Racing 100ft Monsters: Tactical Warfare at the North Sound Maxi Regatta

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]The sailing, it's just incredible.

[00:00:03]We had to paddle our way through the fleet.

[00:00:04]Tack in here!

[00:00:05]To win these things is a big deal.

[00:00:07]It just doesn't get any better than this.

[00:00:17]I was brought up in the south of England, fell in love with sailing there, my father took me on a cross-channel race when I was six years old, I was not allowed on deck I would just sit in the hatch and watch things.

[00:00:28]But I was taught how to pack spinnakers below because I was a lightweight, I could afford not being on the rail.

[00:00:35]The North Sound Max Regatta started last year, 2025.

[00:00:38]The sailing, it's just incredible it's like sailing on carpet, the flat water, the breeze, the location and the surroundings, it's just the best.

[00:00:50]we're well placed to put this regatta together and I think well positioned within the Maxi circuit.

[00:00:55]The BVI is a beautiful place, but it's pretty logistically challenging to get everyone here all the boats, the containers, etc. My name is Emily Herod, and I'm one of the regatta organisers for the North Sound Maxi Regatta.

[00:01:08]It's a job all year round we come up with new ideas and how to keep people entertained and hope to make each year different and better and better.

[00:01:16]putting on the event, It's quite complex getting permits for putting ground tackle in, getting all the licenses, putting it all together.

[00:01:21]we do our best to make it as easy as possible for everyone.

[00:01:24]And then when we're here, it feels like it's worth it.

[00:01:31]Whether it's windward leeward racing or coastal racing around the islands, here.

[00:01:34]the courses are kind of tailored to be the best racing for that day.

[00:01:37]Can I remind everyone of the three declaration forms?

[00:01:41]Each day starts with a 09:15 skippers briefing from Stuart, who's our race officer.

[00:01:46]We have a little speech from the medic who keeps everyone safe.

[00:01:49]Just make sure they're safe.

[00:01:50]Will come back in one piece and have a great race.

[00:01:54]I think this regatta is unique because there's some really amazing racing.

[00:01:57]The BVI is one of the best racetracks for these kind of boats.

[00:02:01]It's fierce.

[00:02:01]the racing here as close as it gets.

[00:02:03]Everyone gets on the boats, and then they go to each other like, it's war, we've been here before And we got good competition.

[00:02:18]it's going to be a long couple races.

[00:02:26]I've got all these good guys around us and we've been sailing for a long time, so we're pretty good and comfortable.

[00:02:31]with What's going on.

[00:02:32]And we look ahead and we made some good calls for sure.

[00:02:38]so for us, we're just trying to save our time, try and keep as close to the leaders as we can and, sail our best race We had a couple nice things happen and they all kind of went our way.

[00:02:49]I was like, oh we got lucky there. Oh, we got lucky in that one.

[00:02:51]Oh, damn.

[00:02:52]Look at this one.

[00:02:52]We got another lucky one. Oh, here we go.

[00:02:59]couple of times we were almost in front by twenty seconds or so And then it gets lighter.

[00:03:04]So I think the whole thing's going to switch pretty quick.

[00:03:06]as soon as it gets under 14 knots they'll sail around us we had a good couple of last legs and, think we won by 3 or 4 minutes on corrected over 3.5 hours.

[00:03:25]it went really well for us today.

[00:03:27]But it's unbelievable.

[00:03:28]Just the whole place, it’s one of my favorite places to sail by far.

[00:03:43]North Sound Maxi Regatta, I really love it It's new things to learn.

[00:03:46]It's new things to understand.

[00:03:47]What's happening around this island, around the racecourse.

[00:03:50]Just the second year, and, I really enjoyed it.

[00:03:54]Takes a lot of preparation to take part in this regatta.

[00:03:56]Not only do you have to get the boats here, but you have to have your boats optimised, your boats prepared, It's a huge job with the big crew numbers that are here on these big boats.

[00:04:04]The boats that turn up at this regatta are the best in the world.

[00:04:07]The best sailors are here, and it's definitely the benchmark now.

[00:04:12]And of course, other people can put a regatta up like this, but I think the initiative for North Sales have taken together with the owner of ‘V’ it's an eye opener for, for a lot of other events This was a really the best event I've come to.

[00:04:24]The location is superb. People are amazing.

[00:04:26]I have to say, the support from the event day to day has been next level.

[00:04:32]Perfect conditions again today for day two of the coastal race.

[00:04:35]We've got a nice combination of reaching and upwind downwind, and going around some islands, so it should be pretty spectacular.

[00:04:47]A bit of a tough start.

[00:04:48]Like, we wanted to get it right, and there was a bit of, bit of a jam up with the boats.

[00:04:52]We sort of had to battle our way through the fleet, I think we were about third or fourth.

[00:05:04]Had to dip a couple of boats, which wasn't ideal, from then on it was sort of just get round and just sort of chip away and wait for the other boats to make mistakes, these boats are their machines.

[00:05:15]You know, So you make one mistake and you get thrown out the back.

[00:05:18]And we've seen that now in the first couple of races, one boat has made one crucial mistake at exactly the wrong time. And next thing you know, they're right out the back so you can't make any mistakes.

[00:05:29]We've got a great team and I think we're making a little steps, which we're also having great racing against Freya and Ammonite, getting your combos right is huge in the coastal days.

[00:05:38]Like if, if you make the wrong sail choice if you're ten degrees out, you know, the rest of the fleet will roll you.

[00:05:45]And and now you've got to a bit on.

[00:05:48]the deciding which sails and how to use them best is really hard.

[00:05:52]today I think we did a little bit better at getting the best out of our sails compared to yesterday.

[00:05:58]It was pretty intense I personally enjoy that a lot But yeah, it's it's good fun.

[00:06:04]One of the best places I've sailed.

[00:06:06]Clearwater.

[00:06:07]Good breeze, good vibes over here.

[00:06:10]You know, it's it's fun.

[00:06:13]We're in one of the best places in the world to sail.

[00:06:15]It's I think for everyone, it's one of the highlights of the year.

[00:06:18]Flat water, great conditions, four rival courses, and good competition.

[00:06:27]My name is Tim Wade.

[00:06:29]I'm part of the production team of the North Sound Maxi Regatta.

[00:06:36]running regatta like this, it's full on, it's hectic.

[00:06:39]We're on site if somebody's got a problem, then we try and find the solution.

[00:06:48]super proud to be part of this regatta.

[00:06:50]And I truly think it's just going to get bigger and better every year.

[00:06:54]in the, islands.

[00:06:54]You've got to be resourceful.

[00:06:56]nothing's next door.

[00:06:58]The logistics are very, very complicated.

[00:07:01]we make it work.

[00:07:02]We can't stop. We won't stop.

[00:07:05]And when I first got here at the start of the month, it's almost like a blank canvas and I... [phone rings] Are you kidding?

[00:07:14]My role with the regatta When I first get here at the start of the month, I work with a team of three, and we put together things like the sail loft, the people behind the scenes, I know work incredibly hard, everyone really has to dig in to make this happen, If they have a repair to be done, they bring their sales in pieces or not.

[00:07:34]And we basically make sure that they are ready to go sailing the next day.

[00:07:38]It's quite unique at this regatta that the sale loft is right in the middle of the regatta.

[00:07:42]So it’s right there at Bitter End, close to the dock.

[00:07:44]It's not only super convenient for the crews, but it also looks great.

[00:07:48]we’ve got our compressor, which is a big part running the sewing machines.

[00:07:50]most the machines run off the compressors.

[00:07:52]They have these pneumatic pistons This would be for the spinnakers, then on the other machine, which is a slightly bigger machine, means we can get a lot more of the sail inside if we need to work into them in the middle of the sail.

[00:08:03]the north sail loft, is a central part of the regatta.

[00:08:06]everybody stops by and admires workmanship repairing these spinnakers every evening.

[00:08:10]the technology, it’s quite advanced I think when I sailor sees North sales logo, they think of it as the peak performance of sail making.

[00:08:18]If you do break something, it's great to have a loft here.

[00:08:22]Which means that everyone always has the right sails each day.

[00:08:26]And if that wasn't around, then everything would be a compromise.

[00:08:29]In a day and age where you classify all these jibs and spinnakers for tiny little wind ranges, these big monsters are exactly the opposite.

[00:08:36]We have to have sails that cover huge wide wind ranges, So it's a totally different strategy.

[00:08:43]there is sometimes a lot of pressure.

[00:08:45]If a team, for instance, is quite high on the leaderboard, we need to fix it, and we have to work all night.

[00:08:50]We have to work all night.

[00:08:51]Every single sale is completely different when it comes in damaged.

[00:09:01]Triple Head Sunday.

[00:09:02]Just kind of a unique feature of this event.

[00:09:06]And everybody's kind of given an approximate angle of what they think their fastest angle would be today.

[00:09:10]They hit the stopwatch as soon as you cross the line, they hit the stopwatch.

[00:09:14]As soon as you finish on this little speed run, voila, That's your time.

[00:09:20]As a sailmaker we get to showcase the tools that don't always come out of the bag.

[00:09:24]And getting a chance to kind of let the owners see them and let their boats shine at different angles, Well the format of the racing is one of the attractions to coming here.

[00:09:31]It's different, I think, particularly for Axel, the owner of this boat, getting the chance to use his boat in a different way and really learn how to use the tools properly.

[00:09:41]I think is, as much part of the fun and, you know, part of the, I guess, the inspiration to come here in the first place.

[00:09:50]Today was a really good day for black Jack.

[00:09:52]A little bit lighter today, not so much breeze.

[00:09:54]I mean, it did really well.

[00:09:54]And triple headers.

[00:09:55]Got first over the line.

[00:09:57]Fastest time.

[00:09:58]So happy day for the team.

[00:10:06]Yeah, we really enjoyed it.

[00:10:07]We, we never really sailed with that configuration before.

[00:10:10]And, you It's a little bit different.

[00:10:12]We get to leave all the downwind sails behind and really focus on the reaching sails.

[00:10:16]You know, Axel's just bought some new sails for this boat, he's invested in, you know, trying to increase the performance of the boat.

[00:10:22]And, I think Axel saw a kind of different side of the boat today, and yeah, it was just it was so much fun.

[00:10:28]We just set up the sails in a proper way, and then we tried to to steer good and get the finish line.

[00:10:37]We enjoyed it very much.

[00:10:38]I mean, I think the concept was very good because after the two days and the training day, it was like a lei day, and that was good for us and for the whole crew.

[00:10:47]So we enjoyed this very much.

[00:10:51]Black Jack is built to be the fastest boat, and that's our main goal.

[00:10:54]It was kind of light breeze today unfortunately.

[00:10:56]But we sailed a good race and everyone did their best to get a good performance out of it.

[00:11:00]And well yeah, we got a great race, two great races.

[00:11:02]So we're happy.

[00:11:09]The social events really set this regatta apart from others, the social program is pretty unique.

[00:11:14]We do really have an amazing event every single night we go to every destination in this North Sound area.

[00:11:20]It's a really good sense of community, getting all the venues involved, and they are all super premium destinations These owners cruise everyone, invest so much time in coming to these events, and it's a real big effort.

[00:11:34]So we hope that the social events reward that effort by making them really special.

[00:11:38]So last night we were on Necker Island, we had the Wailers come in, It was a beach party, great barbecue food and sunset on Necker Island.

[00:11:47]What more could you want?

[00:11:49]Each party, stand alone would be incredible, but instead you have seven in a row.

[00:11:53]We work alongside a local events company called Hustle they are our logistics partners they are a BVI based company, so we all kind of meet up every day at Bitter End make the plans for the day... the plan changes every single day.

[00:12:06]I think today will probably just set up the overall result for the regatta, there's actually quite a bit more breeze right now than what everybody expected.

[00:12:14]So it's a bit of a scramble.

[00:12:16]You see all the chase boats going backwards and forwards, and I'm just waiting at the last option to pick the sails for today.

[00:12:24]the sail selection is really difficult here.

[00:12:26]We've quite often got the wind moving 15 degrees left and right.

[00:12:30]This So minimise maneuvers.

[00:12:32]If in doubt, only do one change on a sail rather than two.

[00:12:35]And if in doubt, put the fastest one up and hang on.

[00:12:42]When you know you're going to step into a day where it's only windward leeward racing, the boats actually change quite a bit.

[00:12:47]just jibs, just kites.

[00:12:50]And you got to pick and choose as you go, as you see fit during the day based on whether the breeze is going up or down.

[00:12:58]Intense.

[00:12:59]Yeah. Really intense. pretty big fluctuations of breeze.

[00:13:01]little errors cost a lot.

[00:13:03]yeah, really tactical really, really close between us, Leopard and Galatea, Yeah.

[00:13:10]It's really fun racing Freya.

[00:13:11]They keep on getting the upper hand on us a little bit, but they're a click quicker than us up wind, We're both racing each other pretty hard.

[00:13:17]it's good.

[00:13:17]We just need to get a little bit closer to them.

[00:13:21]there is big kind of waves and rollers and stuff, and there's current and all kinds of different things happening all the time.

[00:13:26]And it was never over squally squalls going by on different sides of the race course.

[00:13:31]Big wind shifts, tricky.

[00:13:34]it's exciting.

[00:13:35]Like, it's as competitive as what we what we love.

[00:13:37]And, you know, it's all it's all to be done out on the water, which is what we want Coral did a really nice job driving the boat.

[00:13:47]Boys did a nice job getting off the starting line, and then the rest is kind of easy.

[00:13:51]Let the boat do its thing. And from a tactical standpoint, just don't screw it up.

[00:14:05]We had a very tight day with the bird.

[00:14:07]A lot of close racing.

[00:14:08]We ended up winning both races, so we actually winned up overall.

[00:14:11]So we're we're pretty damn happy.

[00:14:13]I mean, in the end of day to win all four races against the bird and all those good guys, it's really good.

[00:14:18]We're very happy.

[00:14:19]A tough day at times, but a good day.

[00:14:21]And that leaves us leading the Maxis overall going into tomorrow.

[00:14:25]And I think second in the in the sort of maxi and Grand Prix, Grand Prix fleet.

[00:14:29]So a really good place.

[00:14:30]All to be done on... all to be left on the water tomorrow and fight it out on the water tomorrow. And really exciting.

[00:14:37]Having such a great group of sponsors really makes this event possible.

[00:14:41]North Sales are fantastic sponsor that have been with us from the very beginning.

[00:14:45]they stock all the kites on a necker, mosquito and the surrounding areas.

[00:14:50]We have a kite show during the event.

[00:14:54]I have an affiliation with North kiteboarding.

[00:14:56]And my script was to try and get as close to these boats as possible You've obviously got a lot of spectating boats.

[00:15:03]The racing boats, just action packed.

[00:15:06]absolutely love everything.

[00:15:08]About kite surfing.

[00:15:08]I on the foil, which is like dancing on the water.

[00:15:11]just full of action.

[00:15:12]it never gets boring.

[00:15:15]I think sailing and kite surfing.

[00:15:17]Almost like a perfect marriage of both, technology and nature.

[00:15:22]I feel like the North Sound is kind of like a, amphitheatre where it all comes together and it's, very unique spot.

[00:15:29]I think the style of the boats are insane.

[00:15:31]The size of them, the speed of them, the cruise, it's full of action.

[00:15:36]The sailors.

[00:15:36]they take it extremely seriously.

[00:15:38]that's what special about this North Sound maxi Regatta It gives the opportunity for the teams socialise and just almost be mates.

[00:15:45]But when the boats are on the water, it's just a totally different story.

[00:15:50]No more friends.

[00:15:56]Today is the last day and we're doing an around the island race around Virgin Gorda.

[00:16:01]There's not as much breeze as the last couple of days.

[00:16:03]So it will be like, always a challenge.

[00:16:09]Last year, it was probably the best race of my year.

[00:16:12]I hope it will be the same again today.

[00:16:13]It's going to be great with sending out past Necker around the top into the Atlantic, and then finish upwind in the flat water.

[00:16:20]How magical is it sailing around the islands?

[00:16:23]And I don't think you can describe how, I mean, it's unbelievable.

[00:16:26]to win these things is a big deal.

[00:16:33]We need to beat the blue boat.

[00:16:34]Leopard is, is our target today.

[00:16:36]We need to get in front of them.

[00:16:39]the Hummingbird is really fast.

[00:16:41]So I wouldn't say this is Freya's perfect conditions, Sometimes it's a bit of a dice throw, but, After kind of a mediocre start, we wiggled ourself out of jail the conditions were quite a bit lighter.

[00:16:59]more like eight nine knots.

[00:17:04]We're not looking for knots anymore.

[00:17:05]We're looking for tenths of knots, and, I think most grand prix sailing is like that.

[00:17:09]But now we've talking details like tiny, tiny, tiny details.

[00:17:15]Bella Mente has won already three races.

[00:17:17]So yeah we basically have to get, quite a few boats in between us And I think the sail choice was correct.

[00:17:24]And we actually gain on Bella Mente Winning the Maxi division was always the goal.

[00:17:30]but when you're sailing against little rocket ships like the 72’s.

[00:17:33]So it's really hard to do.

[00:17:39]this most beautiful place to sail in the world by far, mean, come on, it just doesn't get any better than this.

[00:17:44]You always have to like a sort of a game plan which Sails you're going to use.

[00:17:49]These boats are getting sailed better every day.

[00:17:51]But if you don't get better every regatta, you will fall behind I didn't think we really won until it's actually done, you And then we come out with four wins is pretty special.

[00:18:01]to finish it in this beautiful arena, with a win is yeah, that's it doesn't get any better.

[00:18:16]I see a North logo, I know that that product is going to be Reliable Quality.

[00:18:22]I've used that equipment, for many years.

[00:18:24]North Sails is a historical brand in yachting, they bring so much to the sport with development, especially in new materials.

[00:18:30]They're always at the cutting edge, of technology we've seen over the years how they've developed keeping the boats at the very much at the front of the racetrack.

[00:18:38]I think the North is embedded within the sailing community, but it's also a lifestyle.

[00:18:43]So with all the different brands, the apparel, the action, sports, everything, it all comes together here.

[00:18:58]hope everybody had a fantastic time here this week.

[00:19:01]We really love the vibe here that's been created in the North Sound.

[00:19:05]It's been very, very special on and off the water.

[00:19:08]we like to keep the prize givings punctual. of the year. Shirley.

[00:19:10]Over to you, Shirley.

[00:19:11]ladies and gentlemen, our winner of the 2026 North Sound Maxi Regatta performance class is... Freya.

[00:19:36]Next we move on to the Maxi 100 plus.

[00:19:41]And in 3rd place... Is Galateia!

[00:19:46]in second place, is... Leopard Three.

[00:19:54]the winner of the 2026 North Sound Maxi Regatta, Maxi 100 Class is... V.

[00:20:11]The Maxi overall prize, in second place, it is Balthasar.

[00:20:23]Ladies and gentlemen, the 2026 North Sound Maxi Regatta overall winner is... Bella Mente I'm really lucky, to be organised this event with a huge support network from our family office to the team here on the ground, It's kind of in my DNA.

[00:21:05]everyone's had a great time.

[00:21:06]next year, I think we'll see the performance class expand.

[00:21:09]We’ve got a lot of interest.

[00:21:10]And the Maxi Flee, we know that there's a few more 100 footers coming, and maybe in the 80ft range as well.

[00:21:16]So it's going to be a strong year in 2027, and getting ready to go head to head again.