From small beginnings this regatta has developed over 50 years to become one of the preeminent yacht racing events in the Caribbean and one of the most prestigious worldwide.
Well over 100 yachts participate each year, ranging in size from 24 feet to over 100 feet. The Regatta attracts all types of yachts from serious racing boats including state-of-the-art, high-tech racing machines to a variety of performance cruising and cruising boats and even features a Club Class for less serious racers who want to be part of the on-the-water action.
The sight of all these yachts is unforgettable, both from vantage points on the shore and from spectator boats carrying onlookers alongside the races. The reputation of Antigua Sailing Week allows the event to attract some of the world’s top racing and performance cruising boats and some of the most famous professional sailors in the world. You don’t need a high-tech boat to participate. Olympians are often found racing bareboats from bareboat sponsor Dream Yacht Charter.
For five days crews are challenged with a variety of coastal race courses encouraging tacking duels around the buoys – all in the picture-perfect setting of the deep blue Caribbean Sea off Antigua’s south coast with the ever-present trade winds. The idyllic racing is enhanced by sailors retiring to Antigua Yacht Club for passionate post-race analysis and daily prize-givings which carry on into the evening. Hundreds of locals and visitors will continue partying well into the late hours but yacht crews know there is another day of racing so they leave the late night revelry for the others to finish.
After the week of ever-exciting racing, Antigua Sailing Week draws to a close in the romantic historic Nelson’s Dockyard with the final awards presentation attended by owners, skippers and crews, with their friends, well-wishers and race officials, alongside Antigua’s government representatives including the Governor General to present the awards.
Antigua Sailing Week in partnership with the Antigua and Barbuda Sailing Association, the Antigua and Barbuda Marine Association and the National Sailing Academy are delighted to launch the Antigua and Barbuda Women in Sailing Mentorship Programme.
We are a still far from being gender equal on and off the water in sailing in not just Antigua and Barbuda, but worldwide. This new programme will demistify the sport and the industry and plans to introduce more girls and women into both.
We already have many women working in the industry as the leaders, but would like to see more, both on and off the water.
We are seeking women from 16-30 who want to develop their knowledge and skills. There are no qualifications necessary. You may already be a sailor and wish to further your skills on the water, improve competitiveness, move from dinghy to keel boat, move from keel boat to dinghy, learn to sail as a complete beginner. Alternatively you may want to change careers and learn about event organisation, sail making, concierge services, marina management or one of the many other careers in the industry.
You need to be open to new ideas and developing a relationship with one of our mentors who will use their skills, knowledge and network to help you.
The programme will take place over the next year with 4 one to one sessions with your mentor and 2 team days with all mentors and mentees together. Depending on timing, location and the ability to get groups together this may be in person or digitally.
Read about our mentors below and submit your application here. There are only 8 places on this first programme and applications must be received by May 31st, 2021 and mentees will be confirmed by June 30th, 2021.
This exciting event is followed the next day by Dockyard Day and the Beating of the Retreat as the Antiguan flag is lowered to signal the close of Antigua Sailing Week for yet another year. It is a truly fitting end to a week of glorious racing.
The Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions and other official documents can be found on the Race Documents page.
To enter Antigua Sailing Week 2022 click here.
by admin
The countdown is on. In less than eight months the prestigious Admiral's Cup, organised by…
Rolex China Sea Race 2026 The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club has announced that entry for the…
There appears to be a lot to play for in the Southern Ocean casino over…
The 2024 Cabbage Tree Island Race, the fifth and penultimate race in the Audi Centre…
Three round robins took place and one team changed her sponsor name from Normandy Elite…
It took a couple hours of waiting around under the hot sun, but when Mother…