Registration Now Open for the Caribbean’s Premier Sailing Festival - BVI Spring Regatta 2026
This year’s edition has shifted one week earlier than previously announced, moving away from the busy Easter period. The change is designed to make it easier for sailors and fans alike to attend, easing the squeeze on flights, accommodation, and charter boat availability. For anyone who has ever tried to book Easter in the Caribbean, this is welcome news.
Why the BVI Spring Regatta Matters
The BVI Spring Regatta has built a reputation as one of the Caribbean’s most vibrant and inclusive sailing events. With more than 60 islands and cays scattered across the Virgins, the archipelago offers some of the finest racecourses in the world – flat-water channels, steady trade winds, and the kind of natural beauty that sailors dream about.
The event draws a mix of serious international racing yachts, performance charter boats, and a strong bareboat fleet – proof that this is a regatta where Corinthian crews and professionals can rub shoulders on the same start line.
Sailors can choose between the two-day Sailing Festival, the three-day BVI Spring Regatta, or combine them both for a five-day racing marathon.
The Racing Schedule
The 2026 edition kicks off on Tuesday, March 24 with the Scrub Island Race, an opening sprint that traditionally shakes out the fleet. On Wednesday, March 25, the Nanny Cay Cup Round Tortola Race delivers one of the Caribbean’s great circumnavigation courses.
After a well-earned Lay Day on Thursday, March 26, the serious business begins. The three-day BVI Spring Regatta runs from Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29, offering a full mix of island-hopping, buoy racing, and legendary Caribbean competition.
Charter Options: From Bareboats to Performance Racers
Not every sailor turns up with their own boat. One of the regatta’s enduring strengths is its wide range of charter options, from family-friendly bareboats to high-performance race yachts.
Dutch team No Escape is a prime example. Racing aboard Baga Jaga, a Moorings 4500 catamaran, they’ve been at the forefront of multihull charter racing in the BVI for more than a decade. Skipper Frank Kastelein summed it up:
“This is our fourth Spring Regatta, although we’ve been coming here for ten years. We always charter a catamaran. We tried Thailand last year at the Phuket King’s Cup, but it was so serious – almost too formal. Here in the BVI it’s the perfect balance: good racing, steady wind, friendly people, and a great spirit.”
Caribbean Legends Return
The regatta also attracts some of the Caribbean’s best-known sailors. Bernie Evan-Wong of Antigua – a veteran of countless Caribbean campaigns on his Modified Cal 40 Huey Too and RP37 Taz – has already signed up for 2026.
“The BVI Spring Regatta is always a highlight,” Evan-Wong enthused. “The racing is top-class, the courses are spectacular, and the atmosphere is second to none. Each edition is different, and that’s what keeps us coming back.”
Courses That Showcase the BVI
What makes the Spring Regatta truly unique is its ability to embrace the islands themselves. The race committee sets courses that weave through the cays, reefs, and headlands of the BVI, giving sailors both tactical challenges and postcard scenery.
Two race areas allow the management team to tailor courses for each class – whether you’re racing a 70-foot carbon flyer, a family charter boat, or a multihull. In short, every sailor gets world-class racing in a world-class setting.
Regatta Village: The Beating Heart of the Event
Of course, the BVI Spring Regatta isn’t just about racing. Nanny Cay Marina transforms into the buzzing Regatta Village – the social hub for sailors and locals alike. Expect:
The legendary Big Top Bar and satellite rum shacks
A food village serving everything from Caribbean seafood to international fare
Live bands, DJs, art shows, tastings, and demos
Performances by the famous Moko Jumbies (Caribbean stilt dancers)
It’s here that trophies are toasted, rivalries replayed, and friendships forged under the warm Caribbean night sky.
Why Sailors Keep Coming Back
Few events manage the balance between serious competition and laid-back island hospitality as perfectly as the BVI Spring Regatta. From professional sailors chasing silverware to friends chartering a bareboat just to be part of it all, the regatta has become a bucket-list event for sailors around the world.
Renowned offshore sailor Brian Thompson, racing the Gunboat 72 Layla at the 2025 edition, summed it up perfectly:
“This is a wonderful venue with great race organisers and a brilliant sailing community. The welcome in Tortola is second to none. We’ll be back.”
BVI Spring Regatta 2026 – Key Details
Dates: March 23–29, 2026
Location: Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Events: Two-day Sailing Festival + Three-day BVI Spring Regatta
Highlights: Scrub Island Race, Round Tortola Race, island-hopping courses, legendary Regatta Village
Final Word
With registration now open, the BVI Spring Regatta 2026 is already shaping up to be a sell-out. Expect packed racecourses, full marinas, and a week that showcases the very best of Caribbean sailing culture.
Whether you’re a pro sailor, a Corinthian racer, or just someone looking for an excuse to charter a yacht in paradise, there’s no better place to be in March 2026 than the British Virgin Islands.