HMS Liverpool Joins Highland Spring HIHO 2005

Highland Spring HIHO racers will be accorded the respect of HMS Liverpool as their start boat in the July 7th race.  His Excellency Governor Tom McCan will officiate aboard the ship which will fire its guns to signal the actual start of the race.  The fifty competing windsurfers in the event will race from the North Sound on Virgin Gorda around to Valley Trunk Bay on the islands Western end.

HMS Liverpoolis a 410ft Type 42 destroyer.  The captain, Commander Gerry Northwood, will join the day’s race along with another crew member.

While Commander Northwood arrives courtesy of Her Majesty’s Navy, he will have his hands full with competition from some of the World’s best windsurfing racers.  Current French Champion Julian “Juju” Quental from St Martin is returning and ready to defend his Highland Spring HIHO 2004 victory.  Juju will be pressured by veteran Italian racer Luis Marchegger, runner up in last years event.  Champion Canadian racer Sam Ireland may also prove a threat.

Top local talent includes the Anderson family led by father Ewan and sons Sean & Alec.  The Andersons and young Eric Spenser could very well all populate the top ten results.

The annual Highland Spring HIHO event consists of a series of inter-island windsurfing races through the British Virgin Islands.  By the time HMS Liverpool arrives the fleet will have raced five times, including the events most popular race from the North Sound to Anegada, a 14-mile thigh burning reach.

A unique feature of the Highland Spring HIHO event is that all participants are accommodated aboard yachts which follow the racing fleet as it winds it’s way though the British Virgin Islands.  All yachts in the event are catamarans provided by The Moorings.

Following that day’s race the HMS Liverpool will host a cocktail party for all participants before dinner and the events famous pirate party hosted by the Last Resort in Trellis Bay, Beef Island.

HMS Liverpool departs on July 8th as the Highland Spring HIHO fleet continues West to Little Thatch, then on to Jost Van Dyke.  The events final races are Saturday, July 9th off Sandy Cay 7 Sandy Spit.

Title sponsor Highland Spring Natural Mineral Water is the UK’s best-selling natural mineral water and the #1 bottled water in the BVI.  The brand has a multi-year sponsorship contract with the popular HIHO windsurfing event.

Additional Highland Spring HIHO sponsors include HIHO, Neil Pryde, BIC Sport & The Moorings.

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