(CNN) Judy Petz fights back tears as she describes the damage wrought by Hurricane Irma on the British Virgin Islands, her home of 21 years. "There was no power, no water," she recalls, voice faltering. "Pretty much 90% of the country," had been severely impacted, she adds.
Irma struck in September 2017 and was one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic basin with maximum wind speeds of 185 mph. It killed five people in the BVI while a further 39 lost their lives in other nations throughout the Caribbean. Hurricane Maria followed shortly after, devastating Dominica, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Although Petz was in the US during Irma, she faced an agonizing wait to hear from her husband who remained at their property on the island of Tortola. Communications were knocked out by the storm meaning it was almost two days before she knew he had survived.
The thought of yachting, and staging the annual BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Week -- a large international event that marks one of the highlights of the tiny country's sailing season and for which Petz is the director -- seemed frivolous amidst the carnage.
Yet when Petz made it back to Tortola, a place she describes as "one of the most beautiful" on earth, she knew she had to help the battered islands return to some kind of normality as quickly as possible.
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The wreckage of a plane lies on the roof of a destroyed building in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
'Miracle regatta'
She committed to putting on the regatta to show that life continued on the BVI, not to mention attract visitors and offer a welcome fillip to the hard-hit tourism sector. With no power and significant damage to the host marina, however, such ambitions seemed unrealistic.
Yet in the space of six months, Petz and her team were able to attract 70 yachts and their crews some from as far afield as the UK and France. That feat was all the more remarkable considering much of the work was done on computers powered by solar batteries and the venue was prepared from near scratch.
"I keep telling people it was the miracle regatta because it happened over Easter," she says.
"It was really significant, at least to me to say, 'you know what, we will go on.' The sailing industry has a foundation here that even a category five hurricane can't destroy completely," Petz adds.
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World's best yachting destinations
British Virgin Islands: The BVIs were hit hard by Hurricane Irma but tourism is bouncing back and the sailing is as good as ever.
British Virgin Islands: It's a sailor's paradise of warm winds, blue seas and blissful beaches. From your base on Tortola you can explore a host of outlying islands and cays. Richard Branson's Necker Island (pictured) lies to the northeast of Virgin Gorda.
British Virgin Islands: There's spectacular scenery, sheltered anchorages, superb snorkeling and waterside shacks for eating, drinking and soaking up the island vibe.
Greece, Ionian: With sun-baked beaches, turquoise waters, olive groves, deserted bays, rustic harbors with white-washed houses and spilling bougainvillea, the Greek islands provide the perfect canvas for a sailing odyssey. Kioni (pictured) is a charming town in the Ionian.
Greece, Skopelos: The Sporades area north of Athens offers exhilarating sailing, remote anchorages and attractive towns such Skopelos, film set for Mama Mia.
Greece, Fiskardo: On Captain Corelli's Kefalonia lies the buzzy town of Fiskardo, a magnet for yachties cruising the gentle waters of the Ionian off Greece's west coast.
Seychelles: The ultimate Instagram boast, Seychelles is a sailor's paradise in the Indian Ocean.
Seychelles: Lying 1,000 miles off the East African coast, the archipelago offers the full castaway experience among 115 isolated islands dotted across aquamarine seas.
Seychelles: The main yacht charter area is focused on the inner islands around the forested Mahe, Praslin and La Digue.
Thailand: White-sand beaches backed by swaying palms and jungle, sheer limestone towers jutting out of jade seas and exotic flora and fauna are just some of the treats on offer on a sailing trip to Thailand.
Thailand: From thumping Phuket, yachts push east into Phang Nga Bay and the Andaman Sea to explore this unspoiled region dotted by technicolor coral reefs, remote fishing villages and honey pots such as Maya Bay, the Phi Phi islands and James Bond Island -- which provided a backdrop for "The Man With the Golden Gun."
Croatia, Kornati Islands: This Adriatic gem features historic towns, smart marinas, isolated anchorages and deserted islands in one neat package in the northern Mediterranean. The remote Kornati National Park is an unspoiled oasis -- so stunning, in fact, it moved author George Bernard Shaw to write that God created the islands "out of tears, stars and breath."
Croatia, Dubrovnik: The jewel in Croatia's crown is romantic Dubrovnik, a UNESCO heritage site, with its charming Old Town. It's also must visit for sailing fans of "Game of Thrones," much of which was filmed here.
Tahiti: Just the words "French Polynesia" are enough to conjure images of swaying palms, crystal-clear lagoons, blissful beaches and fringing reefs teeming with marine life
Tahiti: The islands of Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Huahine, Tahaa and swooned-over Bora Bora and are just the highlights of this exotic 118-island chain in the South Pacific.
Tahiti: With balmy trade winds, a consistent climate and a combination of sheltered waters behind the reefs and more exciting open-water passages between islands, French Polynesia is a watery world like no other, with Bora Bora (pictured) as its fabled highlight.
Antigua: It is reputed to have 365 beaches, one for every day of the year, so what better way to explore them all than by boat. The warm, gentle trade winds, turquoise waters and oh-so picturesque anchorages make it a sailor's idyll at the heart of the Leeward Islands.
Antigua: The famous Antigua Sailing Week regatta is a melting pot for sailors looking for competitive racing and punishing partying.
Australia, Whitsundays: Between the coast of Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef snuggles Australia's very own chain of 74 tropical islands, including the world-famous Whitehaven Beach, a jaw-dropping curve of powder-white sand.
Australia, Whitsundays: The islands feature peaceful, remote anchorages such as Stonehaven (pictured), world-class resorts on Hamilton, Hayman and Daydream Islands and coral reefs full of marine life.
Turkey, Bodrum: From isolated, pine-fringed coves to glitzy marinas and jet-set nightlife, the coast of Turkey offers something for every type of sailor, with cosmopolitan Bodrum at its heart.
Turkey: There are quaint harbors such as Gumusluk (pictured), small bays with wooden jetties fronting local restaurants such as Cokertme or the coves of Gocek, and remote inlets such as Amazon Creek with an idyllic, away-from-it-all feel.
Turkey: For those after total relaxation, traditional wooden gulets with professional crew can be chartered in Turkey, leaving you free to take it easy.
Windward Islands, Tobago Cays: Take a deep breath and inhale the exotic scent of spices drifting on the breeze with a cruise through the Windward Isles. From St Lucia in the north to Grenada in the south, sailors will be rewarded with Caribbean spectacles such as Tobago Cays (pictured), Bequia, Canouan and Mayreau.
Windward Islands, Grenada: From pretty St George's on lush Grenada, known as the "Spice Isle," at the southern end of chain, you can easily hop to Carriacou, Petite Martinique and Petit St. Vincent.
Bahamas: More than 700 coral cays stretch like a necklace into azure seas from the southeast coast of Florida. Gentle trade winds, sheltered waters and myriad marine life make the Bahamas an ideal destination for families and the less experienced. Hope Town (pictured) is a pretty colonial-era town on Elbow Cay in the Abacos.
Bahamas: Elbow Cay is one of the highlights of the Abacos chain but the cruising ground is vast, stretching south to the pink sand beaches on Eleuthera or the 365 cays of the Exuma group.
Tonga: This Polynesian kingdom of more than 170 palm-covered islands is a sailing gem in the South Pacific. Picturesque Vava'u, with myriad islets, lagoons and coral reefs, is the starting point, either for quick hops or longer open-water passages to deserted tropical beaches and idyllic anchorages.
Tonga: It's the stuff of quintessential South Pacific dreams, with world-class sailing, diving and snorkeling, sport fishing, beach lazing and humpback whale watching thrown in as standard.
Sicily, Aeolian Islands: Lying off Sicily's northeast coast like a bejeweled pendant are the awe-inspiring Aeolian IsIands. This rugged volcanic chain, named after Greek wind god Aeolus, features seven islands -- Vulcano, Lipari, Salina, Panarea, Stromboli, Filicudi and Alicudi.
Sicily, Aeolian Islands: Jutting out of emerald seas, each has its own personality, from the active cone and black sands of Stromboli and the hot springs of Vulcano, to vibrant Lipari and chic Panarea, to verdant Salina and car-free Alicudi.
'Spirit and resilience'
Sailing is a big draw for countries throughout the Caribbean, with visitors attracted by warm trade winds, dazzling seas, stunning beaches and local color and hospitality.
A number of prestigious racing regattas from January through to May -- which for some kick off the international racing season -- draw big numbers of boats from the region and abroad, with crews made up of amateurs and professional sailors, with a healthy sprinkling of super-rich owners.
According to the BVI government, the "bulk" of its tourism income is generated by the yacht chartering industry. Then there's the input to the local marine trade and associated businesses.
Sharon Flax-Brutus, director of tourism for the BVI Tourist Board, says the sailing sector was one of the first to bounce back in the aftermath of Irma.
While land-based services and accommodation were out of commission, charter companies brought in vessels from elsewhere to replace those destroyed in the storm.
This ensured tourists could still explore the picturesque waters around the BVI, while pop-up beach bars and parties were set up for travelers to enjoy.
Flax-Brutus was in the BVI when Irma hit. She describes sheltering in her house, which lost its roof, as the eye of the hurricane passed overhead. "I have been through hurricanes before but I'd never seen one like that," she says.
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Storm damage remains in the BVI. A recent Caribbean Tourist Organization (CTO) report cited by the industry publication Travel Weekly found tourism was down by 42.5% in in 2018.
Former BVI premier Daniel Orlando Smith also confirmed, while he was still in post late last year, that Irma caused $2.5 billion worth of damage and that it would be the end of 2019 at least before the territory's hotel room inventory would be "near normalcy."
Yet Flax-Brutus says high-profile events like the Spring Regatta have been important in sending out the signal to the wider world that "the BVI and sailing are resilient."
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Yachts take part in the 2018 BVI Spring Regatta.
'Stimulated morale'
The recovery has also led to creativity. Flax-Brutus says the BVI now has a burgeoning street food scene. With some luxury hotels out of commission "we have all of these four and five star chefs (looking) for another opportunity," Flax-Brutus says.
"There's one guy whose restaurant has been destroyed but you can go to his tent in town and have lobster ravioli (and) seafood chowder," she says.
Other celebrated Caribbean regattas such as those in Saint Barthélemy, St. Thomas, Barbados, Grenada and Antigua have sought to promote a similar message.
Peter S. Craig, event manager at the St. Barths Bucket Regatta, told CNN via questions answered by email how the annual superyacht fixture helped buy and transport vital supplies for the island (also known as St. Barts) in the aftermath of Irma.
The regatta itself, meanwhile, "let the people of St. Barths know that we had confidence in them and were willing to put on the event regardless of where the recovery stood or how many yachts entered," Craig says. This year, regatta entry fees went to a collective of non-profit organizations helping the island's recovery.
Michele Korteweg, general manager of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta strikes a similar tone. She says their 2018 event enticed a "huge influx of people to the island which stimulated not only the economy, but also the overall morale."
The regatta "brought people together to celebrate all that had been achieved in such short time. Together with visitors and sailors from around the world made it a very special occasion," she adds.
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Yachting paradise
The world famous Antigua Sailing Week welcomes more than 100 boats and 1,000 sailors for a spectacular mix of competitive racing and partying.
The prestigious event began in 1968, growing out of informal races between friends in the 1950s from Antigua to nearby Guadeloupe.
The huge 115ft ketch Sojana, owned by British businessman Sir Peter Harrison, will be one of the big stars of this year's regatta.
Antigua Sailing Week is based out of English Harbour on the south coast of the island and will feature daily races plus a Round Antigua race.
English Harbour features the historic Nelson's Dockyard, named after the Royal Navy's Admiral Horatio Nelson, who lived here in the 1780s.
Antigua, in the central Caribbean, is blessed with warm trade winds and stunning scenery.
The shore-based activities are as important for some as the racing.
Sojana might exude luxury but she is fast too, having crossed the Atlantic in nine days and 10 hours. She can reach speeds of 20 knots downwind.
Antigua Sailing Week's "absolute DNA is fantastic racing," mixed with a lively, relaxed social scene, says commercial director Alison Sly-Adams.
About 40% of entries are local boats chartered by visitors, with 30% of boats coming from abroad and the rest owned by Caribbean sailors.
Crews come mainly from the UK, Germany, US and the Caribbean. Sleeper X (pictured) is a British-registered Swan 48.
Antigua sailor Sir Hugh Bailey's Team Rebel is a past winner of the Lord Nelson Trophy.
Entries range from Sojana down to 20ft keelboats.
English Harbour buzzes with sailors from 30 nations during the week.
"We've got this weird balance because in the Caribbean the whole perception is it will be very relaxed, which it is once you're off the water. When you're on the water, it's really serious and very well run," says Sly-Adams.
Antigua escaped the ravages of Hurricane Irma and enters its 51st year "on an upward curve," says Sly-Adams.
Organizers of Antigua Sailing Week -- one of the oldest and largest events in the Caribbean -- told CNN last year that they expected their 2018 regatta to bring in about $4 million of direct revenue to the island.
About 40 per cent of boats are chartered by visitors for the week, 30 per cent are sailed across the Atlantic from Europe or down from the US, and 30 per cent are owned by Caribbean sailors, commercial director Alison Sly-Adams told CNN in 2018.
The bulk of crews come from the UK, Germany, the US and the wider Caribbean region. "Yes, we have super rich yacht owners but there is a really good mix," said Sly-Adams.
Sailing Week (April 27-May 3), which was established in 1968, comes at the end of a season which begins with the Antigua Charter Yacht Show in December, a superyacht regatta in January, the Caribbean 600 race in February and a classic yacht event in April.
Charles Fernandez, minister of tourism and economic development, in Antigua and Barbuda told CNN last year the income was "vital" to the region, and aids fund-raising efforts to rebuild nearby Barbuda, which was in the eye of the storm and 95% flattened by Irma.
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The Baths beach in the British Virgin Islands.
'We will have power'
Twelve months on from the pivotal 2018 BVI Spring Regatta, Petz is hoping for a bigger and better event.
The regatta runs from March 25-31 with abound 90 yachts expected to take part.
"We will have power," Petz jokes when describing how 2019 will be far easier than the challenge faced 12 months ago.
Promoting "sustainability" and using "materials that were damaged during the hurricane" will also be a key aim, she adds.
"The island has recovered quite substantially," Petz says. "If you came right now and drove through you'd see buildings that don't have roofs, vacant houses. It would be almost like 'oh are they building that place?' It doesn't look like ... it was a hurricane that destroyed it."
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Still, emphasizing the indefatigability of the BVI is the main message she wants to convey.
"We want people to come back. I don't want people to be afraid that things aren't going to be everything they expect. They should come. It's always an adventure.
"Sailing is always a fun, beautiful thing to do. And that part of the world here is just as beautiful as it's ever been."