BVI News

BVI Spring Regatta cancelled for 2021!

Organisers say the BVI Spring Regatta brings the BVI economy an estimated four million dollars every year. (Photo provided)

The 49th staging of BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival will no longer be held this year.

The world-renowned event was scheduled to run from March 29 to April 4, 2021. But organisers said they decided to put off the regatta for yet another year after discussions with the Ministry of Health.

They said another year-long postponement was in the best interest of the safety of all participants, volunteers, and the wider BVI community.

“As much as we would have loved to welcome everyone back to the BVI, the most important factors are health and safety for all … “Our international participants understand the situation and are already planning for the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival in March 2022,” Regatta Director, Judy Petz said.

“We hope that as COVID-19 vaccination programs progress and international travel restrictions are lifted, that it will become safer for people to travel and participate in events like ours,” she added.

“We look forward to making next year a terrific event, one that all of our participants, sponsors and the community can look forward to,” Petz further stated.

A press statement from the BVI Spring Regatta on Thursday said the postponement is a “financial blow” to the event’s organisers.

This postponement also hurts the local economy which organisers say enjoy a $4 million benefit from the event each year.

“This loss to the local economy these past two years due to the pandemic has been devastating, particularly to the yachting sector,” the press statement said.

In the meantime, the next staging of the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival is scheduled for March 28 – April 3, 2022.

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22 Comments

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  1. Good! says:

    Good! Great! Maybe next year, but to many infected people would have been coming on our shores. That would only have spelled diaster for us.

    Truth is, truth is real, and many do not accept truth well.

    Like 9
    Dislike 33
    • EU Citizen says:

      Who do you think would have come?

      Like 12
      Dislike 1
    • Doh says:

      Wow. Another denying and hater. We could have used this event to demonstrate we are open and show off to the world how we handle protocols. But no we run and hide, shut the door.

      Get in line for the vaccination. Get the prick and don’t be one.

      Like 21
      Dislike 6
    • @GOOD! says:

      WANNA KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO SAY? CONTINUE TO SIT IN THE BVI AND THINK THAT YOU ARE SO PURE. YOU ALL MAY HAVE ESCAPED A REAL COVID OUTBREAK LIKE OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. HOWEVER, YOUR REAL DISASTER HAS NOT HIT YOUR SHORES YET. TRUTH IS TRUTH.

      Like 15
      Dislike 3
      • Tom says:

        Agree with @GOOD.

        you are dying and you don’t even notice it… first signs are starting to show … see the crazy crime, the closed biz …

        Like 10
        Dislike 2
        • @Tom says:

          See the crazy crime, the closed biz? Well crime and closed biz are world wide. BVI is no exception.

          The problem is, whenever white priviledge is or appear challenged, they all start bawling like lil cissy babies.

          Like 3
          Dislike 4
      • @@Good says:

        Agreed, THE REAL DISASTER HAS NOT HIT THEIR SHORES AS YET. THE SAME OUTSIDERS THAT THEY ARE SNUBBING IS GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO INTO THEIR COUNTRY AND HELP RESCUE THEM. KEEP THINKING THAT YOUR COUNTRY IS IMMUNE FROM EVERYTHING. THAT IS TRUTH AND REALITY MY FRIEND. THE REAL DEN OF DRUG CARTELS IS MOVING IN AND SETTING UP SHOP.

        Like 3
        Dislike 1
  2. Jack says:

    Sad to see, but ultimately the right decision. Lets all do our bit and get vaccinated so the BVI can get back to normal.

    Like 14
    Dislike 9
    • @Jack says:

      Lets all do out bit and allow ourselves to be coerced into accepting a vaccine that we neither want nor need? I am not so fond of blackmail; this whole “take the vaccine so we can open up again” nonsense is exactly that.

      Like 4
      Dislike 3
  3. Nonsense says:

    It was only delayed because it is looked at as a ‘WHITE PEOPLE EVENT’. The BVI will learn hard and fast.

    Like 10
    Dislike 11
    • Why says:

      Why make such a racist comment. The regatta welcomes people from around the world does not matter what race. I guess you have never attended the event, which is again open to everyone. Fantastic sailing, wonderful after parties with free live music and many, many local vendors. The marine sector employees people. The organization canceled to protect everyone.

      Like 21
      Dislike 1
  4. UAD says:

    So how peoples in the tourism industries suppose to take care off them self…but who the hell lays!!! Once them are working f… with the rest

  5. Tom says:

    I don’t get how is this any different than welcoming (or not) charters.

    Have the regatta. Have limited number of participants register if you are concerned over the import of COVID-19, have them go through the procedure you hope all tourist will go through… what’s the problem?

    I wouldn’t have been surprised if the event was canceled due to lack of interest/participation as those protocols might be too harsh.

    Like 6
    Dislike 3
  6. Tom tom says:

    Yep you are right.. our borders are closed so no boats can make it. The protocols are ok for people coming in to charter but there was none… so yes no interest in the event from international participants so it is cancelled.
    Simple economics!

  7. The BVI need to shut down says:

    The BVI need to shut to hell down… closed everything down to the world and just be in isolation…Everything in this place is failing…Oh and how easy and convenient it is to blame covid..

    Like 5
    Dislike 2
  8. Only Civil Servants says:

    Only Civil Servants supporting this government with their non sense policies because they get their salaries every two weeks but if this continues their salaries will be at risk maybe government will start cutting workers,,,,We all know there is never success and progress without some kind of risk,,,,Even if Covid stays goes there will be something else,,So.

    Like 5
    Dislike 1
  9. HonestTruth says:

    Once you turn down opportunities they seldom return.

    – I said that.

    Like 5
    Dislike 1
  10. Tortolian says:

    THE “EU CITIZEN” AND “@GOOD” AND OTHER COMMENTS EARLIER JUST AMAZES ME. I AM APPALLED THAT SOME OUT THERE HAS SO MUCH BITTERNESS IN THEIR HEARTS FOR THE BVI. COME ON ..ITS JUST A COUNTRY AND there’s no need to be such a hater. The BVI will continue to strive. whatever our fate …that too will pass!! We were direct targets of the worst hurricane that ever came on planet earth and we survived. We will survive. I declare and decree that the country and all therein will prosper. So please stop being so hateful. Blessings on you.

    Like 3
    Dislike 2
  11. @Tortolian says:

    We are since about 1950, and with and an increase by the decade of envy and jealousy to go along with it, or so, we have become the importer and domicile of the world’s greates and most vile virus known to man.

    That virus was created by and is prepertrated and practiced by the EU man and it is called RACISM. NO NEED FOR A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE HERE, THAT CAN BE DONE ONLINE.

    However, it is really sad to see how far backwards our society has regressed since those people and their ideas have become dominant in our space.

    Indeed, there are genuinely good white people. I am a living proof of that. But iam also a living proof that there more evil, wicked demonic, hatedful, murderous ones than there are good ones.

    Like 2
    Dislike 2
  12. Jokes says:

    Ms. Putz is still in charge of this?

  13. Me says:

    So sad to hear this. Look at Bermuda, they are having their Regatta this month. No quarantine just a few tests and a tracking bracelet.
    BVI tourism is dead. So sorry for the business owners as all the monies will go Bermuda’s way.

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