Racing In Paradise

Nanny Cay Nations Cup 2008 - The Video

Nanny Cay Nations Cup 2008 from Broadsword PR on Vimeo.

Bmobile (LIME) take the 2008 Nanny Cay Nation’s Cup

BVI Olympic hopeful Alec Anderson steered his BMobile (LIME) team to a convincing victory after a very tough ‘08 Nations Cup.

At the fourth annual Nanny Cay Nations Cup held this weekend (Nov 15/16) in the British Virgin Islands, 'bmobile/ LIME' brought the perpetual trophy back to the BVI after a one year stay in the US Virgin Islands.  BVI Olympic hopeful Alec Anderson steered his 'bmobile/LIME' team to a convincing victory after a very tough two-day event held in 18-20 knots of breeze with a total of 22 points.  Last year's defending champions, John and Peter Holmberg of 'Ondeck Ocean Racing' (USVI), were second with 29 points and 'Team BVI' with Robbie and Mike Hirst, and 15-year old Don Tae Hodge on the helm, were third with 34 points.

After twelve races and no throw outs, 'bmobile/LIME' counted seven bullets scoring nothing deeper than a third place.   'bmobile/LIME's' main challenger for the Cup was Peter Holmberg and his 'Ondeck Ocean Racing' team - last year's winners. However, the Holmbergs' regatta was marred by a costly error in race seven when they sailed around the wrong windward mark with a comfortable lead.

"They quickly made amends and followed the fleet into the downwind leg in last place," said Richard Wooldridge of Racing In Paradise, event organisers. "Recovering to fourth place it didn't seem too bad until a few competitors pointed out that they had failed to 'unwind' themselves correctly and hadn't sailed the course. Peter Holmberg quickly did the right thing and withdrew leaving him with eight points for that race.

"But to give you some idea of how well the LIME team sailed, even if the Holmbergs had counted a bullet in race seven they would have still lost out in the overall standings by three points!"

Nanny Cay Nations Cup - Replay of Live Blog

2008 Nanny Cay Nations Cup - Final Results

Final Results After 18 Races

bMobile/LIME (BVI)   - Rathbun/Anderson - 22
Ondeck Racing (USVI)   - Holmbergs - 29
Team BVI - Hirsts & Dontae Hodge - 34
Canuks - Plaxton/Watters - 37
Holland - Frits Bus - 45
Blighties - Andrew Waters - 52
HIHO (USA) - Andy Morrell - 55
Antigua - Bernie Evan-Wong - 63
St Maarten - Simon Manly - 66
Stormtrysail (USA) - John Carlton - 66
Ireland - Clair Burke - 71
5 Go Sailing (UK) - Matt Hood - 85

Nanny Cay Nations Cup Day One - 'Fresh To Frightening

Teams competing in the 4th annual Nanny Cay Nations Cup enjoyed a vigorous days racing in the St Francis Drake channel just off Nanny Cay Marina. Early morning squalls had cleared away by 8am leaving the entire NE Caribbean under a strong and steady trade wind flow bang out of the East.

Racing got underway shortly after 9am with 8 of the 12 teams getting a baptism of fire. After three races each of the teams counted two results which produced a 3-way tie. Defending champions Peter Holmberg along with brother John (Team Ondeck USVI), BMobile(LIME) BVI and ‘Hirst Brothers’ BVI shared the lead with 4 points a piece. 

It should be noted that the vastly experienced Holmbergs were being challenged by a pair of youngsters. Alec Anderson (17) helming for BMobile and Don Tae Hodge (15) at the helm for ‘team BVI’. Robbie Hirst sailed with Alec last year and narrowly lost out to the Holmbergs on the last run of the last and 20th race…this year he and brother Mike invited Don Tae to take the helm with David Hirst (12) and Ryan Wooldridge (9) also in the crew.

Packed Field For Fourth Annual Nanny Cay Nations Cup

With the fourth annual Nanny Cay Nations Cup just over two weeks away, a strong field of teams are lining up to attempt to dethrone US Virgin Islanders Peter and John Holmberg, last year’s winners.  An estimated 16-18 teams are currently expected representing the British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands, England, Ireland, Holland, USA, Canada, Antigua, Barbados and Puerto Rico.

 “Peter Holmberg and his USVI team will definitely be defending their title. This is great news for all concerned, there’s nothing like having a world-class helmsman to set your sights on,” said Richard Wooldridge of Racing In Paradise, the event organisers.

Holmbergs Return To Defend Nanny Cay Nations Cup Title

The fourth annual Nanny Cay Nations Cup will take place the weekend of November 15/16 off Nanny Cay Marina in the British Virgin Islands.  The US Virgin Islands team of Peter and John Holmberg, winners of last year’s event, will be returning to defend their title.

In a hard-fought last race, the Holmbergs snatched the crown from the British Virgin Islands’ Hirst brothers who had held the title since the event’s inception in 2005.  The Hirst brothers needed to finish with three boats between themselves and the Holmbergs to earn their third title.  But after the 20th - and last - race of the event, there was only a two-boat gap; the Hirsts and Holmbergs finished tied on 18 points each.  The tie was broken with race wins and the Holmbergs bested the Hirsts with six wins to their five.

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.