“This class allows the race boats with full interiors to sail with their racing inventories -including spinnakers -against like boats,” Race Committee Chairman Robert Phillips said.

“Adding new classes allows us to welcome all boats. Regattas around the Caribbean and the world are making sure, as new classes arise, they are ready to include them in their events,” he further said.

A media release from the said organisers of the sailing event indicated that the inclusion of performance cruising was due to the increase in performance-oriented cruising boats in the sailing world. It will accompany the racing, bare boats, cruising and multihull classes.

Notably, the sport multihull class was added to the event last year, “giving the sportier trimarans and catamarans courses more suited to these smaller, fast boats, and allowing the Race Officers to give them more races,” the release indicated.

The regatta and sailing festival

The 49th regatta and sailing festival is slated to occur from March 30 to April 5 next year.

There will be more than 15 classes of boats in the event.

The sailing festival will kick off on Tuesday, March 31 with the Round Tortola Race for the Nanny Cay Cup.

Wednesday, April 1 will be the Scrub Island Invitational – a race towards the northern end of the islands with beach BBQ, and live music at Scrub Island Resort and Marina.

Thursday, April 2, will be a day to relax before the three-day competition begins on Friday, April 3 to Sunday 5.

The BVI Spring Regatta is a product of the Royal BVI Yacht Club and the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association.