HRH Princess Anne Visits the BVI Watersports Centre

A Royal Visit to the British Virgin Islands

In conjunction with the BVI Department of Youth Affairs & Sports, Princess Anne, the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh, visited the BVI on February 24th to open the RYA BVI Watersports Centre at Manuel Reef, Sea Cows Bay, Tortola. This event was beautifully organized by owners Colin Bramble and Alison Knights-Bramble. Princess Anne, as President of the International Royal Yachting Association (RYA), made this special visit to inaugurate the only RYA center in the Caribbean.

Awarding Young Sailors and Powerboaters

During the ceremony, Princess Anne awarded certificates to select students, recognizing their achievements in various watersports disciplines. Charles Luckham, Ricky Johnson, and Saul Poll received awards at the Powerboat Level, while Kelly McCarthy, Shavo Mercer, and Eben Meyers were honored for their accomplishments in Youth Sailing.

The British Virgin Islands Watersports Centre

Ceremony Highlights

The event was chaired by Robert Chalwell, BVI Director of Youth Affairs & Sports. BVI Governor Tom Macan and Chief Minister Dr. Orlando Smith delivered opening remarks, saluting members of the Legislative Council. A standout moment of the day was the “Sail Past,” where some 60 youth sailors paraded their water skills in Sea Cows Bay, showcasing safe and fun activities on the water. Princess Anne greeted the participants as they returned to dry land, displaying sincere graciousness towards the students and spending at least 15 minutes chatting with them.

Christening the Vessels

Princess Anne christened two boats, the “Nobel Harty” (Wayfarer) and “Over Easy” (Lasar), with champagne. Following the christening, HRH was presented with gifts, including a pottery plate, a brooch of a Tortola sloop, and a local fly fishing fly, presented by Elsa Meyers (13) and Kenzie Turnbull (8). Elsa, the owner of “Over Easy,” is a champion racer and the daughter of BVI Olympic Sailor, Elvett Meyers. The event concluded with Diyana Simmonds (5), whose family owns the land on which the Watersports Centre is located, presenting Princess Anne with a large bouquet of flowers.

St. Anne, Martinique: Physical and French

The Importance of the RYA Watersports Centre

The Watersports Centre is a RYA Recognized Teaching Center, enabling them to provide the RYA National Sailing Scheme, including the Young Sailors Program, to BVI youngsters. They also offer RYA Powerboat School courses. All courses are certifiable, and at the completion of each stage, log books and RYA certificates are awarded.

The Royal Yachting Association’s Role

The RYA Council meets in London four times a year, with meetings regularly chaired by Princess Anne, who is an active sailor with a close personal interest in the RYA’s affairs. The Princess Royal has been re-elected as President each year since 1987. The RYA Council’s primary responsibility is to agree on and oversee the implementation of broad RYA strategy and specific International Association-wide policy.

Tales from the Chartering Cockpit – Christening the Inside of the Boat

The History and Evolution of the RYA

The YRA formally became the Royal Yachting Association in 1953. The RYA’s first involvement in the organization of Olympic sailing was with the 1908 London Games. Its role as the national organization for powerboat racing dates from 1961. The Association first set up a committee to oversee its training activities in 1967, and by 1968, seventy-two schools had applied for RYA recognition. The BVI Watersports Centre is the most recent school, and the only one in the Caribbean, to receive RYA status.

Nancy Terrell has written for ALL AT SEA since 2004.