About the Challenge
The Drowned Island Challenge is an annual two-day multisport event held on the island of Anegada in the British Virgin Islands. The event combines open-water swimming, running, and stand-up paddleboarding across six individual races, set against the backdrop of one of the Caribbean's most remote and unspoiled islands. The second edition takes place on 30 and 31 May 2026.
What kind of event is it?
The Drowned Island Challenge is not a triathlon. It is a multisport festival — a format that prioritises participation, atmosphere, and fun alongside competition. Unlike a traditional triathlon, where swim, bike, and run are completed back-to-back in a single continuous effort, the Drowned Island Challenge spreads six separate races across two days, with rest and recovery between each. The bike leg is replaced entirely by stand-up paddleboarding, reflecting the island setting and the culture of the British Virgin Islands.
Competitors can enter all six qualifying races and compete for the overall Poseidon Award (top male) and Amphitrite Award (top female), or they can enter just the running, swimming, or paddleboard races. Teams of three can split the disciplines between them. A junior category is open to competitors aged 12 to 18.
The races
Six events are held across the two days:
Day one: a 12 km run, a 1 km open-water swim, and a 4.5 km stand-up paddleboard race.
Day two: a 7.5 km run, a 1 km open-water swim, and a second 4.5 km paddleboard race.
A Beach Beer Mile — a one-mile running and drinking race — closes out the weekend on the afternoon of day two before the prize-giving ceremony. The Beer Mile does not count toward the overall standings and is optional.
Why Anegada?
Anegada is the northernmost island of the British Virgin Islands and one of the most unusual in the Caribbean. Unlike the volcanic peaks of neighbouring islands, Anegada is a flat coral atoll — its name means "drowned island" in Spanish, a reference to its elevation of just 28 feet above sea level at its highest point. The island is surrounded by the Horseshoe Reef, the largest barrier coral reef in the Caribbean and the fourth largest in the world.
Anegada has no cruise ships, no large resorts, and no traffic lights. Its permanent population is around 300 people. It is reached only by small aircraft or boat, which keeps it genuinely remote and uncrowded in a way that almost no other Caribbean island can claim. The beaches — particularly Loblolly Bay and the long stretch of the north shore — are consistently rated among the best in the region.
The event is hosted at Anegada Beach Club, the number one guest-rated accommodation in the British Virgin Islands, located directly on the north shore beach where much of the racing takes place.
Who started it, and why?
The Drowned Island Challenge was created by Broadsword Communications, a British Virgin Islands-based events and communications company, in collaboration with Anegada Beach Club, Tommy Gaunt Kitesurfing, and Horizon Yacht Charters.
The founding idea was straightforward: Anegada is one of the most extraordinary places in the Caribbean, and almost nobody beyond sailors knows about it. The island has world-class conditions for open-water swimming, flat-water paddleboarding, and coastal running. Although famous as a sailing destination, no organised competitive posting events take place there. The Drowned Island Challenge was designed to change that, and to give athletes a genuine reason to make the journey.
The inaugural event took place on 7 and 8 June 2025. Competitors travelled from Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and across the British Virgin Islands to take part. BVI residents Oscar McCall and Kitty Daniels took the overall Poseidon and Amphitrite awards for the top performances across the five qualifying races.
Who is it for?
The Drowned Island Challenge is designed for a broad range of athletes. The event attracts competitive multisport athletes who want to race hard in an unusual and beautiful setting, open-water swimmers looking for Caribbean race experiences, stand-up paddleboard enthusiasts, trail and road runners, and adventure travellers who want an active structure to a BVI trip.
The format is deliberately accessible. There is no mandatory transition between disciplines, no minimum qualifying time, and no requirement to enter every event. Families with children are welcome. The junior category starts at age 12, and the beach parties, pool, spa, and restaurant at Anegada Beach Club mean non-competing family members have plenty to enjoy while athletes race. The racing is structured so that there is plenty of family time, and time for other activities.
Getting there
Anegada is reached by small aircraft or boat. The nearest major hubs with international connections are San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) and St Thomas, US Virgin Islands (STT), both served daily by Delta, JetBlue, American Airlines, and Southwest. From there, scheduled and charter flights operate directly to Anegada's small airfield (NGD) via Island Birds, Fly BVI, Cape Air, and Air Sunshine. A ferry runs from Road Town, Tortola.
Horizon Yacht Charters, the official charter partner of the Drowned Island Challenge, offers a sail-and-compete week departing 28 May, with competitors spending five nights aboard a crewed catamaran and racing both days of the event. The package includes cabin accommodation, a captain and cook, meals, competition entry, and SUP rental.
Registered competitors receive a 20% discount on accommodation at Anegada Beach Club and on activities with Tommy Gaunt Kitesurfing, including e-foil lessons, kitesurfing, and snorkelling tours.
Key facts
| Event name | Drowned Island Challenge |
| Edition | 2026 (second annual) |
| Dates | 30–31 May 2026 |
| Location | Anegada Beach Club, Anegada, British Virgin Islands |
| Disciplines | Running, open-water swimming, stand-up paddleboarding |
| Number of races | Six (plus optional Beach Beer Mile) |
| Entry from | $160 |
| Organiser | Broadsword Communications |
| Website | drownedisland.com |
| Contact | team@drownedisland.com |
Partners and sponsors
The Drowned Island Challenge is organised in association with Anegada Beach Club and Tommy Gaunt Kitesurfing. Platinum sponsors are Horizon Yacht Charters and the BVI Tourist Board. Gold sponsors include Golden Hind Chandlery (official Zhik dealer) and Harneys Fiduciary. Beverage sponsor is RiteWay / Heineken / Coca-Cola, Balance Nutrition Studio id the official race nutrition provider.
Ready to enter? Registration for the 2026 Drowned Island Challenge is open now. Visit the Entry Fees & Sign Up page for pricing and registration.