July 3rd, 2010
Schurmann & Erickson Win Highland Spring HIHO 2010 Titles
Brazilian Wilhelm Schurmann and Californian Lance Erickson won their respective classes in the Highland Spring HIHO 2010 event. Schurmann, who took top honors in the 2008 event, won each leg of the 5-stage event. Erickson traded wins with fellow Californian racer Ernie Johnson but won the final race around Sandy Cay to take top honors.
The weeklong event took racers from 11-countries on a tour of the BVI’s. Daily windsurfing & paddle races pitted competitors on long-distance inter-island paddles. A combined 100-miles of competition were completed with favorite races including the 12-mile Anegada race and the 27-mile Sir Francis Drake thriller.
Highland Spring HIHO combines great inter-island racing with fun parties and a yacht flotilla through the British Virgin Islands. Besides inter-island racing participants enjoy yacht racing aboard the fleet of captained Moorings yachts. While Summer trade wind condition in the BVI offer great sailing conditions the islands assortment of bars & restaurants provide a complimentary party
Second in the windsurfing fleet went to veteran racer Jean Marc Peyronnet from St Maarten while Andrea Colombo of Switzerland took 3rd. Top BVI racers were Rusty Henderson in 4th and Josh Morrell in 13th.
Schurmann was 1st in the Men’s division while Henderson won the Master’s division. Peyronnet captured the Grand Master win while Elia Colombo took the Junior category. Super Master’s was taken by Graham White from the UK.
“A great race,” said Sherman on the beach at Sandy Cay on the last day of racing. “I wish the Brazilian football team could have played as well as I sailed this week.”
In the stand-up paddle class Erickson and Johnson claimed 1st and 2nd leaving Florida racer Tom Pace in 3rd. The top female racer was Andie Johnson.
“Ernie and I had a great time at the Highland Spring HIHO race this week,” described Erickson after the last paddle race. “We’ve never been to the BVI’s and it was a beautiful setting for a race. Paddling between the islands was great. We’re looking forward to returning.”
The annual Highland Spring HIHO race takes windsurfers & paddlers on a tour of the British Virgin Islands. The week-long event combines windsurfing & paddling with a yacht flotilla. Racers compete in island-to-island races. Parties take place on a different island each night.
The event is sponsored by Highland Spring water, The Moorings, Red Stripe and HIHO 100% Caribbean clothing.
June, 2010
Mega SUP Racing
SUP racers from around the World are descending on the BVI for great racing in the Highland Spring HIHO 2010 event.
Organizers have planned 6-days of exciting competition starting at Oil Nut Bay at the top of the BVI's and ending off Sandy Cay. Top US racer Ernie Johnson will be joined by surfing legend come paddle boarder Mickey Munoz and plenty of Puerto Rican racers.
One of the best parts of the annual Highland Spring HIHO race is the yacht racing. This year’s race from Anegada to Virgin Gorda was won by Nathalia Nylend and crew aboard Kastor Pollack, a Moorings 4300. Line honors went to Bill Price and his crew on the 4600 Salacious who edged Admiral Peter Ratcliffe on Mambo No, Five. The 14-mile race saw great conditions with a steady 15-18-knot breeze and 2-3ft seas. After the race all Highland Spring HIHO participants enjoyed a sumptuous lunch on Valley Trunk Bay followed by an afternoon of exploration at The Baths.
Top US paddler Ernie Johnson from California will make race in the SUP class in this years Highland Spring HIHO event. Johnson, a multi-race winner in the fledgling SUP circuit is juiced to be racing in what is shaping up to be the best long-distance event in the sport. “I’m very excited to race for 6-days through the British Virgin Islands,” he said. “Living on a yacht and touring through the islands will be great.” Johnson was last in the Caribbean in November when he won Puerto Rico’s first pro paddle event.
Highland Spring HIHO 2010 is adding a stand-up paddle category. Look forward to 6-days of great inter-island paddle racing. We’re making it easy by having new Starboard 12’6” Cruiser boards on-hand to rent for $250. All you need to bring is a paddle (but we can provide this too). The racing will be hot with long inter-island courses, plus island circumnavigations. Paddlers will race for 1-2 hours p/day, but longer on one or two days. The SUP fleet will live aboard our yachts with the rest of the HIHOers.
June 26-July 4
Get ready for next years event. Dates are June 27 to July 4. We board the yachts in Sunday, June 27 and set sail for a week or racing & adventure. We’ll have all new info on our website shortly but if you are chomping at the bit you may register at the 2009 prices. Just go here [link to registration page] and register. Include a note that you wish to participate in next year’s event. By the way, for Highland Spring HIHO 2010 we’ll be adding an SUP class so they’ll be even more racing.
The 25th anniversary edition of the annual Highland Spring HIHO event is a sell-out. We have a record 40 registered Techno 2 racers, plus racers confirmed in the Open class. There is room for more racers but we have no equipment left to rent. Top races registered include Eli Fuller from Antigua, Jean-Mark Peyronnet from St Martin and Martinique racer Jean-Francois Peyronnet. “This is going to be a great week of racing,” says race director Simon Woods.
Brazilian pro racer Wilhelm Schurmann aced this years Highland Spring HIHO event. more...
Spend a week exploring the BVI's as you windsurf and sail through the Caribbean's most beautiful islands. The annual Highland Spring HIHO combines great windsurfing with a yacht flotilla. Participants will call a captained Moorings yacht home for the week as they wind there way through the islands. Each day there is great windsurfing racing along with other activities. Each night a great party is highlighted with live music and entertainment. Come solo or with a group. You will meet windsurfers & sailors from all over the Caribbean and around the World.
Windsurfers need only bring a harness as the event provides new equipment for rent. Plenty of inter-island sailing, lots of activities and a kids camp mean non-windsurfers won't be bored.
Did we mention the beautiful British Virgin islands? Considered some of the most beautiful islands in the World and definitely the best sailing on the planet, the BVI's are perfect the Highland Spring HIHO's brand of racing- long inter-island legs in safe conditions.
What's the best part of this event- the racing, life on the yachts, great parties or meeting new friends. We're not sure, but the 2008 edition of the event was outstanding and participants tell us they had a fantastic time. See you in the islands in June 2009 for the events 25th anniversary!