Customs’ current crackdown on vessels will not affect Spring Regatta

The 2022 BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival will not be affected by Her Majesty’s Customs crackdown on vessels operating in the territory without proper compliance certification.

Speaking at a recent press conference, Commissioner of Customs Wade Smith reassured the public that the measures would not impact the vessels entering the territory for the seven-day sailing festival.

“As a matter of fact, there is a company working with the Spring Regatta organisation. They are collecting documents and receiving authorisation from Customs for all the vessels that are going to be participating in the Spring Regatta,” Smith said.

The Commissioner also noted that the relevant documents are not required to be submitted physically.

“The information can be submitted electronically through the Sail Clear System ahead of arrival and permission has been given to these companies and vessels to go direct to the location where the spring regatta will take place,” Smith said.

“In addition to that, I have granted participants of the Spring Regatta exemptions for cruising permits. So, this will not affect the Spring Regatta,” the Commissioner added.

Over the years, the Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival has grown massively and has attracted large support from racing enthusiasts across the world who turn up to the Virgin Islands shores to compete year after year.

Currently, the Spring Regatta is one of the Caribbean’s premier annual racing events. The 2022 staging is expected to run from March 28 to April 3.

The sailing leg of the event will begin on March 30 with a race to Scrub Island for its Invitational Race. The following day will be a race to Foxy’s in Jost Van Dyke. From Friday, April 1 to Sunday, April 3 there will be three days of top racing around rocks, islands with 18 classes. Friday will also be the highly anticipated Mount Gay Race Day.