Antigua Sailing Week 2021
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About event
Start:English Harbour, Antigua and Barbuda
Finish:English Harbour, Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua Sailing Week 2021
Yachts from all over the world will arrive in English and Falmouth Harbours to participate in the one of the world’s major sailing events, the Antigua Sailing Week. From small beginnings this regatta has developed over 50 years to become one of the preeminent yacht racing events in the Caribbean and one of the most prestigious worldwide.
Well over 100 yachts participate each year, ranging in size from 24 feet to over 100 feet. The Regatta attracts all types of yachts from serious racing boats including state-of-the-art, high-tech racing machines to a variety of performance cruising and cruising boats and even features a Club Class for less serious racers who want to be part of the on-the-water action.
The reputation of Antigua Sailing Week allows the event to attract some of the world’s top racing and performance cruising boats and some of the most famous professional sailors in the world.
For five days crews are challenged with a variety of coastal race courses encouraging tacking duels around the buoys – all in the picture-perfect setting of the deep blue Caribbean Sea off Antigua’s south coast with the ever-present trade winds. The idyllic racing is enhanced by sailors retiring to Antigua Yacht Club for passionate post-race analysis and daily prize-givings which carry on into the evening. Hundreds of locals and visitors will continue partying well into the late hours but yacht crews know there is another day of racing so they leave the late night revelry for the others to finish.
After the week of ever-exciting racing, Antigua Sailing Week draws to a close in the romantic historic Nelson’s Dockyard with the final awards presentation attended by owners, skippers and crews, with their friends, well-wishers and race officials, alongside Antigua’s government representatives including the Governor General to present the awards.
This exciting event is followed the next day by Dockyard Day and the Beating of the Retreat as the Antiguan flag is lowered to signal the close of Antigua Sailing Week for yet another year. It is a truly fitting end to a week of glorious racing.
Events schedule
Roadrunners Cycling Chase the Race
Race starts at 6 am
Peters & May Round Antigua Race
Race Starts from 8 am
Official Bareboat Skippers Briefing
Nelsons Dockyard 3pm
Peters & May Round Antigua Race Prize Giving & Official ASW Opening
Starts at 6 pm
Wear team shirts or outfits for the chance to win spot prizes.
Shirley Heights Lookout Breakfast
8 am – 11 am local breakfast and the best place to watch the starts
English Harbour Race Day 1 & Daily Prize Giving
Race starts from 10 am
Race Day 2 & Daily Prize Giving
Race starts from 10 am
Race Day 3 & Daily Prize Giving
Race starts from 10 am
Lay Day
12pm Pigeon Point Beach
Race Day 4 & Daily Prize Giving
Race starts from 10 am
Race Day 5 & Daily Prize Giving
Race starts from 10 am
Final Awards Ceremony
Prizes at 7pm
National Parks Authority Dockyard Day
Beating of the Retreat at 5.15 pm
Location
Antigua
FAQ
Can I participate in a regatta if I don’t have yachting experience?
Yes, of course. There will be an experienced skipper and team members on the yacht. They will give you a role and teach you everything you need to know to be a useful team member and feel comfortable.
Will I be able to steer a yacht?
Yes, all team members will definitely try themselves in different roles to better understand each other. Standing at the helm is an integral part of training for beginners as well as setting sails, and helping the team during moorings.
Where will I live during the regatta?
As a rule, participants in the regatta live on the yacht. The boat has everything you need for a comfortable stay: nice beds, a kitchen, a shower with toilet. If you do not want to live on a yacht, then you can arrange to stay at the hotel onshore.
What will we eat?
The crew decides altogether what kind of food they prefer to eat and makes necessary purchases. Simple dishes can be cooked, usually taking turns. Some regattas offer daily meals and intensive evening program for all crews.
Do you help with a visa?
We can make an invitation for a visa, but you need to apply for a visa by yourself.
Will I have seasick? What should I do if I have sickness?
Most people tolerate some seasickness easily. If you feel that you are starting to feel sick, it is best to get at the steering wheel or tune the sails. Get yourself busy, show your body that you don’t have time to get sick, you have to fight for victory in the race. There are also many quite effective medicines from sickness. If you start taking them in advance, then the probability of seasickness is almost zero.
How and where will I meet the crew and the captain?
Before each trip, we organize an online meeting where participants get to know each other and the captain. The captain will answer all your questions. The crew will have a group chat so you can get to know each other before the start of the regatta. Then you will meet in the marina.
What clothes do I need?
The main rule is to dress comfortably and according to the weather. Clothing: • windbreaker and pants or shorts; • shirt/jacket with UV protection (thermal underwear and fleece); • adjustable hat/cap; • gloves. We recommend to purchase a long-sleeved jacket with UV protection in order to protect yourself from the sun and strong wind. Yachting shoes should be: • light, with non-slip white outsole; • with the fixed heel; • with a tightly closed nose. During the sailing without shoes, you can fall or injure your fingers and feet on the deck. There are many protruding parts on the boat that are easy to catch. Unfortunately, even experienced sailors are not protected from unpleasant injuries when they ignore this simple rule.
