Tortola, British Virgin
Islands, August 4, 2005 – The Nanny Cay Nations Cup, an International IC24
Regatta for all comers, is set to take place in the British
Virgin Islands on the weekend of November 12/13. The simple entry
requirement is that all crewmembers must carry the same passport. IC24s are
modified J/24s and the fastest growing one-design class in the Caribbean with
fleets in the US and
British Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico
will be next with a fleet currently under construction.
"There aren’t really
many events out there any more with strict nationality rules, so as usual in
the Caribbean we’re going at things
differently," said Richard Wooldridge
of event organizers Racing In Paradise. "We’re racing
boats with a design that dates back to the late seventies, we’ve chopped them
up, added the latest thinking in cockpit design and then put together an event
with eligibility rules stricter than those for the America’s Cup."
The regatta is open to teams
of up to five people holding the same passport and weighing a total of between
700 and 850 lbs. Entries from throughout the world will be welcomed but the
majority of teams are expected from the Caribbean
region for the first year. While the idea for this event has been around for a
while, it is the Racing In Paradise fleet of 10 IC24s
that has made the event a reality. Peter Clark of the Royal BVI Yacht Club
said: "The Caribbean is a melting pot of
different nationalities, there are over 12 potential
teams from the BVI alone."
Registration, skippers’
briefing and weigh-in will be held at the Royal BVI Yacht Club on Friday,
November 11. The entry fee for the regatta is $500.00 per team which includes
the charter fee, five event t-shirts and more. Ten IC24s from Racing In Paradise will be used in what will be their second major
charter after the successful Financial Services Challenge held in June. The
event will be capped at 18 teams with the racing
taking place off Nanny Cay in a round robin format.
"With half the entry
ashore at any point in the regatta, a lively beach front atmosphere is
expected. There will be commentary, beach games, food and entertainment,"
said Miles Sutherland-Pilch of Nanny Cay Marina.
"Families will be able to relax by the pool which happens to be the
perfect viewing gallery. The organizers expect teams to sport their national
colors and costumes both ashore and afloat. They are even considering a
lighthearted ‘national dish’ cook off. This will be a fun event laced with some
serious racing."
Room specials of $80 per
night including tax and service charge for double occupancy will be available
at Nanny Cay Hotel. To book hotel rooms e-mail: hotel@nannycay.com.
The Notice Of Race, entry form, and more information on the IC24 program
can found at: www.racinginparadise.com
or contact Alastair Abrehart, Tel: + (284) 495 1090,
E-mail: alastair@racinginparadise.com.
Nanny Cay Marina, event
sponsor and official home of the BVI IC24 fleet, is a full-service marina and
boat repair facility located within a natural basin on the south side of
Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. It has
berths for 180 motor cruisers and yachts up to a draft of 12 feet and storage
space for 260 boats. Nanny Cay’s boatyard has a 50 and 70 ton Travelift; the latter
capable of lifting catamarans up to 33 feet wide. Riggers, sailmakers,
provisioners, restaurants, marine engineers, shipwrights, fiberglass
specialists and yacht charter companies are all based at Nanny Cay.
Nanny Cay Hotel has
forty-two apartments appointed with classic West Indian design and easy access
to tennis courts and a large swimming pool.
For
more information on Nanny Cay Marina and its services log on to www.nannycay.com
