In the centuries old tradition, the Commodore of the Royal British Virgin Islands Yacht Club is inviting other yacht clubs from around the world to send teams to compete in the inaugural International Yacht Club Challenge. The IYCC will be part of the 2010 BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, March 29 – April 4.  To sweeten the pot, Sunsail Yacht Charters <link> is providing up to a 10% discount for all those booking for the IYCC, a free charter to the winning team and a perpetual trophy.   Although this is the inaugural year for the IYCC, it will be the 39th for the BVI Spring Regatta and as in the past eleven years, the 2010 edition will be hosted and presented by the Nanny Cay Marina and Resort.

Simon Wood, Commodore of the Royal BVI Yacht Club, who is planning to skipper a boat and be part of the BVI team, is excited about the possibility of pitting the best sailors in the BVI against their rivals.  “We are looking forward to welcoming teams from around the world.   The support we have seen from both the BVI Tourist Board and Sunsail is phenomenal and we expect to have a very positive response.”  He went on to say, “When faced with a month or two more of cold, dreary weather in other parts of the world, the Caribbean looks quite inviting.  When you add some spirited competition on the water, I think it will be hard to turn down our invitation.  While there is no doubt I’ll be rooting for the home team, I’m keen to mix it up.”

<link> Bareboats compete in the 2009 edition of the BVI Spring Regatta and more will be expected as part of the 2010 inaugural International Yacht Club Challenge.

To promote the inaugural IYCC, the BVI Tourist Board is joining with Sunsail <link> and the BVI Spring Regatta <link> to officially launch the event, August 1 – 8, at one of the world’s largest regatta, Cowes Race Week.  Besides banners and the inclusion of the 2010 BVI Spring Regatta brochure in the 1000 or so skippers’ bags, there will be some BVI give-aways and radio ads.

Worldwide excitement is high.  An invitation will go out in September to all the yacht clubs in the U.K with the help of the BVI Tourist Board.  The German BVI Tourist Board is planning to translate the 2010 BVI Spring Regatta brochure to German and then promote the IYCC throughout the yacht clubs there and a similar programme is being planned for the US.

With discounts of up to 10%, the chance to win a week’s charter and great competition, Josie Tucci, the Sunsail Brand Manager expects a lot of interest.  “The IYCC is a perfect opportunity because it opens up racing to a lot of people who don’t have their own boats in the BVI.  Our Beneteau 39, the boat of choice to race, has performed well in past regattas.  The event will also promote good camaraderie among the yacht clubs throughout the world as they will be competing in like boats in gorgeous Caribbean conditions.”