(English Harbour, Antigua)- The 47th edition of Antigua Sailing Week
featured five days of racing with a fabulous party atmosphere ashore.
Yachts flying the flags of 23 different nations were drawn to the
Caribbean’s most prestigious regatta. Sailors came from all over the
world for the fantastic weather, extremely competitive racing and fun
filled entertainment. The racing was incredibly close, with a number of
classes only decided by seconds on the last race and the weather was
absolutely glorious. The trade winds were pumping at 15-25 knots all
week. Enough to get the thrill of fast action, but still tactically
challenging with wind shifts emanating from land effects and cloud
bursts.Irishman David Cullen racing his J/109 POCKET ROCKET Pocket Rocket came so close to a perfect score, winning CSA 7 class by a large margin. David commented on their experience, “I have been to Antigua Sailing Week for many years and I have to say that this edition has been exceptionally well run on the water, with a very friendly atmosphere ashore. I am sure Pocket Rocket will be back!”
High drama and fantastic conditions rounded off this year’s Antigua Sailing Week. Going into the last day, two yachts racing under CSA were undefeated, scoring seven straight bullets: Piet Vroon’s Dutch Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens 3 and David Cullen’s Irish J/109, Pocket Rocket were both vying for the prestigious overall prize, The Lord Nelson Trophy.
Several classes hung in the balance and the outcome of a whole week of racing was to be decided by seconds in CSA 2 & CSA 4. The last day of racing provided the windiest conditions of the week. Gusting up to 20 knots with an agitated sea state, the spray was flying off hulls on the south coast of Antigua and there was a ‘Cinderella moment’ for one of Antigua’s veteran yacht racers.
At dawn on the final morning, Pocket Rocket had scored a perfect seven bullets securing CSA 7, but the perfect eight was to elude the team: “It is the first time we have really made any major errors, but we had problems hoisting our spinnaker today. If you had offered me seven first places and a second at the beginning of the week, I would have said – thank you very much! The lads’ heads are down but I don’t think that is right and I have a couple of bottles of champagne to cheer them up. We have had a fantastic week and congratulations to the organisers for laying on a very enjoyable and well run regatta.”
In CSA 3 class, Rick Wesslund’s J/122 EL OCASO took second by virtue of a tie-breaker. In CSA 8 class, the perennial campaigner and, arguably one of Antigua’s best sailing teams, took third in class- the J/30 BLUE PETER sailed by the duo of Tanner & Shari!
While
sailing comes first at Antigua Sailing Week, that doesn’t necessarily
mean an early night, every night! Tuesday saw the biggest act on stage
at Shirley Heights. In front of more than 3,000 revellers, Orville
Richard Burrell, better known by his stage name SHAGGY, belted out his
best known hits, including Boombastic, It Wasn’t Me and Angel. Mr. Lover
Lover man sent the crowd in the audience crazy with his smooth lyrics
and outrageous stage act.Lay Day was held the next day on Pigeon Beach, where hundreds of sailors at Antigua Sailing Week chilled out in the crystal blue waters and enjoyed a first class BBQ served by 2011 Caribbean Chef of the Year, Mitchell Husbands from the luxurious Nonsuch Bay Resort. Later, at the Sunset Beach Party, there was Tug-o-War and other beach games with DJ Sporty, fire dancers and BBQ grills burning long into the night.
Every afternoon after racing, the sailors returned to the hospitality of Antigua Yacht Club, Cloggy’s and Club Sushi, enjoying post race analysis in the perfect setting, as well as being awarded daily prizes sponsored by Johnnie Walker, English Harbour 5 Year Old Rum and Colombian Emeralds.
The spirit of Antigua Sailing Week was evident at the Final Awards Ceremony at Nelson’s Dockyard. The huge crowd were standing as the Governor General of Antigua & Barbuda, Her Excellency Dame Louise Lake-Tack arrived and the National Anthem of Antigua & Barbuda was skillfully played by pannist, Lacu Samuel. The Hon. Eleston Adams, Minister for Culture also presided over the awards ceremony and every competitor was roundly applauded as they took to the stage. Asher Otto & Itchyfeet played out the night with DJ Purist and the dance floor was alive with revellers into the night. For more Antigua Sailing Week regatta information
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