Racing In Paradise

2007 Nanny Cay Nations Cup On Caribbean Digest

The 2007 Nanny Cay Nations Cup was featured on CBN's first edition of Caribbean Digest.  Click on to view the segment featuring interviews, sailing action and shoreside fun...

The last leg of the last race decides the 2007 NCNC

It's hard to imagine how it could have been closer. The 20th and final race of the weekend saw b.mobile Team BVI two points behind Team 'Holmberg BEYC'. The BVI team needed to finish the final race with two boats between them for a tie or three for a win. This was not very likely with the super consistent Holmbergs scoring nothing worse than a third so far...

The Holmbergs are on top after 12 races...

After waiting for the wind to stabilize race officer Chris Haycraft got the 2007 Nanny Cay Nations Cup underway just after 9.00am this morning. The wind stayed light but consistent all day, never quite reaching the forecasted 12-14 knots. The Holmbergs' 'Bitter End Yacht Club' team consisted of Peter, Denise, John, Diane and Kai...most definitely a real family affair.

Third Annual Nanny Cay Nations Cup Takes Place This Weekend

The third annual Nanny Cay Nations Cup will be taking place off Nanny Cay Marina this weekend (November 17/18).  Robbie Hirst, sailing for the British Virgin Islands, will be defending his two-time title in this hard-fought regatta where the simple requirement for entry is that all crew members carry the same passport.

Sailed in an identical fleet of IC24s, event organisers Racing In Paradise are expecting stiff competition as teams jostle to knock the Hirst powerhouse from their perch. John Holmberg from the USVI has enlisted brother Peter to his team. Peter recently returned to the Virgin Islands after an America's Cup stint with the winning Alinghi team.

 

However, the defending BVI team isn't leaving anything to chance. Robbie has teamed up with youth sailor Alec Anderson and Colin Rathbun to form a strong BVI team. Alec recently stunned several of the more experienced local IC24 'rockstars' by placing second in the Pete Sheals Memorial Match Race. Colin placed second to the Hirsts in the inaugural Nanny Cay Nations Cup and was a member of the winning Hirst team last year.

Peter Holmberg is set to race in the 2007 Nanny Cay Nations Cup.

It has now been confirmed.

Peter Holmberg will be racing with brother John's USA BEYC team at the 2007 NCNC.

I met John in K.Mart, St. Thomas yesterday afternoon. He had a nice selection of mushroom anchors ready for mark laying at the 2007 'Pro Am' coming up next week at the BEYC where he works as Watersports Director.

We talked about his mushrooms and the logistics of getting 11 IC24's up to the BEYC this Thursday.

The 2007 Nanny Cay Nations Cup...less than 4 weeks away!

November 17th will come sooner than you think.  We could be looking at 20 National teams battling it out in the Sir Francis Drake Channel off Nanny Cay making it the biggest NCNC yet!

Already confirmed with checks in the post are team ‘Crabtown sailors’ from Annapolis USA (Dotty Holoubek), team HIHO (Andy Morrell), team Canada (Mark Plaxton), team Holland (Frits Bus) and team St. Martin (Simon Manly).

Nanny Cay Nations Cup - Can anyone dethrone Team BVI?

That’s the big question. The Hirst Brothers have handily won the last two NCNC’s.  Last year they scored nothing worse than a third place after 14 races. John Holmberg, whose USVI team was just one of the 13 national teams beaten by the unstoppable Hirsts, was overheard muttering that he would be getting his brother Peter in to ‘sort those Hirst boys out’.

We know that Peter Holmberg will be at the BEYC ‘ProAm’ at the end of October so could it be possible?  All will be revealed so watch this space.

The NCNC is sponsored by Nanny Cay Marina.  "This event fits Nanny Cay’s profile nicely," comments Miles Sutherland-Pilch. "We have supported the BVI IC24 fleet since the get go and enjoy teaming up with Racing In Paradise to host a quality international regatta."

Nanny Cay Nations Cup 2005 - the video

Fourteen teams representing seven countries and comprising 70 sailors competed in the inaugural Nanny Cay Nations Cup held in the British Virgin Islands this weekend (November 12/13). Crews rotated through seven one-design IC24s in 10 flights giving a total of 18 races for the weekend with each team competing in nine races.

Download the Nanny Cay Nations Cup 2005 video for your iPod

Hirst brothers demolish the competition at the 2006 Nanny Cay Nations Cup

Having teamed up with last years' second placed helm Colin Rathbun the Hirst brothers counted nothing worse than a third place in their 10 races.

The perpetual trophy stays in the BVI for another year and the question is will anyone be able to dethrone these guys next year?

The winds were a little light but on Sunday a steady SE'ly set in with glorious sunshine and perfect racing conditions. The fight for second place was intense, at the close of play on Saturday it was team Holland who looked favourites with a 6 point cushion over the USVI. However Simon Manly and his St. Martin team came out blazing on Sunday morning scoring two bullets. It all came down to the last flight with St. Martin scoring two second places which knocked the USVI into third place.