Antigua Sailing Week, the granddaddy of them all, is considered by many sailing aficionados to be one of the top five regattas in the world and when you see it up close it’s hard to disagree.
Over the years Sailing Week has evolved from a regatta for local yachtsmen to an international event that spans five days (and more if you include the pre-event activities). It attracts an average of 200 yachts, over 1500 participants, 5000 spectators and some of the biggest, fastest and most impressive sailing yachts in the world packed with Olympic, America’s Cup and round the world sailors.
Sailing Week is the sailing equivalent of holding a tennis grand slam in the Caribbean where you can compete against the stars – with huge parties! It takes you from historic Nelson’s Dockyard to Dickenson Bay and back.
Sailing in the sheltered waters of the Caribbean and the big rollers of the Atlantic, Sailing Week should be on every sailor’s “must-do” list.
Committee Desk Opening Times
The Committee Desk will be located for the first time this year upstairs at Antigua Yacht Club overlooking Falmouth Harbour. Opening hours are as follows:
Wednesday, April 25 – 9 am to 6 pm
Thursday, April 26 – 9 am to 6 pm
Friday, April 27 – 9 am to 7 pm
Saturday, April 28 – 9 am to 6 pm
Saturday, May 5 – 9 am to Noon
Registration
Registration is mandatory and will take place at the Committee Desk upstairs at Antigua Yacht Club as follows:
Thursday, April 26 – Noon to 6 pm
Friday, April 27 – 9 am to 6 pm
Saturday, April 28 – 9 am to Noon
All boats are encouraged to register as early as possible. Sailing Instructions, class flags, bow and/or stern numbers and any required advertising materials must be collected at Registration. Team registration will also take place at the Committee Desk. For more information on entering a national team, go to www.sailingweek.com.
The Racing Schedule
Start Boat A – First warning signal at 10 am on each day
Sunday, April 29 – Windward Beach – One Race
Monday, April 30 – Sunsail Race Day – Rendezvous Bay – One or Two Races
Tuesday, May 1 – Windward Beach – One or Two Races
Thursday, May 3 – Rendezvous Bay – One or Two Races
Friday, May 4 – Rendezvous Bay – One Race
Start Boat B – First warning signal at 10 am on each day
Sunday, April 29 – Rendezvous Bay – One Race
Monday, April 30 – Sunsail Race Day – Windward Beach – One Race
Tuesday, May 1 – Rendezvous Bay – One or Two Races
Thursday, May 3 – Windward Beach – One Race
Friday, May 4 – Windward Beach – One Race
Antigua Sailing Week 2012 Racing
Continuing on the theme established in 2011: Antigua Sailing Week – where sailing comes first!, a few new things are in store for the sailors once again at Antigua Sailing Week 2012.
SOUTH COAST RACING – All racing will take place on the south coast of Antigua where the winds are most consistent and provide the best racing conditions. This will keep the entire fleet together all week and will make logistics of accommodation and transportation easier and more cost-effective than in previous years and there will be no destination racing.
NEW DEEP-WATER MARK AND MIXING UP THE FLEETS – A new deep-water mark has been introduced which will provide some more interesting and varied courses than what has been offered in the past. And pursuant to the continued request of many sailors, the Start Boat A and Start Boat B courses will be mixed up in some races so the fleets will be racing on the same water while continuing to round different marks in most cases. This will provide for some exciting racing and very exciting spectating opportunities.
THE COURSES – A variety of courses has again been designed for each day, allowing the Race Officer to choose a course for each race that is suitable for the class of boat and wind conditions at the time. This will ensure that all boats are racing for three but not more than four hours each day, even if there are two races in a day.
We hope you find Antigua Sailing Week 2012 more enjoyable than ever before! Happy racing!
DAILY PRIZE GIVINGS – A daily prize giving will be held every day at 5 pm (except Friday, May 4 when it will take place at 4 pm). On Sunday, April 29, the venue for the daily prize giving will be the steps of the Officers Quarters in Nelson’s Dockyard and for the remainder of the week it will be the lawn at the Antigua Yacht Club. Each day pennants will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in each class and 1st place boats will also win some fun and exciting prizes from our sponsors.
FINAL AWARDS CEREMONY – The awards presentation will take place at 7 pm on Friday, May 4 on the lawn on water side of the Copper and Lumber Hotel. Check the party schedule for more information.
Yachting World Round Antigua Race
An exciting new event this year is the Yachting World Round Antigua Race which has been re-introduced as an optional race to be held on Saturday, April 28. It is open to all boats, whether or not participating in Antigua Sailing Week, and will be scored separately from the week’s racing. Classes will include maxi, racing, cruising, multihull, bareboat and classics among others, so yachts of all types are expected to participate including many that will have recently completed the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta.
Yachting World is once again proud to sponsor the Round Antigua Race and will award the beautiful and much-coveted Yachting World Trophy to the elapsed time winner of the race. The record is currently held by the overall winner of Antigua Sailing Week 2011, the Farr-designed 115-foot Sojana, which completed the race in 4 hours, 37 minutes and 43 seconds in 2009. Will you be the new record-holder?
THE PRIZE GIVING for the Yachting World Round Antigua Race will take place during the Antigua Sailing Week Welcome Party in historic Nelson’s Dockyard at 7 pm on Saturday, April 28.
The party schedule is still to be finalized but we can share the following with you for now:
THE LAWN BAR AT THE ANTIGUA YACHT CLUB
This year the Committee Desk, Registration and administrative heart of Antigua Sailing Week has moved to Antigua Yacht Club. The famous Cloggy’s Restaurant team will therefore be providing excellent food and drinks on the lawn daily. The lawn bar will open from 2:30 to 6 pm daily (later on prize-giving days) from Friday, April 27 to Friday, May 4.
THE GUADELOUPE TO ANTIGUA RACE PRIZE GIVING – Friday, April 27
Everyone is invited to gather on the lawn at the Antigua Yacht Club for the official Guadeloupe to Antigua Race prize giving which will take place from 5 pm to 7 pm.
THE OFFICIAL WELCOME PARTY AND YACHTING WORLD ROUND ANTIGUA RACE PRIZE GIVING PARTY – Saturday, April 28
Beginning at 5 pm in Nelson’s Dockyard, come and meet up with all Antigua Sailing Week participants, size up the competition and generally have a great night. Prizes for the Yachting World Round Antigua Race will be awarded at 7 pm, including the coveted Yachting World Trophy for the best elapsed time. For Antigua Sailing Week entrants some freebies will be on offer, so be sure to check your skippers’ bags for more details.
BIG PARTY IN NELSON’S DOCKYARD – EVERYONE WELCOME – Sunday, April 29
Beginning at 2:30 pm in Nelson’s Dockyard you will find DJs, live music, the Antiguan Marine Art and Photography Exhibition, excellent food and drink on sale and a few surprises throughout the day and into the evening. Be sure to be there at 5 pm when the first daily prize giving will take place on the steps of the Officers Quarters.
DAILY PRIZE GIVINGS – Tuesday, May 1, Thursday, May 3 and Friday, May 4
Beginning at 2.30 pm will be drinks, food and music on the lawn at the Antigua Yacht Club. Prizes will be awarded to the winning boat in each class at 5 pm (4 pm on Friday). Be there to see if you are the lucky winner of our daily prizes.
BIG PARTY IN NELSON’S DOCKYARD – Tuesday, May 1
Beginning at 6 pm in Nelson’s Dockyard, this will be a party never to be forgotten. Music and of course copious amounts of rum will be up for grabs. Come early and see how long you last!
LAY DAY CALYPSO BEACH PARTY – Wednesday, May 2
So recovery day is Lay Day and this year all the action will be at Pigeon Beach – yes back to the beach! We have some fun and games for you to sign up for including Junior/Senior dinghy racing with youths in the National Sailing Academy program, Stand-up Paddle Board Racing (you’re on your own with this one) and for a team sport, how about Sea Cadet match racing in four-man plus coxswain rowing boats. Yes rowing! Sign up for these events at the Committee Desk as early as possible as places will be limited.
Of course we will have some fun games and a few drinks to keep things flowing into the evening. Come early, wear a hat and your Ocean Potion sunscreen, and chill out before heading into the last two days of racing.
ENGLISH HARBOUR AREA PARTY – Thursday, May 3
This is your night to ‘Lime as you Like’. Enjoy the hospitality of Antigua Sailing Week’s Official Restaurant and Bar Partners and the vendors in English Harbour. Whether you want a quiet time dining or a big party night, there will be something for everyone. Just remember you have one more day of racing on Friday.
THE FINAL AWARDS PARTY – Friday, May 4
The Final Awards Presentation will begin promptly at 7 pm on the water side of the Copper and Lumber Hotel in Nelson’s Dockyard.
DOCKYARD DAY – Saturday, May 5
For those of you who don’t have to rush off, Dockyard Day signals the end of Antigua Sailing Week for all Antiguans. It is a big family day where schools, church choirs, dance troupes and friends come out and enjoy the festivities. The Beating of the Retreat during the afternoon signals the official end to Antigua Sailing Week.
Pricing
Prices are provided on application to the event manager.
