After a vote from all competing boats, the Gosnell Trophy for the 2020 Superyacht Challenge Antigua has been awarded to John McMonigall’s Oyster 82 Zig Zag, skippered by Philip Howard-Smith.

Class winners of the 2020 Superyacht Challenge Antigua are Oyster 885 Firebird skippered by James McDonald, Peter Harrison’s 115ft (35m) Farr ketch Sojana, and the 108ft (33m) Javier Jaudenes sloop WinWin, sailed Kim Schindelhauer and skippered by Ryan Taylor.

The winner of the Cook-off was the 140ft (43m) Frers ketch Rebecca, skippered by Rob Foxell. The best dressed crew for the Rio Carnival theme was the 182ft (55.5m) Dykstra schooner Adela, skippered by Greg Norwood-Perkins.

A wind shut down prevented racing on the final day with results standing from Race 3, two classes went to the wire. WinWin won the Corsairs Class by a single point from the 112ft (34m) Baltic Nilaya, with Filip Balcaen at the helm. The 112ft (34m) Baltic Liara, designed by Malcolm McKeon, sailed by Tony Todd was third. In the Buccaneers Class Firebird scored three straight bullets beating Adela, into second place. The 121ft (37m) Dyksra sloop Action skippered by Josh Gilchrist was third. In the Privateers Class, Sojana, skippered by Jonny Malbon, won on countback from the 108ft (33m) Malcolm McKeon sloop Missy, skippered by Matt McKeon. The 94ft (29m) Southern Wind sloop Aragon, skippered by Nico Carpentier was third.

The Superyacht Challenge Antigua Prize Giving was held in Nelson’s Dockyard. Baskets of local produce, and 19 barrels of rum, suitably filled, were presented to the winners, along with the much coveted Gosnell Trophy.

“The spirit of the Gosnell Trophy lives and breathes in John McMonigall,” commented Zig Zag’s tactician Paul Blowers. “This is the fifth year we have done this regatta. We do our very best, giving our hearts and souls into the sailing and the parties. John’s support and enthusiasm and personality really drives this team. Thank you to the competitors and organisers for a wonderful regatta.”

“Winning three races in a row is just amazing and it is all because of a fantastic team.” Commented Firebird’s skipper James McDonald. “It is nice to race against different boats in our class. It has been challenging racing with larger boats we have very much enjoyed it. Many congratulations to Zig Zag, our fellow Oyster. The win is very much deserved, we voted for them!”

WinWin was helmed by Kim Schindelhauer who spoke at the prize-giving: “Racing Liara and our close and constant fight with Nilaya was really good sailing and competitive, all of us had really only one thing in mind which was to be first. Thank you to all the competitors.” WinWin skipper Ryan Taylor added. “It has been great, simply that, great company with other crews and close racing on the water.”

Peter (Harrison) is super happy with the result and super happy with the crew,” commented Sojana’s skipper Jonny Malbon. “This has been a great regatta, thanks to the boss, thanks to everybody, and the organiser of a special regatta.”

“Thanks to everyone involved in the organisation of one of the best superyacht regattas I have ever attended. I have done most of them since 1996,” commented SYCA founder Stan Pearson. “Very simply our regatta has the ambiance of what superyacht regattas are all about without any other agendas – it is a winning formula for sure. The NoR has been posted for 2021, and we are planning to include a stand alone round the island race. A big thankyou to everyone involved from Paul Deeth and I.”

The 11th edition of the Superyacht Challenge Antigua will be held 9-14 March 2021. The Notice of Race and Entry Form can be downloaded at www.superyachtchallengeantigua.com.

Full results available here.

by Louay Habib