The Virgin's Race is one of the longest running in the Royal BVI Yacht Club Calendar with the first edition taking place in 1975.
The race has evolved over the years and with the sponsorship of the William Thornton since 1990 it is firmly established as the Willy T Virgin's Cup. In addition to the normal racing rules, all boats entered shall have a female skipper and in some years it was stipulated that 50% of the crew also had to be women.
Naturally, entries have always been high for the race which in it's current format ends with a post-race party at the Willy T.
The roll of honour:
1975
Squib 162 Liz Harley
1976
1977
1978
1979
Galatea Jill Tattersall
1980
Squib Barbara Bailey
1981
Sting Debbie Beasley
1982
Jolie Brise
1983
Plan B Carrie Craig
1984
Lightning Jean Green
1985
Roobarb
Jan Lant
1986
Galatea of Tortola
Pam Edwards
1987
1988
1989
1990
Sapphire Carmen O'Connor
1991
1992
Cinnamon Teal Alison Reese
1993
1994
Even Tide Felicity Field
1995
Pipe Dream Penny Haycraft
1996
Ruff N Reddy Kay Reddy
1997
Jambo Heather Craigen
1998
Rushin' Rowlette Karen Simpson
1999
Rushin' Rowlette Karen Simpson
2000
Boomorang Pat Nolan
2001
Rushin' Westcott Annie Westcott
2002
Shamwari Julie Elliot
2003
Boomorang Pat Nolan
2004
Boomorang
2005
Mistress Quickly Kerry Klein
2008
Boomorang Pat Nolan
2007
Boomorang Pat Nolan
2008
Willy T Becky Rowlette
2009
Latitude 19 Clair Burke
2010
Rushin' Rowlette Becky Rowlette
2011
Bonne Chance
2012
2013
Rushin' Rowlette Liz Killeen
2014
Boomorang Meg Randall
2015
Rushin' Rowlette Victoria Rowlette & Charlotte Matthews
2016
Rushin' Rowlette Charlotte Matthews Victoria Rowlette & Anya Reshetiloff
2017
Cancelled (Hurricanes Irma and Maria)
2018
Laser
Alastair Abrehart
2019
Whoop Whoop
Victoria Rowlette
2020
Whoop Whoop
Victoria Rowlette
2021
Trike Katelyn Greenan
2022
Flying Pig Sam Brown
2023
Lulu
Dottie Whitting-Knight & Piper Bailey
2023 Virgin's Cup & Willy T Race
Freedom 44 Lulu captained by Dottie Whitting-Knight and Piper Bailey were named winners of the 2023 Virgin's Cup.
What do you do on a Saturday when the sun is shining, the sky is blue and there's a perfect breeze for sailing? Race to the Willy T of course! Click here to read a full report
