The Loyal West End Yacht Club will host the North Sound Boxing Day Regatta on December 26-28 for the first time.
The three-day pursuit regatta will start Saturday in Road Harbor with sailors setting a windward course to Virgin Gorda with the finish at Blunder Bay Marina.
On Sunday, sailors will take a break from racing and will enjoy a lay day in North Sound. However, there will be a few competitive events like kayak and Hobbie Cat races. In the evening, sailors will be treated to a lobster party and live entertainment.
Social distancing will be practiced and safety protocols will be in place for the duration of the regatta, according to organisers.
Guests will sleep aboard their own boats. Additionally, the regatta will appoint a medical officer approved by the Ministry of Health to monitor the well-being of participants. Each boat will also be required to have appropriate santising equipment available. Participants who don’t follow the safety guidlines could be disqualified and forfeit their entry fee.
“The North Sound Boxing Day Regatta [will] be a safe sporting event for the participants and the organisers,” stated a press release. “Full Covid protocols will be in place and under the inspection of a recognised medical officer for the duration of the event.”
On Monday, sailors race back to Tortola, with a party and awards ceremony at Omar’s Fusion in West End.
Organisers expect about 20 sailboats in various classes to compete. Each boat will have about four to six sailors onboard.
The captains meeting will be held at Omar’s Fusion Restaurant in West End. The venue is a Covid protocol approved facility, according to organisers.
“The captains meeting will be brief; will observe social distancing; masks will be required; and sanitation stations are already in place,” according to a LWEYC press release.
Racing instructions and rules will be distributed online.
For more information or to register, contact organisers at santabesailing@gmail.com