Necker Island Joins Highland Spring HIHO 2006 Itinerary

Necker Island, the luxurious private island hideaway of billionaire Sir Richard Branson, will be a lunch stop on the Highland Spring HIHO 2006 route.  Racers will finish on the island’s powder white sand beach and be treated to a sumptuous feast prepared by the Necker chefs.

Competing windsurfers will finish their race by winding their way through the reef to finish on the island’s beautiful main beach. Non-racers will sail across to the luxurious private island aboard the yachts which will anchor in the lee of the island’s reef.

“Hosting the Highland Spring HIHO fleet will be a great pleasure,” commented Sir Richard.  “We welcome the racers and spectators to our private paradise.”

Stopping at Necker Island will necessitate an adjustment to the Highland Spring HIHO itinerary.  Instead of the usual race to Anegada, the fleet will instead start from Anegada and race back to Necker Island.  The 12-mile Anegada race is one of the most exciting legs of the event.  Simply a beam reach, the race will incorporate a short downwind run around the islands reef to a beach finish.

The Anegada-Necker Island race will be the fourth of between 7 and 9 races in the 6-days of competition in the event.   Following this race the fleet heads West for a series of long downwind races to Jost Van Dyke.

Fifty racers from the USA, Europe and the Caribbean are expected.  Virgin sponsored Charlie Smith will be representing Necker Island and the BVI.

The annual Highland Spring HIHO combines a challenging series of island-to-island windsurfing race through the British Virgin Islands with an adventure yacht flotilla.  Participants are accommodated aboard a fleet of captained yachts provided by The Moorings, the Worlds  largest charterboat company.  Racers rent new BIC Techno II boards and Neil Pryde V8 sails. 

For more info go to www.go-hiho.com

For more information on Necker Island, visit www.virgin.com/limitededition