ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK

Antigua Sailing Week is pleased to announce that the Royal Southern Yacht Club of Hamble, UK has issued a challenge to reciprocal and other yacht clubs around the world to compete in the Royal Southern Inter-Yacht Club Challenge at Antigua Sailing Week 2015.

Yacht clubs are being challenged to take their own boats to participate in Antigua Sailing Week or to charter one of many racing boats or bareboats that are available for the event.  While race charter boats may be a little more exciting, a fleet of one-design boats is available from Sunsail which provides boat for boat racing action.

The driving force behind the challenge is Gordon Cossar of the Royal Southern Yacht Club.  Of the Challenge he says, “We are really excited to get as many clubs as possible involved.  Following Antigua Sailing Week 2014, we realised that about 30 Royal Southern members had been at the final awards party and on returning to the UK we got together to discuss a challenge.  We have some early expressions of interest from several yacht clubs so things are already shaping up well for an exciting addition to Antigua Sailing Week 2015.’

Antigua Sailing Week has provided the Royal Southern Yacht Club with a complete information package containing details of everything from available race charter boats to accommodation, marinas and provisioning.  The information package includes everything an Antigua Sailing Week first-timer needs to know to make plans to participate.

Chairman of the Regatta Organising Committee, Kathy Lammers, says:  ‘We are delighted that of all the great events in the Caribbean regatta season, the Royal Southern Yacht Club has chosen Antigua Sailing Week as the event to feature the Royal Southern Inter-Yacht Club Challenge.  We look forward to providing yacht clubs from around the world with some of the most challenging and exciting racing they will ever experience in the Caribbean’s idyllic conditions.’

Antigua Sailing Week 2015 takes place from April 25 to May 1 and is based at Antigua Yacht Club in Falmouth Harbour.  Courses are predominately windward/leeward in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea aside spectacular headlands and picturesque Cades Reef with steady trade winds guaranteed.  It is the granddaddy of Caribbean sailing events and is difficult to beat anywhere in the world.

Racing starts on Saturday, April 25 with the optional 54 nautical mile Yachting World Round Antigua Race.  Five days of round the buoys racing follow, with two races on some days and a lay day on the Wednesday featuring a great beach party at Pigeon Beach.  Daily post-race social events and prize givings take place on the lawn of Antigua Yacht Club which showcase the great camaraderie that the event cultivates among sailors.  The week winds up with the final awards presentation on Friday, May 1 in the unique setting of historic Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour.  On-the-water activities are complimented by great parties with a very Caribbean flavour.

The minimum time commitment required to participate is one week but a commitment of 10 days would allow for two or three days’ practice and boat prep prior to the event.  Two full weeks would allow for some leisure time in addition to racing.  The financial commitment includes the cost of flights, food, accommodation and the yacht.

Get a flavour of Antigua Sailing Week by watching the 2014 wrap-up video and check out the Notice of Race, regatta details and submit your online entry at:  www.sailingweek.com where you will also find more information on the Royal Southern Inter-Yacht Club Challenge.  If you may be interested in accepting the Challenge, pleasae contact the Royal Southern Yacht Club's Sailing Secretary, Natalie Gray at sailing@royal-southern.co.uk.