming for BMobile and Don Tae Hodge (15) at the helm for ‘team BVI’. Robbie Hirst sailed with Alec last year and narrowly lost out to the Holmbergs on the last run of the last and 20th race…this year he and brother Mike invited Don Tae to take the helm with David Hirst (12) and Ryan Wooldridge (9) also in the crew.

Packed Field For Fourth Annual Nanny Cay Nations Cup

With the fourth annual Nanny Cay Nations Cup just over two weeks away, a strong field of teams are lining up to attempt to dethrone US Virgin Islanders Peter and John Holmberg, last year’s winners.  An estimated 16-18 teams are currently expected representing the British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands, England, Ireland, Holland, USA, Canada, Antigua, Barbados and Puerto Rico.

 “Peter Holmberg and his USVI team will definitely be defending their title. This is great news for all concerned, there’s nothing like having a world-class helmsman to set your sights on,” said Richard Wooldridge of Racing In Paradise, the event organisers.

Horizon Yacht Charters and Racing in Paradise present an IC24 'Masterclass' with Peter Holmberg...

Horizon Yacht Charters have engaged Peter Holmberg to run a racing 'masterclass' using our trusty fleet of IC24's. Here's the press release announcing this exciting new partnership.

Holmbergs Return To Defend Nanny Cay Nations Cup Title

The fourth annual Nanny Cay Nations Cup will take place the weekend of November 15/16 off Nanny Cay Marina in the British Virgin Islands.  The US Virgin Islands team of Peter and John Holmberg, winners of last year’s event, will be returning to defend their title.

In a hard-fought last race, the Holmbergs snatched the crown from the British Virgin Islands’ Hirst brothers who had held the title since the event’s inception in 2005.  The Hirst brothers needed to finish with three boats between themselves and the Holmbergs to earn their third title.  But after the 20th - and last - race of the event, there was only a two-boat gap; the Hirsts and Holmbergs finished tied on 18 points each.  The tie was broken with race wins and the Holmbergs bested the Hirsts with six wins to their five.

Premier's Cup 2008

Here is a report written by Linda Phillips covering the 2008 KATS (Kids and the Sea) Premier's Cup. It is an annual event with youth teams from all over the Caribbean. Over to you Linda!

Is this the shape of the future?

Here is a picture of Chris Rosenberg sailing his IC24 with an experimental assymetric kite and short bowsprit. The new set up is being put out there as 'the way to go', no more problems finding skilled bow crew. The St.Thomas Yacht Club has invited any interested BVI and P.Rican IC24 sailors to come and give it a go later this month.

Fraito Lugo wins the BVI Spring Regatta IC24 class by a massive 14 points.

Team 'INTAC' were the notable casualty at the top of the tight IC24 class during the final 4 races sailed today.

BVI Spring Regatta...Day 2

The wind abates some but the competition hots up!

BVI Spring Regatta, results from a windy day 1

6 races sailed in very tough conditions, only 5 to count.

The BVI Spring Regatta...not for the fainthearted!

What's happening to the weather in the NE Caribbean? BIG winds are forecasted for the upcoming weekend, it should be interesting.