By the Caribbean Journal staff

There’s a reason the British Virgin Islands has long been the Caribbean capital of sailing.

And now the archipelago’s world-class sailing offering is on display again with the upcoming BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival.

The annual event is one of the Caribbean’s must-visit regattas, now in its 48th year of operation.

The weeklong festival begins with March 25 with two days of warmup racing at the new and improved Nanny Cay, followed by three days of some of the best racing in the Caribbean.

Sailors can participate in all five race days or the three-day Regatta, with a huge choice of shoreside accommodations and activities for those enjoying the race from land.

Race events range from the Round Tortola Race for the Nanny Cay Cup to the Scrub Island Invitational to the Spring Regatta itself.

It all adds up to a hard-to-match mix of “warm water, hot racing and cool parties,” as festival organizers describes things.

This year’s event, yet another sign of the BVI’s triumphant tourism recovery, will also include a new Mount Gay Race Day including more than 90 boats and sailors from 20 countries – all of whom will receive the coveted red Mount Gay cap.

“For me it’s a very cool part of the world and a great place to race sailboats,” said Jonathan McKee, a well-known US sailor and Olympian. “There’s a particular poignancy now after the hurricanes to see these communities recover and to be an active part of that recovery, spending our dollars.

For more, visit the BVI Spring Regatta.

— CJ