Day Two of the 2020 Superyacht Challenge Antigua was blessed with beautiful conditions on the South Coast of Antigua. A stable breeze of 14-15 knots just south of east, with no squall activity, produced picture-perfect conditions.

The Corsairs were set a 33nm course. The Buccaneers and Privateers a shorter 18nm option. 15 superyachts were running in the deep offshore and playing the bays and cliffs inshore, From Boggy Peak to Shirley Heights the magnificent superyachts were a spectacular sight.

 Peter Harrison’s 115ft (35m) Farr ketch Sojana – 2020 Superyacht Challenge Antigua © Claire Matches / www.clairematches.com

Oyster 885 Firebird skippered by James McDonald took a second bullet in the Buccaneers Class. The 108ft (33m) Baltic WinWin, sailed by Kim Schindelhauer, took another close win in the Corsairs Class. In the Privateers Class Peter Harrison’s Farr 115 ketch Sojana took her first race win.

The Oyster 885 Firebird is unbeaten in the Buccaneers Class. The 182ft (55.5m) Dykstra schooner Adela skippered by Greg Norwood-Perkins was runner-up for the second time. The 121ft (37m) Dykstra sloop Action skippered by Josh Gilchrist was a close third.

Adela’s love-affair with the regatta dates back to 2012. “It is the friendliest of all the regattas in the ‘med and the Caribbean,” smiled skipper Greg. “The competition is great on the water and afterwards all the crew get together to enjoy a bit of fun. Adela had a better day today, especially the latter part of the race. Going inshore worked well tactically, and crew work was part of that. Good boat handling comes from lots of practice. By the way I don’t know who has won the cook off, but it should definitely be Adela!”

Peter Harrison’s 115ft (35m) Farr ketch Sojana, skippered by Jonny Malbon won Race Two, beating yesterday’s winner, the 108ft (33m) Malcolm McKeon designed sloop Missy, into second place. The 94ft (29m) Southern Wind sloop Aragon, skippered by Nico Carpentier was again third.

“We are pretty slippery downwind; we have spent a lot of time working on that and the boss has been really good at refining the sails” commented Sojana’s skipper Jonny Malbon. “Sojana is a heavy boat with marble and mattresses but Peter (Harrison) is very happy for us to push the boat, and we are always at 100%, you have to do that to be competitive. We are happy because the boss loves it.”

108ft (33m) Javier Jaudenes sloop WinWin – 2020 Superyacht Challenge Antigua – photo © Claire Matches / www.clairematches.com

In the Corsairs Class, the 108ft (33m) Javier Jaudenes sloop WinWin, took their second bullet and executed a perfect start, acing the line. The 112ft (34m) sloop Nilaya, with Filip Balcaen at the helm, was second. Third was the 112ft (34m) sloop Liara sailed by Tony Todd. This is Tony’s first regatta with the brand-new superyacht, designed by Malcolm McKeon and built by Baltic Yachts.

On Board the 112ft (34m) sloop Liara – 2020 Superyacht Challenge Antigua – photo © Claire Matches / www.clairematches.com

“I have been on board Liara for every mile sailed since she left the yard,” smiled Tony. “We tore a sail today, but we were on the money until that point. The boat is new to all of us, each day we improve little ‘nick-nacks’ here and there, we are still working the boat up. This is my fourth boat and everything I dreamt about. Baltic are and have been phenomenal. It never comes out of the box just right, but they have been fantastic with the upgrades. The Cook Off last night was fantastic, our Daisy did a great job. I was taking the meat from our stand and taking a bit of lobster from next door for a bit of surf ‘n turf!”

Tony Todd on the surf ‘n turf! – 2020 Superyacht Challenge Antigua – photo © Claire Matches / www.clairematches.com

On Thursday 11th March, the evening festivities were all about cooking, well nearly. The Famous Cook Off is a much-loved night of fun and flavours at the Superyacht Challenge Antigua. Each team is given a traditional coal pot to prepare a Caribbean dish for judging. In addition, superyacht chefs produce mouth-watering delicacies, forming a feast of fine fayre. This year’s fancy dress theme was Rio Carnival, bringing out some colourful garbs in Nelson’s Dockyard.

Famous Cook Off – 2020 Superyacht Challenge Antigua – photo © Ted Martin

Racing at the 10th Anniversary of the Superyacht Challenge Antigua continues on Saturday 14th March, with the sequence scheduled to start at 1100 local time (1500 AST).

Full results available here.

For more information visit www.superyachtchallengeantigua.com.

by Louay Habib