Story and photos by Elaine Lembo
Cruisers, racers, and spectators — the 57th Antigua Sailing Week has something for everyone.
With this year’s revised format sending competing and cruising yacht classes, beach party goers, and sightseers on a four-day counterclockwise beat out of English Harbour around the island, everyone comes away with a prize — whether it’s a racing trophy or a selfie on an Instagram feed.
From April 22 to April 26, I climbed aboard to rally, race, and ooh and ahh with boatloads of other enthusiastic participants of one of the Caribbean’s premier sailing events. When I wasn’t deep in the regatta, I toured the island’s stunning sights and sampled its home-grown delicacies. The afterglow of such a spectacular regatta, with the fleet circumnavigating the island and anchoring overnight instead of shoving off daily for windward-leeward legs out of Nelson’s Dockyard, will last a long, long time.
Special thanks to the Antigua & Barbuda Ministry of Tourism, Investment & Economic Development; St. James’s Club; Budget Marine; Seahawk Paint; CalvinAir Helicopters; Wadadli Cats; and Catherine’s Cafe for making this onsite coverage possible.
The week began with dinner at the local Trappas Restaurant with other members of the media and Antigua tourism board staff.
At the Falmouth Rectory Grounds, Reggae in the Park got sailors and spectators in the right mood with performances by the Climaxx Band and Luciano, the Messenjah.
Exploring and watching, not racing? Great spectating vantage points for Antigua Sailing Week include Devil’s Bridge and Shirley Heights. Before catching up with the crews at day’s end, take time for a visit to historic Betty’s Hope, once Antigua’s largest sugar plantation, first established in 1650.
For a knockout lunch treat, talented Chef Jermaine Jonas prepares a divine plant-based menu at his www.bushbungalow.com in Freeman’s Village – don’t miss your chance to dine on food “grown here, not flown here.”
Daily treasure hunt incentives inspired the crew of the Hunter 36 Tropicbird, composed of diehard rally cruisers — no racing here! A highlight of their team gear was butterfly capes.
The crew of the Hanse 588 Impala pulled two asymmetric spinnakers — A3, A2 — or pink and blue for the non-techies — out of their arsenal to take on fellow competition in CSA Class 1.
What better way to chase the race than aboard Spirit of Antigua of the Wadadli Cat daysail fleet with skipper Sheldon Corbett and Rollo Astbury Goodman, who provided live race commentary at the windward mark on Day 3 of Antigua Sailing Week.
This beach party mother – daughter duo says it all: The movable feast that is now Antigua Sailing Week has something for everyone! (Charm Bailey, left, and Kaiya Bailey)
