Five Gunboat in the BVI: a week of Racing and Community

Some regattas are all about the scoreboard, this one wasn’t. Yes there were starts, tactics, pressure shifts, and that unique BVI mix of speed and scenery. But what made this week truly memorable was something else: the feeling of a Gunboat community moving together, from early-morning coffees to sunset plates, from training miles to a historic Lay Day sail with five Gunboats side by side.

The fleet at Nanny Cay

Throughout the week, five Gunboats were present in the BVI:

Only DREADKNOT, LITTLE WING, and LAYLA were officially entered into the BVI Spring Regatta racing program, but the whole fleet shaped the week’s energy. And honestly, that’s what Gunboat weeks do best: they bring together different owners, different crews, and different boats… and quickly make it feel like one shared story.

Five Gunboats sailing together

The five Gunboats gathered outside the marina, making final preparations and setting themselves up. And then they were off: spinnaker hoisted, Code 0 unfurled on some boats, and the fleet simply… took off, together.

With a true wind of 15 to 18 knots, conditions were perfect for demonstrating what matters to us: regardless of the model or generation, Gunboats share the same performance signature.

Because when a Gunboat 62 sails alongside a Gunboat 72 and three Gunboat 68s, and they all turn wind speed into speed, with the same composure, you see the wake take shape on the water.

Then came the anchorage: where speed turns into camaraderie

After the offshore run, the fleet regrouped at anchor and the day took a different turn. There were lively discussions, laughter, and that quiet satisfaction of a day well sailed. It’s the hardest part to measure, but impossible to miss: the camaraderie, the little tips exchanged between crews, the “how did you sail over there?” conversations that only happen when people genuinely love the same thing.

All week long, the routine had its own charm: meeting up early before the race for a proper breakfast and a quick briefing, then meeting up again in the evening for cold cuts and cheese at sunset, followed by a nice meal at a restaurant. Because even when you’re sailing at full speed, you still need to enjoy the place where you’re sailing.

Days 4-6: The BVI Spring Regatta real competition

After racking up miles of training, the three competing crews shifted into full-fledged regatta mode:

And at the end of the event, the results brought the week to a close: LAYLA finished 2nd overall in the Performance Multihull category!

One moment stood out as the perfect illustration of the spirit of the week, because during the 3rd race, the podium for the Performance Multihull category was 100% Gunboat:

Different generations. The same intensity. The same focus when it counts.

Gunboat × Doyle Sails in the regatta village

Throughout the event, we were also proud to share the week with our partner Doyle Sails, present alongside us on the Gunboat stand in the regatta village. A regatta week is where you feel the truth of a sail plan: the shape, the stability, the way power arrives and stays manageable. Having Doyle with us was a natural fit, because the difference, in the end, lives in the details.

Thank you

To all the owners, crews, friends, and supporters who were part of this week on the docks, in the village, on the Lay Day, and on the racecourse : thank you!

Of course, thank you DREADKNOT, LITTLE WING, and LAYLA for racing the regatta. Thanks SEATILT and BREAK FREE for being there and participating in the community activities. And a special congrat to LAYLA and her crew for an outstanding 2nd overall in Performance Multihull!

This week in the BVI reminded us of something simple: speed is fun. But shared speed is something else entirely. Thank you to the organizers and thank you to Tidal Pulse Media for capturing the footage on the sea.

See you next year!