Highland Spring HIHO 2012

Highland Spring HIHO 2012 Set for July 1st· – July 8th. $4,000 cash prize for 1st place in new team racing SUP leg www.go-hiho.com

Teams that participated in the HIHO 2011.

Tortola, BVI. (December 12, 2011) – The Highland Spring HIHO 2012 event in the British Virgin Islands from Sunday, July 1st through Sunday, July 8th will offer a 1-day prize-money leg during the week of competition.  Scheduled for the Friday, July 6th the Soggy Dollar Challenge will pit racers on a 12-mile downwind sprint from Trellis Bay on Tortola’s East end to White Bay, Jost Van Dyke.  Teams of three racers will compete using thre same board.  The course is, simply, straight downwind with a finish at the famed Soggy Dollar Beach Bar

Known worldwide as one of the greatest watersports adventures, the Highland Spring HIHO is a week-long all-inclusive adventure vacation including inter-island sailing, Windsurfing and Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) races, planned parties, daily water-based activities and accommodations aboard captained catamarans provided by The Moorings.  

Stand up paddle manufacturer Fanatic joins the 2012 event as the official SUP sponsor and the event will include a Fanatic One-Design Class and an Open Class for SUP racers.  Event activities wind throughout the islands including stops at Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Beef Island, Scrub Island, Little Thatch & Jost Van Dyke.

SUP races along with windsurfing races for the Techno 2 class of windsurfers will be scheduled daily for all classes.  Fanatic One-Design class members must compete on 11’ boards supplied by the organizers.  Boards will be available for rental through the event or racers can provide their own equipment.  In addition to the races, daily activities are available for non-race participants including kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving (for an additional fee), yacht racing, fishing, beach trips and a treasure hunt.  Highland Spring HIHO is also well know for fine cuisine and live entertainment with excellent dinners planned for each island stop and nightly Caribbean entertainment and dancing.

“SUP continues to become an exciting portion of the event,” said event organizer Andy Morrell.  “The two sports perfectly complement each other.  We are excited to have racers & participants from all over the World attend the event.”

Rates for the Highland Springs HIHO 2012 begin at $2,099 per person for a double cabin occupancy aboard a 40’ or 43’ catamaran and include lunch and dinner with drinks, all parties, most activities, taxes (except a $20.00 airport departure tax) and an official HIHO T-shirt and bag or hat.  Additional options are available including an air-conditioned 46’ catamaran upgrade, single cabin supplement, junior participation rate and Kids 6 years and Under rate.  Race fees are $125.00 per racer for competing stand up paddlers and windsurfers.

“The HIHO is truly the ultimate Windsurfing and SUP destination vacation,” explained John Denney, Owner of Jupiter Paddleboarding.  “First class, family friendly, and run with the highest level of professionalism.  My wife Bari and I recommend this to anyone and everyone for a vacation of a lifetime, you only live once.”

For more information on the Highland Spring HIHO 2011, please visit www.go-hiho.com, call 284.494.0337.  

About the HIHO event

The Highland Spring HIHO event originated in St Thomas in 1979 when a band of intrepid windsurfers set out to sail through the Virgin Islands with sleeping bags on their backs.  The event was an immediate hit and grew exponentially under sponsorship from Johnnie Walker Scotch Whiskey.  Current event owner Andy Morrell was the 1st place winner in the 1986 edition.  Morrell assumed ownership of the event and, following a hiatus, restarted it in 1993.  Today the Highland Spring HIHO event is the World’s most fun-filled and unique watersports adventure combining SUP, windsurfing, sailing and adventure as it charts a course through the beautiful British Virgin Islands.