ANTIGUA CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA

The third day of racing at Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta enjoyed slightly less wind than yesterday but still a wonderful 8-12 knot easterly breeze and flat seas giving the racing fleet a chance to fly all their sails.  The race committee reduced the southern Cupples mark by a mile to ensure all competing yachts could get round today's 18-mile Caterpillar course which is the reverse of yesterday's Butterfly course reaching down to the Old Road mark first before Cape Shirley.

Christoph von Reibnitz, owner of the 1936 Bermudian yawl, Peter von Seestermuehe who has been racing at the classics regatta since 1994, said of today's race "Conditions were fantasic, little wind at the beginning but built up later.  We keep coming back for the fantastic sailing, the great weather, the friendliness of the people, and you always meet other classic boats.  I meet boats and people here that I've known for 30 years and there is always some new boats as well".

1936 Bermudian yawl Peter von Seestermeuhe

Christian, captain of Scott DiBiasio's  65' Nat Benjamin schooner, Juno, gave his views on racing today "Lightest day so far, actually a pretty good sailing breeze and gentle sea state.  On big air days, everybody goes fast, on lighter days that's where tactics start to play a bigger role with quick sail changes.  Days like today are a lot of fun.  This regatta is the anchor of the Caribbean season and something to look forward to, its the perfect blend of competitive racing and a really fun atmosphere.  You get heritage, people preserving old boat and then on top of that you get competitive racing."

65' Nat Benjamin schooner Juno launched in 2003

Angela Wolf, owner of Cherub, 42' gaff ketch commented "Very exciting start, today was the best we ever had, we had so much fun.  All my ladies on the boat were singing sea shanties.  For three years it's been my dream to be here with Cherub and finally we made the dream happen.  The boat was in the mangroves in Carriacou when hurricane Beryl hit last year and was holed again (it's been holed multiple times before).  The all-girl crew has fantasic energy". 

42' gaff ketch Cherub from Grenada with her all-girl crew

The cumulative results has Cacca alla Volpe still in first place the Modern Classics A class, the J-30 Blue Peter first in Modern Classics B, Petrana winning still in Classic GRP class, Freya again first in Spirit of Tradition, Arro winning in Traditional class,The Blue Peter first in Vintage class, Charm III first in Schooner class and Rhea first in Tall Ships.  The cumulative results of the two days of racing can be seen by clicking here.

Tonight's entertainment we look forward to the open mic night organised as usual by Jane Coombs, an event that brings out all the very many talents amongst our classic yachting community. Tomorrow is the final day of full fleet racing with the parade of classic yachts in historic Nelson's dockyard afterwards.