Expedition BVI

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions About Equipment/Gear

What kind of gear do I need?
Please thoroughly look through our website at www.expeditionbvi.com. A great deal of information about EBVI can be found at this location. It is our tool in providing athletes with up-to-date information about this great event. In regards to gear, you can go to our Preliminary Required Gear List page for a comprehensive gear list.

Outside of my flippers and diving mask, what kind of clothes do we need to bring? I'm relatively new to adventure racing and don't want to show up in sweatpants! Seriously, do you have recommendations on racing gear?
Obviously, the correct answer is different for everyone. But if you're looking for clothing appropriate for this type of race and/or adventure racing in general go to www.railriders.com.

It may appear as a shameless plug, but it is the serious recommendation of EBVI management to use RailRiders clothing products. We've selected RailRiders to outfit our staff because we think it's the best. Because of this opinion, we've negotiated a 15% discount off RailRiders Clothing for all EBVI athletes. If you're racing and you do need gear I recommend that you take advantage of this deal.

Also, you're going to want to block the sun, so bring a hat with a visor that breaths (mesh would be good). And definitely bring lots of sun block. I also recommend bringing an Eco-Mesh Shirt to keep cool, quick-drying Rampage Shorts (because this course is wet), and Weather Pants for the brush so you don't cut up your legs during the orienteering portion of the race. The brush can be very thick in some sections of the Islands. These items can also be found at www.railriders.com. To get the special discount we have set up for racers call 1-800-437-3794 or go to www.railriders.com and make sure to enter the code "rnew" and reference Expedition BVI.

On the gear list, it once stated that bike helmets were OK for climbing, but I saw elsewhere that you need a true climbing helmet. Which do we need?
A Certified (UIAA or CE) climbing helmet w/light (Petzl Meteor recommended). Bike helmets are NOT ALLOWED. During the ropes segments you will be required to wear an approved climbing helmet. These helmets are available from your local outfitters and/or climbing stores.

Questions About Teams

How many teams will be attending EBVI?
As of today Monday 10/22/01 we have 29 registered teams. In addition, four teams have asked for an extension so they are pending. And, we have more than 7 individual athletes who want to race that we're trying to put in touch with one another.

Where are the teams from?
We have teams from around the world: Spain, Finland, UK, Ireland, Australia and the United States. What's most interesting is that many of the teams have athletes deriving from different locations around the world. So, you can't quite say they're from anyplace in particular.

Questions About Sailboats

How many members of our support crew can we have on the sailboat?
First - please note that this is an "unsupported" race. But, we do encourage and welcome motivational and family support. They just can't carry your bags or cook your meals for you! Second - we welcome friends and family members to join you on the sailboats for the two days that the sailboats will be available - Tuesday 12/11 and Wednesday 12/12. We limit 8 persons to the boat at a time. With 4 athletes and a skipper this allows each team to bring aboard an additional 3 observers. Please note that the more people you have on board, the more cramped your quarters. Also, please note that the skippers have given up their time to assist us and we request that you try to accommodate them on board the boat as best you can.

Can we bring down our own skipper?
Absolutely. We welcome and encourage each team to bring their own skipper.The skipper will not have to pay an entry fee but we require that he or she pay for their own airfare. Each skipper can also stay in the room supplied to the team.

When do we get to see the sailboats and meet our skipper?
Teams will be introduced to their skippers on Monday evening 12/10 at the pre-race dinner. We ask that teams dine with their skippers and take the time to get acquainted with one-another as you will be spending the next couple of days together. After dinner, we will shuttle teams and their skippers to SunSail's base in Tortola where teams will be allowed to see their boats and pack them with gear in preparation for the next mornings start.

Can our family members keep the sailboat when we have no more use for it on the EBVI racecourse?
The racecourse is designed in such a way that teams will reach a certain checkpoint between the estimated hours of Wednesday evening 12/12 and Thursday morning 12/13. Once teams arrive at this checkpoint they will need to remove their gear from the sailboat and proceed on, without it, for the remainder of the course. If a team would like to keep their sailboat so family members can sail for the remaining days of the race and watch the race from the water . . . great! EBVI Management, and I'm sure SunSail Management, encourages this but you will have to pay for the boat yourselves if you keep the vessel after your race team reaches the departure checkpoint. The costs and planning associated with keeping the sailboat past the departure checkpoint needs to be taken up with SunSail. Feel free to call Brett Silver or Steve McKray, our SunSail Representatives at 800-327-2276. Or email them at bretts@sunsail.com and stevem@sunsail.com

Are we expected to pay the skippers that Expedition BVI provides, other than possibly a courtesy tip?
Expedition BVI is paying for the skippers, although a tip might be nice. Normal skipper fees come in at about $150 a day. So maybe 15 to 20% would be appropriate. That's your call.

I'm a licensed captain and have been approached by one of the teams to go as a skipper. Obviously, there will be racing, how much?
As of now, there won't be any racing. The sailboats are being used as Mobile Sea Transition Areas. In order for a team to make forward progress on the water, they must be in their sea kayaks . . . Paddling!!! Teams will not be allowed to simultaneously sit in their sailboats and continue to make forward progress on the course. When an athlete is on the sailboat; the sailboat must be anchored.

Now, as Ian Adamson (Course Designer/Director) and I are very keen on sailing - and Ian has expressed interest in somehow including sailing into a section of the course; our policy on having the sailboats race may change. If this changes, and there is no guarantee that it will, we will be using the IRC Handicapping System (International Racing Certification). Meaning, some boats will receive handicaps based on their size and the skills of their skippers. Then a section of the course will be allocated to racing the sailboats and each sailboat will be timed. Times will be altered based on the handicap of each boat.

What kind of boats will we be using? You indicate 38 to 40 ft yachts. I assume they will be charter yachts from SunSail, right?
Yes, they are chartered yachts from SunSail. Please have a look at a few of the boats that have already been reserved for the teams:

Questions About Accommodations

I'm a family member of one of the athletes. If we're coming down to watch the event, where should we stay?
Please visit our accommodations page. Here you can find a list of hotels. But, if you are coming down to watch the race and want to be part of the action, we recommend that you stay at Prospect Reef Resort; the host hotel for Expedition BVI. Prospect Reef Resort will serve as our land headquarters, the location for our welcome breakfast, the location where all athletes, volunteers, race management and press will be staying, the pick-up and drop-off location for all water taxis and shuttles, as well as the location for all race registration activity. For more information on the hotel please visit www.prospectreef.com

If two to three family members want to come to the race and comfort is not an issue, you are welcome to stay in the rooms that are being allocated for the athletes for the week. But, you may have to bring a sleeping bag.

When will the rooms be made available to the athletes, volunteers and press?
It's no secret that the logistics behind moving 200+ people around a Caribbean Island for one week are HUGE!!! I'm not ashamed to say that we need your cooperation to make it work. Without your help, rooms and transportation might not be available upon your arrival. And, we don't want anyone sleeping on the streets.

EBVI Race Management is responsible for providing accommodations to athletes, staff, volunteers and the media. As each group is designated to arrive at different times and individuals within each group have separate itineraries, it's essential for us to know when you're coming, when you're leaving, and whether you will be arriving in St. Thomas or Tortola.

For example: Athletes have been asked to arrive in St. Thomas because of the equipment they're bringing. We need to know when each athlete will be arriving so we can schedule the ferry for special pick-up times. Some athletes aren't arriving until the evening on Saturday 12/8 and we want to make sure that we have a night ferry available; or athletes will be stuck in St. Thomas for the night.

Questions About Transportation

What time do the teams/athletes need to arrive in St. Thomas?
Good question! As it stands, we have chartered a ferry service to make 3 trips from St. Thomas to Tortola on Saturday 12/8. We are awaiting information from Customs in Tortola about times of entry as we need to coordinate when athletes arrive in St. Thomas with when BVI customs is open and willing to take people. For now, if you can, we ask athletes to arrive before 3 PM EST so that we have time to ferry everyone over to Tortola before dark.

How are you getting teams to Tortola from St. Thomas?
Another good question! We will be asking, in a dedicated email this week, for athletes/teams to provide EBVI Management with their trip itineraries. This way we can have a greeting party meet the athletes upon their arrival at the airport. A checkpoint will be set up in St. Thomas where we will gather athletes. This checkpoint will provide athletes with a comfortable location to stay while waiting for the ferry. Athletes will be given refreshments and information about their stay while at this location. Trucks will be supplied to get athletes to this location from the airport. Once the ferry arrives, athletes will be taken to Tortola where they will have to go through customs. After customs, a shuttle will be waiting to take all the athletes to Prospect Reef Resort in Tortola.

Where is the starting line and how will we get there?
We cannot divulge the location of the starting line at this time. Teams will be informed of the course during the race briefing. But, we can inform you that the Start will take place at an undisclosed location early Tuesday morning 12/11/01 and we will supply the necessary vehicles/shuttles to get teams to the starting location.

How much is the ferry to Tortola?
The ferry is free for athletes. It is included in your entry fee. If you are bringing family members, friends and/or a skipper then the ferry ride will cost $71 round-trip.

If we bring family to spectate, how will they get around?
Up to 3 persons can stay on the sailboats for the first two days. We will also be supplying water taxi schedules, maps and information about checkpoints to spectators and families. These water taxis will be making runs from the hotel headquarters to the most active checkpoints on the course during the day.

Questions About Food & Supplies

Where do we get food? Are there grocery stores in Tortola?
Yes, they have grocery stores in Tortola. Everyone will have the opportunity to stock up on whatever they need at the local supermarkets in Road Town. But, please be advised that if you're looking for items like Power Bars, special protein powders or specialty power drinks you may be disappointed. You can find Gatorade but some of the selections will be limited. We recommend that you bring your own.

Will drinking water be available?
Drinking water is available - but I suggest that you bring supplies for the boat on Tuesday and Wednesday and carry enough water with you to keep hydrated on Thursday and Friday. TA's and checkpoints and certain areas along the course will make water available.

What meals are included in the entry fee?
A continental breakfast on Sunday morning 12/9, and a pre-race dinner on Monday evening 12/10.

Where will spectators eat?
Prospect Reef Resort has two great restaurants on the property and we will also provide people with information and recommendations about where to eat on the Island. Special FYI: Many restaurants and some bars will be used as Check Points and TA's for the race. These places may be a great place to eat and watch the race go by. A list will be provided at the race briefing.

Is there a closing meal provided?
A closing meal will not be provided. When athletes cross the finish line some refreshments will await them at no cost. We are inviting restaurants to come out and pitch tents around the finish line area to serve food, at reasonable prices, at the closing party.