El Ocaso accepts their VIRW prize on stage at the BVI Spring Regatta.

Hot yachts from the Caribbean, U.S. and Europe sailed in the inaugural Virgin Islands Race Week (VIRW), a glorious 10-day holiday for sailors and sailing families that encompassed the International Rolex Regatta held in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, March 28-30, and the British Virgin Islands Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival, hosted out of Tortola & Virgin Gorda, March 31 to April 6.

Brisk trade winds in both regattas added to the challenge and excitement this year. In the end, it was Bill Alcott’s Andrews 68 Equation, and Rick Wesslund's J120 El Ocaso on top.

“Combining the two best Caribbean regattas into a race series that provides fun for both crews and families is a logical and a great idea,” says Alcott, from Detroit, Michigan. As it was Alcott's idea, put forth six years ago and resulting in the formation of the BVI Sailing Festival in 2002, it is only fitting that he won his class in the inaugural event that finally joined all three events.

Alcott, as top IRC-handicap yacht, won a week’s complimentary stay at the new Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove, in St. Thomas. The oceanfront property that overlooks the Charlotte Amalie harbor offers two-bedroom, two-bath villas with a full kitchen, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, along with an infinity pool, restaurant and new fitness center. Certificates for dinners at local restaurants, Havana Blue, Lotus and Fat Boy's.

“We really liked the idea of combining Rolex and the two BVI events into one vacation holiday,” says Wesslund, of Key West, Florida, who topped the CSA (Caribbean Sailing Association)-handicap class.

Wesslund received a week for two compliments of the Bitter End Yacht Club, on Virgin Gorda. He and a guest will enjoy accommodations for seven nights/ eight days in paradise at a premier watersports resort, along with meals, unlimited use of Club boats, fresh water pool, vita course, walking/hiking trails, weekly regatta and guest cocktail party, bluewater excursions, snorkeling trips, sunset sail, champagne cruises, and dinner cruises.

Alcott and Wesslund also won a one-year subscription to ClearPoint High Definition Weather.

Other entries included Minnie the Moocher and MoonRaker, both Kerr 11.3s from the United Kingdom competed in VIRW, as did Windsong, a Reichel-Pugh 36 driven by Stuart-Bowen Davies; Xpresso, an X-Yacht 412 skippered by Marc Noordhoek; Luxury Girl, the BVI’s Guy Eldridge’s Beneteau 10R; and Steve Schmidt’s Santa Cruz 70, Hotel California Too.

“There was a great deal of excitement for VIRW,” says Bill Sandberg, president and CEO of Niche Sports Group, LLC, based in Riverside, CT. “We’ll certainly build on this for the future. People in the U.S. and Europe are interested to come to the Caribbean and race, cruise and spend time with their families, and this kind of quality time is a rare commodity these days with our busy lifestyles. This event also brings new visitors to the Islands who rent hotel rooms, go out for dinners, and ultimately return with their friends.”

VIRW is co-presented by the USVI Dept of Tourism and BVI Tourist Board. Other sponsors include Clearpoint; Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda; ONDECK Sailing, Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove, Havana Blue, Lotus and Fat Boy's restaurants on St. Thomas.

Both Caribbean regattas are part of the US-IRC 2008 Gulf Stream Series.

The 2nd annual VI Race Week takes place March 27 thru April 5, 2009.

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