The world's longest downwind windsurfing race is going to take place between Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands and San Juan, in Puerto Rico. The event is being organized by the Formula Windsurfing World Championships and the Highland Spring HIHO 2011.
"For safety reasons we will ask the racers to keep Culebra to starboard", explained FW Worlds organizer and HIHO veteran Arturo 'Tito' Gallardo.
The drag race will be 160 kilometres (100 miles) long. Long downwind races are nothing new to the Highland Spring HIHO organizers, who once sent a fleet of windsurfers from Sopers Hole to Sapphire Beach, St. Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands.
The Highland Spring HIHO 2011 returns to the British Virgin Islands, a true watersports playground, from June 26th. Deserted white sand beaches, beautiful collections of rocks and clear water makes it an amazing windsurfing destination.
The event attracts racers and participants from all over the World. There will be two windsurfing classes competing for the best results: Techno 293 and Open.
Beach finishes are a HIHO exclusive and see competitors running up the beach to tag a mast flying a flag. Boat finishes may also be used. The race director will confirm the position finishes that may be discarded.
A record number of participants have already pre-registered for the Highland Spring HIHO 2011. Individuals and teams from Hawaii, California, Florida, France, Poland, South Africa and Brazil will be heading to the BVI for the event.
"We are on-track for a sell-out year", reports Sarah Butler, the registration coordinator at Highland Spring HIHO headquarters. in Tortola, BVI. "Racers are more or less equally divided between the SUP and Techno 2 windsurfing fleets, and we have a lot of families joining the event," she added.