Local News
AMAZING RECORDS, WARM WINDS AND UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS
50th Edition of the BVI Spring Regatta First Day
The Cape 31 Flying Jenny took first in Class and won the Nanny Cay Cup recording the fastest corrected time of 4:19:17 in the race around Tortola on the first day of the British Virgin Islands Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival.
“We have an amazing team around Sandy. Sandy has pulled together a cool race team. She is using the Caribbean as our winter training and then we will go back to the United Kingdom with the boat where there is a fleet of about twenty Cape 31s, and then we will do a full season in the UK,” shared Josie Giddon, navigator for the Cape 31 owned and skippered by Sandy Askew, on the regatta’s web page.
It was the first time the Nanny Cay Cup race took place in the territory since the 2019 regatta.
The British sailor added: “Today was amazing, we’re sailing in paradise. It was long and a lot of concentration was needed; a long upwind then around the back of the island. The typology of the island was really interesting as was the weather – the clouds which played into the game – and we just kept on pushing. We were over at the start, well we thought we were over, and cleared, the other Cape Adrenalin was in front of us at the beginning, but we kept on eating away using the land and the typology.”
Nemo, the HH66 owned and skippered by Todd Slyngstad from California, United States was first across the line with the fastest elapsed time of 2:58:05, corrected to 4:28:53. The standing Round Tortola record is owned by Slyngstad’s brother Greg, owner and skipper of Fujin, a Bieker 53 catamaran, with a fastest elapsed time of 1:57:16 won in 2019.
“We had fun, it was a great day, although we did break the mainsheet just before the finish,” Todd Slyngstad commented. “It exploded and it’s not an easy fix, we’ll be on it all day. Our container with spares is in St Marten, but lucky we have a very nice neighbour – Mach Schnell’s container is here and they have helped us out which is really great. I’m going to owe them a really nice bottle of wine.”
General Manager of Nanny Cay, host sponsor of the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival, welcomed all sailors and spectators, adding: “I’d like to welcome all those coming to Nanny Cay for the first time, and those who are returning, welcome back – it’s great to see everyone. We really love hosting this event so thank you for coming. Conditions looked ideal today and the racing looked great, so I hope you all had a wonderful time out there racing.”
A total of 70 boats from around the world are competing in the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival 50th Anniversary between March 27 – April 2.
Information taken from the bvispringregatta.org
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force has confirmed that Tarik Aaron was arrested shortly before midnight on Friday, April 17, on extradition orders issued by authorities in the United States Virgin Islands, and has since appeared before the Magistrate’s Court.
According to police, the arrest was carried out in connection with a request from USVI authorities, though further details have not been disclosed.
Aaron appeared before the Magistrate’s Court today and was denied bail.
Further updates are expected as more information becomes available.
The Civil Registry and Passport Office has announced an increase in fees for United Kingdom passports, effective April 8, 2026.
According to the office, the revised fees apply to new, renewal and replacement passport applications, as well as other related services.
Under the new structure, the cost for a new, renewal or replacement adult passport has been set at £116.50, while the fee for a child passport is £75.50. Adult frequent traveller passports will cost £130.50, and child frequent traveller passports £89.50.
The fee for changes to an existing passport will also be £116.50. In addition, a delivery fee of £14.32 will apply.
The Civil Registry and Passport Office advised that the updated fees are now in effect and apply to all relevant applications submitted on or after April 8.
A bill proposing wide-ranging changes to the Virgin Islands’ electoral system was introduced in the House of Assembly today, Tuesday, April 22, by Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley.
The proposed Elections (Amendment) Act, 2026, is based on consultations with stakeholders and recommendations from observer missions, as well as input from the Deputy Governor’s Office and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections.
“This is the Elections Amendment Act 2026, following extensive deliberations with a number of entities, including a committee of the House who looked at recommendations of various observer missions that came to The Virgin Islands,” Hon. Wheatley said during the continuation of the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly.
He said the bill also builds on work undertaken by the previous House of Assembly. “Also, the last House of Assembly looked at a number of recommendations that were forwarded through the Deputy Governor’s Office and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections,” he said.
Hon. Wheatley said the proposed amendments were developed through discussions on changes to the Elections Act. “We had very extensive discussions about amendments to the Elections Act, and of course, those recommendations were used to make this Amendment Act. This received its first reading some time ago, and now we are here to debate this Elections Act, so that it can therefore become law,” he said.
The bill introduces several reforms to the electoral framework, including expanded access to voting through mobile and curbside options for individuals with physical limitations and the formal use of assistive technologies for voters with disabilities.
It also provides for the establishment of a Department of Elections and an Elections Advisory Committee to oversee voter registration and election administration.
Additional provisions include a formal Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates, along with new rules governing campaign donations and political financing.
The legislation also proposes restrictions on the announcement of major public grants or projects shortly before an election, aimed at addressing potential incumbency advantages.
The bill has already received its first reading and is expected to be referred to a committee when the House of Assembly resumes on April 30, 2026, at 10 a.m., where it will undergo further review as part of the legislative process.
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