COMPETITIVE SAILING IN THE CARIBBEAN
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. 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 in some years. 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 take the yachts all arond the island including Dickenson Bay, Jolly Harbour, 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
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.
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