Over the last two decades, Antigua Sailing Week has developed into one of the biggest events in the World Sailing calendar, as well as one of the most fantastic times to visit Antigua and take advantage of an island wide party. From small beginnings, the regatta has developed into the 3rd and final race of the Caribbean Big Boat Series.

Leg 1 starts in St. Maarten, as the Heineken Regatta in early March , followed by the BVI Spring Regatta at the end of March, beginning of April. The ultimate finale of the series is a week of hard racing that has become Antigua Sailing Week. The run up to Sailing Week builds with the Classic Yacht Regatta and the Megayacht Challenge, both also in Antigua.

Antigua Sailing Week is then the last event in the Caribbean Sailing Calendar, and where the competitors in the Big Boat series compete for the ultimate prize.

Antigua Sailing Week began in 1967 with only 10 boats, and has grown to over 200 entries each year. You do not however need to be a sailor to enjoy the festivities of Sailing Week in Antigua. The race is accompanied by many non-competing yachts who tag along to see the action, and there are fantastic look out points around the island from which to spectate.

The races are from Dickenson Bay, Falmouth Harbour and down the West Coast, and each evening there are parties wherever the yachts finish racing for the day. Antigua Sailing Week has a real carnival atmosphere with locals, yachtsmen and holiday makers dancing, eating and drinking the nights away

Half way through the week – there is a day off racing for most of the yachts, and the sailors enjoy layday. This is meant to be a rest day for everyone involved, however festivities begin at 1pm in Nelson's Dockyard, and hundreds of people join in everything from beer races to rubber raft races.

The last race is on a Friday – the English Harbour Race where you can watch the boats moving out from 500 feet up at Shirley’s Heights. The finale of Race Week is however the day after when Dockyard Day allows the locals to come out and enjoy the Carnival Atmosphere. On Saturday Afternoon the minister of Tourism awards prizes for each of the races, and at 6pm the Antigua and Barbuda Police performs ‘Beat the Retreat’ from the balcony of the old Officers Quarter’s in Nelson’s Dockyard.

The final event is the Lord Nelson's Ball on Saturday evening – a black tie affair with live music, and the final prize-giving.

Antigua Sailing Week is a non-profit organisation, that is sponsored and operated by the Antigua Hotels Association. The planning for the event is a year long role for the team involved and starts each year as soon as the event is finished.

To visit Antigua at a truly magical time of year, try Antigua Sailing Week.

For more information on this years sailing events and parties check our events listing.