ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK

Pata Negra: Photo by Tobias Stoerkle

 With all yachts accounted for in the 2019 Antigua Bermuda Race, Giles Redpath's Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR), skippered by Andy Liss, has posted the best corrected time under IRC, winning the Warrior Trophy. In a dramatic finish for second place, Peter Grueterich's xP-44 Xpatriate (USA) corrected out to take runner-up by just 21 minutes after over five days of ocean racing. Kevin McLaughlin's x-55 Rye (USA) was third. Antigua Bermuda Race Chairman, Les Crane was dockside at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club to welcome finishing yachts.

“Only one member of the crew was over 25, and we came together after Antigua Sailing Week,” commented Pata Negra's skipper Andy Liss. “Some of the crew will help me deliver Pata Negra to Newport for the Transatlantic Race, and others will be sailing boats across the Atlantic in the ARC, and private deliveries. The crew for this race are a great bunch, and we have become firm friends. We are delighted to continue the winning tradition for Pata Negra.”

“Everybody has been just awesome on the race, it's a small boat for six days on the water but we just get along great, we had fun all the way!” commented Xpatriate's Peter Grueterich. “I knew it was very very tight between us and Rye, and it was an excruciating finish as it seemed so long get there. When we heard from Les Crane that we had got second, I was completely floored, there was an outburst of joy from the whole crew. This has been an incredible race, with great organisation. The whole idea of a race to finish the Caribbean season is just perfect, after clearing customs in St.Georges we had a party until 4 am with other competitors. We look forward to telling our stories in the Yard Arm Bar at the Riverside Yacht Club.”

Read the full release here.