Published 14 years ago, updated 6 years ago

Thursday, March 24th, 2011 – English Harbour, Antigua

The horns will sound for the start of the 44th Antigua Sailing Week, the Caribbean’s longest-running and most famous regatta, just one month from today. Nelson’s Dockyard and English Harbour are the chosen venue for an influx of well over a thousand competitors, with exactly 100 boats entered to date. Spectacular sailing and great entertainment attract competitors from all over the world to the magical island of Antigua and yachts from over 15 different countries are gathering to take part in the final act of the Caribbean regatta season.

Peter Harrison’s magnificent 115ft ketch, Sojana, is the largest yacht entered to compete at Antigua Sailing Week and the majestic navy blue hull is a familiar sight in Antigua. Sojana set the course record for the Yachting World Round the Island Race in 2009, smoking around the 50-mile course in 4 hours 37 minutes and 43 seconds.

The Yachting World Round the Island Race will this year form part of the Ocean Series of races for boats wishing to do longer offshore courses. Entries for the Ocean Series are still coming in but it is expected that ‘Sojana’s’ record will surely be under threat with several other boats gearing up to take on the challenge of breaking the existing record!

It is not just the high-performance racers that will enjoy a fantastic event – there is a myriad of battles right through the fleet, none more so than between the local Antiguan boats.

Official charter partner, OnDeck will have a big presence at the Regatta with 11 yachts competing across a wide variety of classes, including four Farr 65s. The powerful ocean-going yachts will have their own private battle for victory. Ten yachts will also be competing from German-based charter company KH+P, who will be hoping for success again this year after winning last year’s Bareboat Gold Class title. The KH+P all-girls team will also return to defend it’s Bareboat class title won last year and they’re looking for some strong and enthusiastic young women to join the team.

The Regatta Organising Committee has been hard at work to ensure safe, fair and fun racing for all with a new race program that reflects the needs of all participants of Antigua Sailing Week.

Racing starts on Sunday, April 24th and concludes on Friday, April 29th with the final prizegiving to be held in the Event Village in Nelson’s Dockyard. Up to eight races are scheduled over five days with Lay Day breaking up the week on Wednesday.

The sailing grounds around Antigua offer fantastic conditions and competitors will be treated to a mixture of courses designed to thrill. The majority of the racing will take place in the vicinity of Falmouth and English Harbours and will include tight coastal courses with the dramatic vistas and influences of the island playing a big part in tactics. The Yachting World Round the Island Race will be held on Sunday, April 24 for those boats participating in the Ocean Series. On Thursday, several classes will enjoy a change of scenery. After starting off Rendezvous Bay, a variety of courses ranging from 14 to 25 miles will finish off Jolly Harbour with the official fun-filled race-end party happening in Jolly Harbour that night.

Any inquiries should be addressed to:-

Antigua Sailing Week, Island House, St. John’s, PO Box 454 St. John’s, Antigua And Barbuda Email : info@sailingweek.com