04-05-2008 17:44:57 Grand Finish to a Grand Regatta: Prizes Awarded Across the Fleet in Closing Ceremonies of 41st Stanford Antigua Sailing Week
Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua (May 4) – It was a week of innovation, of lively parties, of big winds and flat calms, and when all was said and done, it was a week that showcased great competition on the water and wonderful camaraderie off. In short, it was another fine edition of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week, the 41st annual one, and everyone who attended was a winner.
Of course, along with those figurative winners, there were also the true champions, the sailors who excelled on the racecourse and earned both the respect of their rivals and the spoils of their success. And in two separate awards ceremonies yesterday afternoon and last night at the regatta’s Event Village here at Nelson’s Dockyard, the top racers in the 17 respective classes for this running of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week reaped the rewards of their top-notched efforts.
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Letter from Frank Savage owner of S/Y Lolita
04-05-2008 17:37:25
I want to publicly thank Antigua Rigging for enabling LOLITA to resume the regatta after the unfortunate collision between LOLITA and SOJANA on Tuesday April 28. Stan Pearson, President of Antigua Rigging,was at the dock when we returned. He determined that it was unsafe to sail with the bent V1,Dash 60 and worked with our helmsman, Phil Garland of Hall Spars to examine the rig. Luckily, Antigua Rigging had the necessary parts in stock and assisted by our crew worked feverishly to disassemble and replace the rigging. The fact that LOLITA could race again after sustaining an impact that could have dismasted her is also a testament to the durablility and sea worthiness of SWAN and the strength of the Hall rig.
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03-05-2008 09:08:24 The Grand Finale: Panthera, Stay Calm, Yani and True Look Top Roster of Class Winners in Closing Day of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week
Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua (May 2) – After a frustrating day in which light winds and overcast skies plagued the racecourse, order was resumed in the sailing universe today as the international fleet gathered here for the final day of racing at the 41st Stanford Antigua Sailing Week were greeted with ideal Caribbean conditions: steady easterly tradewinds building into the mid-teen range and a clear, blue ceiling above. Not surprisingly, in most of the 17 separate divisions, the top boats coming into the last day of competition found the perfect sailing weather much to their liking, wrapping up the regatta in fine, winning fashion.
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Sue Pelling's Dockside stories Day 5
03-05-2008 09:01:57 Sue's stories from around Stanford Antigua Sailing Week include:
-New Dragon Fleet proves a great success in Antigua,
-Local Dentistjumps ship,
-Swanning around in Antigua
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Dog Day Afternoon: In Fickle Breeze, Benny Kelly’s TP 52 Panthera Consolidates Lead
02-05-2008 09:16:10 Jolly Harbour, Antigua (May 1) – Someone forget to tell Benny Kelly’s talented crew aboard the TP52, Panthera, that they weren’t supposed to be the marquee attraction for the 41st running of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week. After all, much of the pre-regatta buzz involved the fleet’s two Grand Prix maxis, the 90-foot Rambler and the 100-foot ICAP Leopard, which were coming to the island to revise their epic “Battle of the Titans” in last summer’s epic Fastnet Race beginning and ending off Cowes, England.
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Sue Pelling's Dockside stories Day 4
02-05-2008 08:57:18 Sue's stories from around Stanford Antigua Sailing Week include:
Rookie racer on a roll at Antigua Sailing Week
Lay day sundowners at Shirley Heights
Leaking boat forces girls to lose a day's racing
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Super Tuesday: Cream Rising to Top After Full Day of Action
30-04-2008 18:29:53 Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua (April 29) – The midway point of action in the 41st edition of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week is in the books today after a solid day of racing under continued blue skies, moderate seas and swell, and breezes ranging from 10-16 knots. With three days of racing down and two to go, the final results are far from certain. But the cream is beginning to rise to the top in many of the 17 respective classes competing at Sailing Week, and time is drawing short for mid-fleet boats to make a charge.
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Sue Pelling's Dockside stories Day 3
30-04-2008 18:23:49 Sue's stories from around Stanford Antigua Sailing Week includes:
Hi flying with Ondeck
Northern Child - Stanford Antigua Sailing Week old timer
Watch out - Girl for Sail crack open the Champagne
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Crunch Time: Sojana and Lolita Collision Highlights Full Day of Action on Day 2
28-04-2008 23:03:14 English Harbour, Antigua (April 28) – Racing under clear blue skies and fueled by ideal northeasterly tradewinds coursing across the Caribbean, seventeen classes of race boats took to sea this morning for Day 2 of competition in the 41st running of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week. And while there were multiple surprises across the board in the respective fleets, the main story lines were scripted in the flat-out Division A racing fleets, where a winner was crowned in the two-stage Around the Island Race, and two of the pre-regatta favorites in Racing II and Racing III, respectively, ended the day in a long protest hearing after a messy collision in the early going of today’s action.
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Sue Pelling's Dockside stories Day 2
28-04-2008 22:52:53 Sue's stories from around Stanford Antigua Sailing Week include;
Sail's pitch in Nelson's Dockyard
Grim day for Lolita and Sojana
VOR Navigator takes time out from busy VOR campaign
More TP52 please
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Game On! Rambler and Panthera Topple ICAP Leopard in Opening Foray
27-04-2008 22:26:07 Fort James, Antigua (April 27) – In challenging racing conditions beginning with light winds that built steadily throughout the day, a diverse fleet of 185 yachts set sail today in the opening salvos of the 41st edition of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week. The Division A racing fleet competed over a 34.5 nautical mile course on the first leg of the Round-the-Island Race from Falmouth Harbour to a new venue for Race Week at Fort James on the island’s northwest flank. Meanwhile, the Division B racer/cruisers and bareboat charter yachts negotiated a 23.1 nautical mile track in the inaugural Fort James Race.
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Sue Pelling's Dockside Stories Day 1
27-04-2008 22:22:36 Follow Sue around the Docksides, today's stories from Stanford Antigua Sailing Week include;
Born Again Sigma 38
Elvis Appreciation Society
Big cats leap into action
Clear Vision for Beluga Sehkraft team
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Guadeloupe to Antigua Race
26-04-2008 09:09:04 Light winds put damper on record chances at Guadeloupe to Antigua Race
Light winds yesterday morning for the start Antigua Sailing Week feeder race from Guadeloupe to Antigua put paid to any chance of breaking the outright course record. As the 18-strong fleet jostled for positions at the start at Deshaies Bay there was barely 8kts of winds and the visibility was poor.
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The Fleet Rolls In:
23-04-2008 20:30:31 Over 180 Entries Undergoing Final Preparations for
41st Stanford Antigua Sailing Week
Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua – Over 180 boats of nearly every size and description – ranging in size from the 100-foot canting-keel maxi ICAP Leopard to a dedicated one-design fleet of 29-foot International Dragons, with a little bit of everything in between – make up the provisional entry list for the 41st running of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week. The annual Caribbean festival of top-tier yacht racing and world-class “après sail” parties is now just days away, with competition set to begin on Sunday, April 27th and continuing through May 2nd.
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Gunboat Shoot-Out
17-04-2008 13:21:45 Set for Stanford Antigua Sailing Week !
The GUNBOAT Class is back! The unique class of ocean-roaming, globe-girdling cats converged at Stanford Antigua Sailing Week in 2007 and now the GUNBOAT Class is returning in 2008 to make Sailing Week a class tradition. The successes of ASW 2007 lead to the GUNBOAT owners wanting more. Their eagerness to race their all carbon world cruisers lead to the development of a GUNBOAT Class Caribbean Circuit and Antigua Sailing Week marks the final regatta in this Circuit. Now it has come down to five days of racing at Antigua, April 27th-May 3rd, that will determine the overall winner… the TOP GUN of the premier GUNBOAT Class Caribbean Circuit.
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10-04-2008 12:54:16 Flocking to the Island: An Impressive Fleet of Swans Fly South for
41st Running of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week
Falmouth Harbour, Antigua – They’re a class unto themselves, a singular brand of ocean-going yachts known for their distinctive looks, rugged construction, and remarkable versatility. Built in Finland to exacting standards, Nautor Swans are a familiar sight the world over at both top-flight regattas and distant, secluded anchorages. Almost by nature, most Swans seem equally at home on offshore adventures or close-quarters racing. Indeed, the Swan 65, Sayula II, won the very first Whitbread Round-the-World Race,in 1974. It was only the first in a very long string of impressive voyages launched by Finnish craftsmanship.
It’s fitting, then, that an impressive fleet of Swans is once again poised to impart a significant presence on Stanford Antigua Sailing Week, the 41st edition of which is set for April 27-May 3. With just over two weeks to go before the action commences in the blue seas of the Caribbean, a solid roster of 16 Swans are among the 122 entrants registered thus far.
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Clash of the Titans! ICAP Leopard vs. Rambler
24-03-2008 20:03:03 Rematch to Headline 41st Edition of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week
English Harbour, Antigua – In the highly competitive world of Grand Prix yacht racing, they are currently two of the best-sailed, highest profile offshore maxis in the game. In the last year alone, they have earned headlines around the world with top-notch performances in such classic events as the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Rolex Middle Sea Race, and the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race. In fact, their epic duel in last summer’s Fastnet was a match for the ages, as the two giants were separated by a mere three seconds as they rounded the famous landmark known as Fastnet Rock.
Now, Mike Slade’s 100-foot ICAP Leopard, and George David’s 90-foot Rambler, are preparing for a rematch in the fresh tradewinds of the Caribbean. For the two state-of-the-art race boats are among the early entrants for the upcoming 41st edition of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week, scheduled from April 27-May 3.
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ONDECK becomes bronze sponsor of Sailing Week
20-03-2008 08:12:47 Solent and Caribbean based charter events and training company, Ondeck, has announced bronze sponsorship of the prestigious Antigua Sailing Week. Ondeck is also proud to be The Official Preferred Yacht Charter Company for the regatta and will boast a fleet of 9 yachts.
Ondeck’s Antigua Sailing Week fleet will comprise Farr 65s, Farr 40s and Beneteau 40.7s. In addition, the Volvo 60, Pindar which is chartered under Ondeck’s management will be available.
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LIAT Unveils branded aircraft for Sailing Week
17-03-2008 18:32:14 LIAT is taking its support of the Stanford Antigua Sailing Week to a whole new level. in a novel approach to its silver sponsorship of the prestigious event, the airline has branded one of its aircraft with the eye-catching Sailing week design. The special aircraft was unveiled at an event at the LIAT Hangar on March 17th and will be prominently featured on the plane for the duration of what has become one of the Caribbean's pre-eminent sailing activities.
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Sailing Week moves Beach Bash to Fort James
10-02-2008 19:49:50 Another page will turn at this year’s Stanford Antigua Sailing Week. For many years now the first day of racing has ending with a beach bash on Dickenson Bay. The traditional beach party attracts thousands of people who join the sailors in the post race revelry from early afternoon until late into the night. However over recent years the logistics of hosting such an event on Dickenson Bay have become increasingly difficult, access to the beach and parking have been major challenges. Further changes in the surrounding environment since last year’s event have obliged the Sailing Week Organising Committee to make the difficult decision to move the Beach party to Fort James for this year’s event. The Committee no longer feels that it can properly organize the event and guarantee the safety of all the participants on the Dickenson Bay Beach.
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ROC Rocks
23-10-2007 16:14:48 It may all appear to be fun in the sun but the orchestration of a successful regatta in the Caribbean requires countless man-hours, many volunteers and successful partnerships with organizations that are as different as the host’s country’s Immigration and Customs departments to the street venders. It was many of these relationships that were discussed in Antigua by the twenty-seven participants of the fourth Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) Regatta Organizers Conference (ROC) this past weekend.
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Wrapping up 2007 and looking forward to Stanford Antigua Sailing Week 2008
10-05-2007 11:57:37 A Look Back and A Look Ahead: As Plans Begin for Next Year, Prizes are Awarded for 40th Edition of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week Falmouth Harbour, Antigua (May 10).
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Sails are Furled and Winners Crowned 40th Edition Winds up in spectacular fashion
05-05-2007 07:56:38 A Week to Remember! Sails are Furled and Winners Crowned as 40th Edition of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week Winds Up in Spectacular Fashion Falmouth Harbour, Antigua (May 4) – It ended as it began, with perfect sailing conditions, flawless race committee work, and excellent competition...
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Penultimate Day of Racing , Standford Antigua Sailing Week
03-05-2007 22:36:51 Back to Business: After Lay Day Celebrations, the Fleet Returns to Action on Penultimate Day of Racing at Stanford Antigua Sailing Week Jolly Harbour, Antigua (May 3) – After a day of rest, relaxation and partying – including the big birthday bash on Shirley Heights to celebrate the 40th edition of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week – the fleet returned to action today for a series of races off the island’s southern shores.
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02-05-2007 08:04:48 Day 3 Wrap-up: Big Winds, Big Seas and a Big Surprise Highlight an Epic, Eventful Day of Racing at Midpoint of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week
Falmouth Harbour, Antigua (May 1) – Under the bluest of blue skies and with the easterly trade winds established early and often, the 16 classes of yachts in Sanford Antigua Sailing Week enjoyed classic Caribbean conditions today during the third day of competition in the 40th running of this annual festival of sailboat racing. And with three days of racing now completed, the cream is rising to the crop as the leaders in many divisions are beginning to separate themselves from the field.
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30-04-2007 22:47:40 Stanford Antigua Sailing Week Day 2 Wrap-up: The Fleet Enjoys Testing, Challenging Conditions on Point-to-Point Racing to Falmouth Harbour
Falmouth Harbour, Antigua (April 30) – On a day that brought bright sunshine, passing rain squalls, radical wind shifts – and finally, the stiff easterly tradewinds that have made the isles of the Caribbean a sailor’s paradise for centuries – the 204 boats racing in the 40th running of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week had a taste of everything today on Day 2 of competition in this classic annual festival of yachting. And it was a day to remember for Volvo Ocean Race winner ABN AMRO ONE, winner of the Yachting World magazine Round-the-Island Trophy for fastest elapsed time in the pair of races around Antigua.
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29-04-2007 23:21:33 The Celebration Begins: Under Blue Skies and with Steady Breeze, the 40th Edition of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week Begins in Spectacular Fashion
Dickenson Bay, Antigua (April 29) – The crystal-clear waters off the Caribbean isle of Antigua were spotted with sails today as the 40th Birthday celebration of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week got underway in ideal conditions. After a passing morning squall brought a brief round of sprinkles, a highly competitive fleet of 204 boats racing in 16 divisions set forth under blue skies and steadily increasing easterly trade winds.
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Let the Games Begin! International Entry List Closes In On 200 Yachts With Stanford
26-04-2007 08:19:17 Falmouth Harbour, Antigua – At sea and ashore, the last-minute preparations are underway. Sails have been checked and rechecked. Crew lists have been finalized and travel arrangements secured. The race committee has a weather eye on the horizon, keeping abreast of the latest forecast with fingers crossed for plenty of breeze. Race organizers are tending to a vast list of administrative details and gearing up for the all-important shore-side parties. After all, there’s a very important birthday coming up which calls for a proper celebration.
Yes, the 40th Anniversary of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week, to many sailors the Crown Jewel of Caribbean regattas, is now just days away. Racing commences this Sunday, April 29, and the action continues through Friday, May 4. With final entries due today, April 25 – sailors can still sign up online at www.sailingweek.com – the 40th edition of Sailing Week has attracted a truly international fleet of nearly 200 yachts of all sizes and descriptions.
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A Rich, Colorful Legacy: Another Chapter in the History of Antigua Sailing Week
22-04-2007 21:19:38 Falmouth Harbour, Antigua – The names are legendary: Desmond Nicholson. Jolyon Byerly. Don Street. Tom Hill. Robin Tatersall. Peter Holmberg. Roy Disney. And let’s not forget the boats: Titan. Kialoa. Infinity. Sayonara. Morning Glory. Pyewacket. The sailors and vessels that have distinguished themselves over the four decades of world-class competition in the storied history of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week are a veritable Who’s Who in the sport of yacht racing. On the eve of the 40th Anniversary of the classic Caribbean festival of sail – this year’s event is right around the corner, with the action slated to begin on April 29 – it’s an appropriate time to look back on one of yachting’s best-known and most highly anticipated events.
It was just over 40 years ago that yacht broker Desmond Nicholson and Antiguan hotelier Howard Hulford came up with the idea of a spring regatta that would extend the tourist and sailing seasons for charterers and yachtsmen alike. They joined forces with associates Ed Sheerin and Peter Deeth, and in June of 1968, a small fleet of 17 boats – Lord Jim, Escapade, Royono, Veleda, Eilean, Thamilla, Enzian, Jibaro, Iolaire, and eight others – set out from English Harbour to set sail in a three-day event that marked the beginning of Antigua Sailing Week.
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Happy Birthday, Antigua! 40th Anniversary of Antigua Sailing Week Just Weeks Away
04-04-2007 14:23:07 Falmouth Harbour, Antigua – With a new sponsor onboard and with a fresh injection of energy and spirit into what was already one of yacht racing’s most anticipated annual events, the countdown to the 40th running of Antigua’s classic week of sailing and partying has begun. Preparations for the Stanford Antigua Sailing Week festivities, scheduled for April 29-May 4, are already in full swing.
At the top of the list of changes for the venerable regatta is a new title sponsor: Stanford International Bank Ltd. “They’re a tremendous asset and they’ve been very dynamic,” said Neil Forrester, the General Manager of the Antigua Hotels & Tourist Association, the long-time organizer of the week. “Everyone at Stanford is looking forward to the racing as much as the sailors are.”
That’s saying something, as the blue waters off Antigua have now been attracting an international gathering of seasoned sailors for decades. It all began 40 years ago, when island yachtsmen, merchants and hoteliers came up with the idea of a weeklong sailing festival that would extend the season for sailors and tourists alike. The first regatta was won by Dr. Cesar Berrios of Puerto Rico aboard his 39-foot sloop, Enzian. The rest, as they say, is history.
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Stanford Antigua Sailing Week joins US-IRC Gulfstream Series
28-10-2006 16:43:44 The IRC Gulf Stream Series 2007
Offshore and Inshore Sailboat Racing at its best
The Caribbean • Florida • Annapolis • Newport • Halifax
Put the IRC Gulf Stream Series events on your racing calendar for 2007. The 2nd Annual US-IRC Gulf Stream Series invites the best yachts racing in the world to compete again for individual and team trophies. Racing includes events on the east coast of America, Florida, mid-Atlantic, New England, Halifax and in the Caribbean in a series of prominent events organized by many of the finest racing clubs in the world.
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Stanford International Bank becomes title sponsor of Antigua Sailing Week
21-09-2006 17:04:56 ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA – 20 September 2006––Stanford International Bank is proud to be title sponsor of the 40th Antigua Sailing Week to be held 29th April through 4th May 2007. Stanford International Bank President Juan Rodriguez-Tolentino stated, “We have always looked forward to Antigua Sailing Week, and are delighted to expand our support as Title Sponsor for the 40th anniversary of this great event.”
Antigua Sailing Week 2007 Organizing Committee Chairman Neil Forrester said, “The 40th Anniversary year is a very special one for Antigua Sailing Week, which will see some major changes and innovations. We are delighted that Stanford International Bank has stepped up to become our title sponsor and share in this exciting year with us. Stanford International Bank has been part of Sailing Week for four years and I have personally enjoyed working with the bank for the last two. We are looking forward to a very successful partnership over the coming years.”
Started in 1967 with a handful of local yachts, today Antigua Sailing Week has grown to become one of the world’s premier regattas. More than 1,500 participants including Olympic, America’s Cup and around-the-world sailors pit their skills against one another in a sportsmanlike but fierce contest as over 200 boats compete in the blue Caribbean waters around Antigua. The event attracts at least 5,000 spectators and unquestionably some of the world’s largest, fastest and most impressive racing yachts. The courses for this 40th year will see some exciting changes as well as the creation of classes for multi-hulls and the large super-yachts.
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Sailing Week introduces major changes for 2007
29-08-2006 09:42:02 In honour of the 40th Antigua Sailing Week next year, there will be many changes to the Caribbean's premier Yachting event. Neil Forrester, Chairman of the Antigua Sailing Week Organising Committee, revealed the new plans last week at the evening held in honour of Karl James, bronze medallist at the recently held central American and Caribbean Games in Columbia.
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Antigua Sailing Week and Antigua Yacht Club honour Karl James
25-08-2006 12:16:02 The Antigua Yacht Club in association with Antigua Sailing Week 2007 held an evening in honour of Antigua’s sailing Olympian Karl James, who recently came back from the 20th Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) with a bronze medal in sailing.
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ROLEX ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK CULMINATES WITH LORD NELSON’S BALL
06-05-2006 23:55:42
 
(May 6, 2006) – While the majority of competitors at Rolex Antigua Sailing Week enjoyed a day of rest after a week’s worth of challenging Caribbean sailing, organizers transformed the Regatta Village in Nelson’s Dockyard into the site of the Lord Nelson’s Ball. The evening prize giving, where over 100 trophies were handed out, is the highlight of the traditional closing ceremony for the week. This year, winners in five classes also received Rolex Steel Submariner timepieces for overall victory. The event, now in its 39th year, hosted thousands of competitors representing 30 countries aboard 191 boats.
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VICTORIES CLAIMED AT ROLEX ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK
05-05-2006 20:27:53 (May 5, 2006) – “This is beyond belief,” said Roger Sturgeon of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. of his overall win at the 2006 Rolex Antigua Sailing Week. Moments after returning to the dock, Sturgeon learned that his TP52 Rosebud had corrected on time to finish first in class over Tom Hill’s Titan from Puerto Rico and Numbers, the Farr 60 owned by Dan Meyers of Boston, Mass. The win catapulted Rosebud to overall first in class, first in fleet and a coveted Rolex timepiece. “There is no way you can plan to do something like this. It’s the wind gods, karma, luck, and all the little things that you can’t plan on. You never know what will happen with the weather. That’s the fun part of sports, of sailing, not knowing what will come your way during a race.”
Light, shifty wind ranged from 4 knots at the start of both Divisions’ Ocean Race to 12 knots and pouring rain toward the middle and end of the race that took the entire fleet from a start/finish point outside Falmouth Harbour. Both classes were challenged by a range of conditions along the south coast of Antigua with Division A completing approximately 20 miles, while those in Division B sailed 19 miles in a similar course configuration.
Rosebud’s tactician Adrienne Cahalan explained that today’s race course played up to the boat’s strengths. “After Monday’s windward/leeward races were cancelled, the team was disappointed,” said Cahalan, who was the winning navigator in the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. “Compared to today, yesterday was tough. Today was good for us.”
This victory caps off a very successful run for Rosebud, having won many major races and regattas including the 2003 Rolex Big Boat Series, the 2004 Newport-Bermuda Race and March’s BVI Spring Regatta. Bittersweet is the knowledge that this is the last time Rosebud will compete as it has been sold and Sturgeon’s sights are on another boat and new regattas.
“When we won the Transpac, in 2005, the boat had an offer on it, and after winning we didn’t have the heart to sell it,” said Sturgeon. “We said we have to do the Caribbean. Last year we were here and missed a mark racing, then missed out on winning. We had to come back here one more time. The people here are so friendly and so happy. We love racing in the Caribbean.”
Victory in the Racing III class today went to High Life, Peter Roger’s Ker 11.3 from the U.K. The win also clinched an overall third place in the Racing Fleet behind Titan 12 in second place. Other class victories include Jamie Dobb’s Lost Horizon II in Racing IV.
In the Racer/Cruiser fleet, there was a battle of the French boats for today’s first place. After a close race, M Bartholomew’s Gilly B won the Racer/Cruiser I class with JP Dreau’s Grand Soleil 50 Lady First in second. That second place earned Lady First a third overall in fleet, with Clay Deutsch’s Chippewa in second place overall.
At press time, pending protests prevented determining Division B overall class and fleet winners. Today’s class winners in the Performance Cruiser Fleet include Carel Paauwe’s Swan 60, Marie Blue in Performance Cruiser I; Three Harkoms, James Hudleston’s Oceanis 445, in Performance Cruiser II; and local sailor Tony Maidment’s Beneteau 43, Budget Marine, in the Performance Cruiser III.
In the Cruising Fleet, today’s race wins were claimed by Derek Waiter’s London-based Bavaria 49, Spirit of the North in Cruising I and Acadia, the Frers 48 owned by Burt Keenan of the U.S., in Cruising II.
Race winners today in the Bareboat Fleet include D. Westby’s Best Friends of the U.K. in Bareboat II; KH+P Orient, the Oceanis 473 skippered by Alexander Pfeiffer of Germany, in Bareboat III; Switzerland’s Jan Soderberg aboard Chess, a Moorings 445, in Bareboat IV; France’s Ronan Delacou on Pearl Island, a Beneteau, in Bareboat V; and Mike Steele, the U.K. skipper of Sunsail Lady Cades, in Bareboat VI.
Today was the final day of racing for all classes except those in the Bareboats fleet. Tomorrow, the top three boats in each of the six bareboat classes will take part in a “sail off” to determine the Bareboat Championship. Following racing tomorrow the prize giving will take place at 3pm for Division B and 6pm for Division A, followed by the Lord Nelson’s Ball.
For more information about Rolex Antigua Sailing Week including results, photos and daily highlights video, visit the event’s official website www.sailingweek.com.
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Competitors Enjoy Scenic Caribbean Racing
04-05-2006 18:56:58 (May 4, 2006) – Spectacular race conditions greeted the well-rested fleet today at Rolex Antigua Sailing Week. Steady, 12 to 16 knot wind and sunshine created another picture-perfect day. Despite fairly light wind for Antigua – many competitors here talk of years past seeing wind in the high 20s – competitors reveled in the conditions and turned in solid performances. Both Divisions started and finished the South Coast Race just outside Falmouth Harbor and were treated to an approximately 20-mile race along the rocky shores with distant views of neighboring island sisters Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis.
“Everything comes down to tomorrow’s race,” said Spirit of the North’s Chris Hanson of the competition in Cruising I class. “Southern Dream (the Beneteau 50 owned by Jim Flanagan of the U.S.) won the first two races and we’ve won the second two, and at the moment we are leading the fleet.” Although many of the boats in this class were involved in some congestion at the start, Derek Waiter’s London-based Bavaria 49 found its way to a good overall race. “It was a fetch to the first mark, when it should have been a beat. Then the wind came round again by the time we got to the next mark and we had a nice spinnaker leg. During that leg, Ikra II (Hakan Norberg’s Preles 72 from Norway) caught up to us and just got by us at the finish.” Among Spirit of the North’s crew is skipper Owen Parker, noted captain of Morning Cloud, former British Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath’s entry in the 1979 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Typical of the enthusiastic competitors found at this year’s regatta, Abid Hussain from San Francisco couldn’t keep the huge smile off of his face moments after returning to the dock from racing in Bareboat IV class. “This regatta is fun because you have all of these different classes and different levels of ability on every boat,” said the young sailor who chartered the boat along with friends from the Bay Area and Greece. “We are in the middle of our class. There are the top boats and the bottom boats and we are one of five in the middle. We are all within a couple of minutes of each other and we’re always near each other in the standings. It is great sailing!”
With another win today, Tom Hill’s Titan 12 from Puerto Rico continues to lead Racing Big Boat I class over Rosebud, the TP52 owned by Roger Sturgeon of the U.S. Additionally, Titan is leading its fleet – a combination of its own class combined with Racing III – with Rosebud in second.
The winner of today’s race in Racing III was Crash Test Dummies, Tim Kempton’s Melges 32 from Trinidad. A battle among the two Swan 45s, the Italian DSK-Comifin, owned by Danilo Salsi and Murka 2, owned by Nikhail Mouratov of Russia, with noted professional sailor Chris Law onboard.
Tomorrow’s final race, the Ocean Race, will take place off the south end of the island and decide the fate for many classes.
For more information about Rolex Antigua Sailing Week including results, photos and daily highlights video, visit the event’s official website www.sailingweek.com.
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Halfway Mark Reached at Rolex Antigua Sailing Week
03-05-2006 08:32:50 English Harbour Antigua (May 2, 2006) - Rolex Antigua Sailing Week reached its halfway mark today with the completion of Race 3 for the 194 boats. Despite yesterday's cancelled race for Division A, spirits were high in anticipation of the race sending the fleet back to Falmouth Harbour. Tom Hill's Titan 12 took line honors once again finishing the 28-mile course in 2 hours, 50 minutes. In Division B, Oystercatcher XXV bested the fleet with a 2 hour, 58 minute time that earned Richard Matthew's Oyster 72 a second on corrected time and the top spot overall in class.
 
Vrijgezeilg, Michel Heidweiller’s J/109 Star Traill, Lady First, Justdoit3,
photo Daniel Forster/Rolex photo Daniel Forster/Rolex
Completing the 28-mile course back "around the island" to finish at Falmouth Harbour, Titan 12 beat Rosebud across the line. However, Roger Sturgeon's TP52 quick pace on the rest of its Racing Big Boat 1 competition keeps it in second overall, tied with Dan Meyers' Farr 60 Numbers. Pindar, Andrew Pindar's Open 60 with Nick 'Nobi' Black helming, posted an impressive time finishing a mere eight minutes behind Titan 12 to claim a third for the day and third in class.
Disagreement about a sailing instruction fractured Racing III class which resulted in a protest that may be re-opened later in the week. On provisional standings, DSK-Comifin, Danilo Salsi's Swan 45, is now tied on points with High Life, the Ker 11.3 owned by Peter Rogers of the U.K.
Bareboat II class continues to be dominated by Moby, the Bavaria 50 skippered by Patrick Festing-Smith. Division B was sent on a course up toward the northeastern-most point of the island, before looping down and heading back to a Falmouth Harbour finish. According to crew member Jim Miller, the entire team was proud of how they raced the 19-mile course. "This is the second day in a row that we took line honors," he said. "It was upwind to the finish, a beat all the way to the "curtains" mark on the south side of the island. There were boats in front of us, including Tengger (the Gibsea 51 skippered by Agostini Casadei of Italy). We had a great match race with them. We out-tacked them," he said noting that there was a protest regarding a mark location in the course. "We have a moral victory even if the protest doesn't go our way."
Local legend Hugh Bailey and his First 456 corrected to first in class and combined that finish with a fourth and a second to take first overall. "It was an exciting day," said the 63-year-old known for introducing the sport of sailing to countless young Antiguans. "We worked hard and we're celebrating. We managed to beat almost everyone on time, and crossed the line with Avocation. In addition to our great racing, we also had Government Minister Joanne Messiah onboard. It was her fist time sailing and she left very happy because we sail for Antigua and we did so well."
Local Hugh Bailey and his First 456 Hugo-B
photo Daniel Forster
In Performance Cruising III class, it's a battle of the locals as Pavlova II, the Swan 43 Richard Burbridge of the U.K. corrected on time to place first in class for the day, with Lawrie May's Blue Peter in second and Maniac, the Swan 411 owned by Paul Worthington of Guyana. May was pleased to add his J/30's second-place to yesterday's first and the 12th scored on the first day. "Today's conditions were good for us, there were big seas at the start and there wasn't much wind downwind, which was ok for us because we don't fly a spinnaker," he said of the 26-year-old boat he rescued from nearby Mango Swamp almost six years ago. Since then he has completely rebuilt the hull to turn it into one of the most competitive boats in the Caribbean.
May's main competition in the class comes from local Antigua boats including Pavlova, Streaker (Sandy Mair's Soverel 33), and Budget Marine (Tony Maidment's Dehler 34). "The locals know the waters here," he said noting that he has competed against almost every boat in the cruising fleet at one regatta or another over the years. "It's not just the weather that is hard to read here, but also the current. It can run at close to two knots like it did in today's race. And the more you sail here the more you know about where to go to get relief. Today we tried to get in close to shore for relief and it worked to our advantage." With tomorrow's lay day, the team will go back to work to catch-up and re-group for Thursday's South Coast race. "If we come first, second or third overall in our class I'll be happy," said May.
Tomorrow, the fleet will enjoy the traditional lay day, then it's back to racing on Thursday for the South Coast Race.
For more information about Rolex Antigua Sailing Week including results, photos and daily highlights video, visit the event's official website www.sailingweek.com.
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Mixed Weather Conditions Challenge the Fleet
01-05-2006 19:57:59 (May 1, 2006) – While most local Antiguans enjoyed the national holiday of May Day today, crews aboard the 194 boats competing at the Rolex Antigua Sailing Week worked hard for results. Battling tropical downpours and shifty wind – when it eventually showed up, some three hours after the scheduled 0900 daily start – the two divisions went separate ways. Division A was sent six miles offshore for windward/leeward racing that was eventually cancelled for lack of sufficient wind and Division B for a 21-mile point-to-point tour along the coast.
 
A long wait turned into a quick decision by the Race Committee who sent Division A boats back to Jolly Harbour, the waterfront resort hosting the entire fleet overnight with dockside hospitality. Tonight’s activities include the English Harbour Rum Captain’s Cocktail Party for owners and skippers, hosted by the Jolly Harbour Golf Club.
Today was all about Division B and the conditions kept the fleet, a mix of cruising racers, pure cruisers and bareboat charterers, entertained and challenged.
In the Performance Cruising II class, Avocation, the Swan 48 owned by Hank Schmitt is first among the entries, but for Northern Child, another lively Swan competitor, its crewmember David Lavelle of London explained that today was as good as it gets. “There was reasonable wind at the start and it stayed lovely for us for two hours,” explained the Londoner, who is one of 12 crewmembers who chartered the 2005 overall winner of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC). “The sea was fantastic, but everyone fell into a hole and suddenly 100 million worth of boats sat doing nothing. The wind then picked up to 22 knots, suddenly died – again! – but then returned in time for us to have some close duels with a few boats that are typically faster than us.” Northern Child sits in 6th overall.
Performance Cruiser I continues to be led by the same top three boats. Richard Matthew’s Oystercatcher XXV, won both of its races today followed by Sojana, Peter Harrison’s Farr 115 from the U.K. that finished the race 14 minutes ahead, before the handicap correction of time. Third place is held by Selene, the Swan 80 owned by Duke Steinemann of the U.S.
The Bareboats are reveling in the exceptional surroundings of Antigua. Chess, the Moorings 445 skippered by frequent Antigua Sailing Week competitor Jan Soderberg picked up two first-place finishes in as many days and leads Bareboat IV class ahead of Sea Breeze, the Cyclades 43 skippered by Herschel Ross of the U.S. and KH+P Coriander, the Gibsea 43 skippered by Fredy Geisser of Switzerland.
Tomorrow, racing for the fleet starts off Jolly Harbour, on the west side of the island, back to Falmouth Harbour and an evening in the Regatta Village at Nelson’s Dockyard. Racing continues through Friday, May 6.
For more information about Rolex Antigua Sailing Week including results, photos and daily highlights video, visit the event’s official website www.sailingweek.com.
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Round the Island Race Kicks Off Rolex Antigua Sailing Week
01-05-2006 10:59:43 (April 30, 2006) – Early this morning, hundreds of spectators gathered at Shirley Heights, the legendary mountaintop lookout over English Harbour, to witness the start of the 39th annual Rolex Antigua Sailing Week. Two divisions – one for racing and one for cruising – set off toward Dickenson Bay, with the faster boats racing around the island some 35.4 miles to the east and the cruisers going west on a 21.3 mile course. Defending overall champion Titan 12, Tom and Dottie Hill’s 75-foot maxi-racer from Puerto Rico took line honors overall but did not have enough lead time to secure first in class. Rosebud, Roger Sturgeon’s TP52 from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. holds that honor in Racing Big Boat 1 class.
 
Rosebud, Roger Sturgeon’s TP52 Division A start
Photo Daniel Forster/Rolex Photo Daniel Forster/Rolex
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Rolex Antigua Sailing Week Commences This Saturday
29-04-2006 05:21:27 St. John's, Antigua (April 28, 2006) - Final preparations for Rolex Antigua Sailing Week are being made in the host town of St. John's, the capital of the twin island nation of Antigua and Barbuda in the West Indies. At barely 100 sq. miles in size, the Caribbean giant will welcome over 1500 sailors from April 30 to May 6 for what many call the biggest highlight of the season.
 
"Coming to Antigua Sailing Week has been a focus of ours from the minute we bought Windsong just before Christmas," said Huw Evans, the Welsh owner of the Reichel Pugh 37 that recently claimed both monohull line honors and the overall South Atlantic trophy in January's Cape Town to Brazil race. "Many of us have raced in Antigua before, although usually on much bigger boats, and we know from experience that the combination of wind, sun, wild parties and a full week's racing against some of the best in the world makes this one of the greatest yachting events on Planet Earth."
The appeal that Antigua has for sailors around the world is as intoxicating for locals. "Antigua, for me, is a week of adrenaline-filled racing with the best there is in terms of skippers and crew along with the hottest racing machines," said local racer Bernard Evan Wong, owner of HUEY, the very distinctive dark blue Melges 24 with yellow and red wavy stripes. "One of my Racing career's peak experiences has to be winning the first race of the 2003 ASW and posting the best corrected time of the entire racing fleet. We planed for over an hour in 15-17 knots. Unforgettable!"
For the past 39 years a celebration of Caribbean camaraderie has been the draw for boats both big and small in a variety of classes aimed at pleasing serious racers and casual cruisers. The fleet will be split into two divisions under the supervision of Race Committee Chair Tom Paterson, who will also campaign his Persuasion, a Jeanneau 54. Each division is then divided into smaller fleets. In Division A, there are there are Big Boat Racing 1, 2 3 and 4, and Racer Cruiser (with spinnaker) while Division B is made up of Performance Cruiser, Cruiser and the popular Bareboat classes.
One of the boats to watch this week is returning multi-champion Titan 12, owned by Tom Hill of Puerto Rico. The latest in a series of boats owned by Hill, this Reichel Pugh 75 won the overall racing trophy - the Lord Nelson Trophy - at the 2005 Antigua Sailing Week, in addition to trophies for first in class, the around the island race, best Caribbean yacht and the coveted overall trophy for the Caribbean Big Boat Series.
In all 21 countries are represented with the most entries coming from the United Kingdom. Caribbean nations represented are Antigua And Barbuda, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad And Tobago, with additional representatives from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Racing kicks off on Saturday, April 29 and concludes on Friday, May 6 for all classes except the Bareboats, which have an additional race on Saturday, May 6. The week's activities culminate at the trophy ceremonies and the famed Lord Nelson's Ball on Saturday, May 6.
The list of entries is online at the regatta website www.sailingweek.com.
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28-04-2006 14:54:46 Pindar wins Guadeloupe-Antigua Race
Open 60 makes impressive Caribbean debut 
Pindar’s premier racing yacht ‘Pindar AlphaGraphics’ made an impressive Antigua debut yesterday claiming both line honours and overall first place in the prestigious Guadeloupe to Antigua race. The annual precursor to Antigua Sailing Week, the race saw a dozen boats cross the start line of Des Haies to sail the 44-miles across the Caribbean Sea to English Harbour.
Sailing in moderate south-easterly winds at an average of 14 knots, the Pindar Open 60 took 2 hours and 51 minutes to complete the race, almost an hour ahead of ‘Destination’ in second place and 33 minutes slower than the course record of 2 hours and 18 minutes set by ‘Mari-Cha IV’ in 2004.
The race also marked an exciting debut for 26-year old Nick ‘Nobi’ Black who made his first skipper appearance on board the Open 60. Speaking on the victory and of his eight-strong crew which included record breaking yachtsman Alex Thomson, he said “Today was a great result for us and exciting start to the week. Both the boat and crew are looking in really good shape - it was just a shame that the wind tailed off a bit towards the end which took away any record hopes.”
The victory reaffirms ‘Pindar AlphaGraphics’ as one of the fastest yachts on the IMOCA circuit. Leading British skipper Alex Thomson who, along with Brian Thompson, has been invited to join the crew throughout the regatta, commented: “It was an excellent day on the water today and a great experience for me to sail on another 60. The breeze was good and she looked really comfortable right from the start. Here’s hoping today’s victory will be a good omen for the rest of the week.”
Thursday also saw the arrival of Pindar’s second yacht, the Volvo 60 ‘Pindar’ which arrived into Falmouth Harbour during the morning having made the 5,400 voyage across the Atlantic from Gosport, UK. Speaking from the dock, skipper Loz Marriott commented “It was a pretty slow delivery but eventful all the same. The crew bonded really well and on occasions picked up some strong winds reaching a top speed of 26.5 knots and a 24 hour run of 367 miles.” He continued “Ideally we would have liked to have arrived a few days earlier to allow more time for preparation, but we’re very much looking forward to the week ahead and getting in some competitive sailing.”
Now celebrating its 39th edition, Rolex Antigua Sailing Week officially starts with the ‘Round the Island Race’ on Sunday 30th April.
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26-04-2006 22:31:26 Thompson and Thomson join Pindar for Antigua Race Week
Record-breaking British yachtsmen boost Open 60 entry
Pindar, the print and electronic media company and well known sponsor of international sailing campaigns, today announced leading British yachtsmen Brian Thompson and Alex Thomson will join the crew for the company’s debut entry in this year’s Rolex Antigua Race Week. Both will sail on the Open 60, ‘Pindar AlphaGraphics’ during the week-long race programme which begins on Sunday 30th April. Alex Thomson will also race in the Guadeloupe-Antigua Race on Thursday 27th April.
The duo, who bring a wealth of competitive offshore sailing experience will compete alongside the Pindar crew including 26-year old Nick ‘Nobi’ Black, who will be looking to make his mark in his first skipper appearance on board the Open 60. He said “Brian and Alex’s involvement has been a real boost to the crew and we’re very excited they are both able to join us for the regatta. For me in particular it will be a fantastic experience and a great opportunity to learn from two of the most talented and respected sailors in the world today.”
Brian Thompson, 44, has over 12 years professional racing experience and has clocked more multihull sailing miles than any other Briton today. His experience in both solo and crewed campaigns has earned him a total of 25 world records, most notably through his association with Steve Fossett, including the fastest non-stop around the world record, which he broke on board Cheyenne in 2004. He commented “I’m looking forward to a great week of competitive sailing. ‘Pindar AlphaGraphics’ is widely regarded as one of the fastest Open 60’s on the IMOCA circuit and I think we stand a great chance of doing well. I’m very grateful to Andrew Pindar and team for inviting me to join them for what promises to be a tremendous week.”
Alex Thomson, 31 year-old professional skipper, is another major talent in international yachting. The first skipper to commit to race ‘3 in 3’ - three round the world races in three years, he first made his mark in the 1999 Clipper Race when, at 25, he became the youngest skipper ever to win a round-the-world yacht race. Known for his high profile HUGO BOSS sponsorship and his love of speed, Alex holds the world 24 hour solo mono-hull speed sailing record having covered an amazing 468 nautical miles on Open 60 ‘AT Racing’ during the Defi Atlantique in 2003.
The dismasting of his boat mid southern ocean earlier this year has forced Alex to revisit his schedule and in particular, his preparation for the upcoming VELUX 5 OCEANS race in October. “Losing the mast has put the boat out of action for a few months but not me!” said a buoyant Thomson. “When the chance came up to race on ‘Pindar AlphaGraphics’ I jumped at it – she’s a great boat, really fast, and it will be an good opportunity to compare racing with a fixed mast, which my new mast will be.”
Pindar’s second entry, the ‘Pindar’ Volvo 60, skippered by Loz Marriott is due to arrive into Dickenson Bay on Thursday before racing commences on Sunday.
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12-04-2006 12:06:12 Pindar enter two yachts in Antigua Sailing Week
Open 60 arrives in Dickenson Bay. Pindar, the print and electronic media company and well known sponsor of international sailing campaigns has announced two entries in this year’s Rolex Antigua Sailing Week that will take place from Sunday April 30th - Saturday 6th May 2006.
One of the fastest yachts on the Open 60 circuit, ‘Pindar AlphaGraphics’ arrived into Dickenson Bay on Saturday, having left Gosport on 19th March. Making his Open 60 skipper debut, 26-year old Nick ‘Nobi’ Black, will lead the crew through the week-long programme of events. Depsite his youth, Nick, from Northern Ireland, has already worked on a number of high profile sailing campaigns including Ellen MacArthur’s victory on Kingfisher in the Route du Rhum and Nick Moloney’s Vendée Globe campaign, before joining Pindar as Boat Captain in 2004.
Racing with the ‘Pindar AlphaGraphics’ crew will be Chairman of the Pindar Group, Andrew Pindar, who will be competing in his first ever regatta series, having previously only ever taken part in one-off events. Speaking from the company’s head office in Scarborough, Andrew Pindar commented “This is the first time Pindar has competed in Antigua Sailing Week which is widely regarded as one of the highlights on the sailing calendar. The field of world class entries offers a tremendous opportunity for us to race the Open 60, whilst also offering guests unique hospitality in the spectacular waters of the Caribbean. How many other sports offer amateurs of mixed abilities the thrill of being able to compete alongside the very best in the world? We’re looking forward to what promises to be a truly memorable week.”
Pindar’s Volvo 60 left Gosport last Tuesday and is due to arrive in Antigua in late April. Skipper, Loz Marriott, who led Pindar’s entry in the 2004-5 Global Challenge will be joined, amongst others, by Debra Searle, the former solo Atlantic rower who has recently turned her hand to sailing.
Debra commented “The Caribbean will always hold a special place in my heart ever since I arrived in Barbados at the end of my Atlantic challenge. I’ll never forget the amazing welcome I received – everyone was so friendly. I’m really exited about joining the Pindar crew for some competitive racing.”
For more information on The Pindar Group please visit: http://www.pindar.com/
Photo. Jon Nash
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Regatta Village to Debut in dockyard
04-04-2006 14:40:57 ROLEX ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK SET FOR END OF APRIL
From www.regattanews.com
April 4, 2006
Regatta Village to Debut in Dockyards
With less than one month until the start of one of the Caribbean's largest sailing regatta, the entries for the Rolex Antigua Sailing Week are streaming into race headquarters. Due for its 39th running from Sunday, April 30, through Saturday, May 6, the international event spans five racing days, with an additional Bareboat Championship Race on a sixth day, and 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 around-the-world sailors. Action takes place on the more sheltered waters of the Caribbean as well as in the large “rollers” of the Atlantic Ocean. For certain classes, the racing agenda includes complete circumnavigation of the island, with scenic layovers.
“Compared to this time last year, we have more competitors registered,” said Neil Forrester, regatta chairman and general manager of the Antigua Hotel and Tourist Association. “Overall, there is a nice balance among Caribbean entries and those coming from the U.S., the U.K., Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Spain and France. Each year we welcome back veteran sailors and receive warmly those who have not sailed here before.”
In addition to the regatta's new title sponsor, Rolex, another innovation for this year is the Regatta Village, which will be situated in the historic Nelson's Dockyard in English Harbour. All of the week's activities such as trophy ceremonies and the famed Lord Nelson's Ball, which annually attracts over 750 people, will take place in one location.
From big Swans to mid-sized charter boats, enjoying the camaraderie on the water and off is a goal of the week, and what draws racers to the Caribbean every year.
“It's the regatta we really gear up for,” said Clay Deutch (Newport, R.I., USA), owner of the Swan 68 Chippewa, and winner of the 2004 Swan Caribbean Challenge Cup. “We have done it since 2001, except we missed last year. We're full on this year with our core group of crew. We like the length of the regatta, getting in a full week of racing. In terms of variety, you can't beat the schedule. It's the best regatta for us because it tends to draw the best big boat competition.”
Chippewa will compete in the Big Boat Racing class against veterans such as (Stamford, Conn., USA) newcomer Numbers, the Farr 60 owned by Dan Myers (Boston, Mass., USA) that has won its class at the Acura Key West Race Week and New York Yacht Club Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex, and Frank Savage's Swan 56 Lolita, 2005's Antigua Sailing Week overall regatta winner.
The two largest entries to date are two from the U.K., Nephele the Frers 112 owned by William Ainscough and Sojana, Peter Harrison's Farr 115, which according to its website, “ was the fastest yacht at last year's Antigua mega-yacht challenge, and crossed the Atlantic in a speedy 9 days and 10hours (not racing). Sojana also competed in the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) last winter, and was the fastest yacht to finish under sail out of 220 entries. In 2005 Sojana competed in the esteemed Rolex Transatlantic Challenge and was pronounced 'overall winner' of the Antigua Megayacht Challenge.
Other notable entries in the Big Boat Racer/Cruiser Class are Starr Trail, Robert Mulderig's Farr 72 from Bermuda and Manu, the Swan 70 owned by Holger Boehres from the Cayman Islands.
To date, 115 entries have been logged at the regatta office with over 200 total entrants expected.
Regatta Contact: Jan Santos, P.O. Box W 2005, St. John's, Antigua, W.I., Tel: 268-462-8872 Fax: 268-462-8873, santossailingweek@candw.ag or visit www.sailingweek.com.
North American and Caribbean media contact:
Dana Paxton
Media Pro Int'l
tel. +1 401-849-0220
dana@mediapronewport.com
International media contact:
Key Partners (KPMS)
Tel. +41 32 7242829
Mob. +41 79 3591547
info@regattanews.com
http://www.regattanews.com/
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30-03-2006 14:05:15 A Good time for all in Antigua
Now that Rolex have added Antigua Sailing Week to their sponsorship portfolio of international sailing events competitors should benefit from the company's extensive experience of running top class, world regattas.
The event, to be known as Rolex Antigua Sailing Week, is taking place from Sunday 30 April to Saturday 6 May and, going by the current number of entries listed on www.sailingweek.com website, there'll be no shortage of competition. There will also be a total of six Rolex timepieces up for grabs for the overall class winners.
Although there have been a few tweaks to the race schedule this year including the format of the Yachting World Round the Island trophy see previous news story here, the organisers and Rolex are keen to retain the unique qualities of the event.
Chatting about Rolex's involvement with the regatta Neil Forrester, chairman of Antigua Sailing Week's organising committee, said: "Rolex has been doing a fantastic job of promoting Sailing Week in areas of the world that we could only dream of before including the Big Boat series in San Francisco and the Sydney-Hobart. In time we hope that this will help us grow the entry list in both quantity and quality of boats."
According to Forrester, competitors who've been fortunate enough to experience Sailing Week before will notice a huge change in the Nelson's Dockyard area which will now be known as the 'event village'. Forrester continued: "This will take in the area used for the ball last year. Our committee desk will be in this village area with the Rolex Centre, tents for other sponsors, clothing sales, bars for Heineken and English Harbour Rum and a stage for entertainment. This should create an event atmosphere that we have not had in the past."
Sue Pelling/Yachting World www.ybw.com, 27 March 2006
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New format for YW Antigua Trophy
22-02-2006 17:17:00 The Yachting World-sponsored Round the Island Race for Division A yachts in Rolex Antigua Sailing Week will be run in a slightly different format this year, divided into two legs.
After last year's light winds on the scheduled race day, and concern that the race would not be completed, the organisers have decided to adjust the format to ensure at least part of the race is completed should the wind fail to materialise sufficiently.
The first leg is on Day 1 starting off English Harbour. The fleet will be sent in an easterly direction round the top of the island to Dickenson Bay, and join Division B who will have completed the Dickenson Bay Race in time for the hugely popular Dickenson Bay Beach Bash.
The second leg of the Yachting World Round the Island Race, which was presented for the first time last year, is scheduled for Day 3, starting off St John's to the west and finishing back at English Harbour. The winner with the fastest elapsed time (combining both legs) will be presented with the spectacular Yachting World solid silver punch bowl and a solid silver keeper plate as a keepsake.
Sue Pelling/Yachting World, 21 February 2006 www.ybw.com
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Rolex Becomes Title Sponsor Of Antigua Sailing Week
13-09-2005 12:45:21 
The Antigua Hotel and Tourist Association (AHTA) is delighted to announce that Rolex will be the title sponsor of its annual Antigua Sailing Week. The Rolex Antigua Sailing Week, due for its 39th running from Sunday, April 30, through Saturday, May 6, 2006, is an exciting addition to the Rolex worldwide portfolio of yachting events, which includes another Caribbean favorite, the International Rolex Regatta, which Rolex has sponsored for 33 years.
“For decades, Rolex has had a prominent profile in the sailing world among racing enthusiasts,” said Neil Forrester, General Manager of AHTA and Chairman for Rolex Antigua Sailing Week, “and we are excited about the opportunities that this partnership will allow us. As the 'Grandaddy' of regattas in the Caribbean, we offer some of the best sailing conditions in the world at one of the most beautiful venues. Rolex brings its well known touch of excellence to the mix.”
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38th Antigua Sailing Week Wrap Up Report
24-05-2005 20:28:53  The 38th annual Antigua Sailing Week held April 24 to 30, saw 183 boats
representing 27 different countries competing in the granddaddy of them
all. Although winds up to 20 knots were seen some race days, light
winds dogged the event with Division A racing cancelled on Tuesday.
Division A completed four races and Division B, five.
While the weather was unusual, spirits were high, Penny Bloxham of Team
Club Colonna, a Sun Odyssey 451 in Bareboat IV, said: "We had a
fantastic time - raced hard, partied hard, it's just a pity the wind
wasn't hard! The organisation was slick and superb - you should be
proud. We're all very sad it's over for another year."
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Hissar Best Swan In Sailing Week
16-05-2005 12:03:20 
On the final day of Antigua Sailing Week, Edgar Cato with Swan 56
Hissar took home the coveted Asprey trophy winning the NetJets Swan
Caribbean Challenge after a demanding week of racing. The 38th
Antigua Sailing Week marked the first Swan Caribbean Challenge
with NetJets as title sponsor of the Swan Challenge Series.
Across the classes at Antigua Sailing Week, there were 22 Swans in the
running for the NetJets Swan Caribbean Challenge Trophy. Winner Edgar
Cato chartered Swan 56 Lolita for the week and raced her under the new
guise of Hissar. Frank Savage, Lolita's owner, had taken home the Swan
Challenge Series trophy at the previous two Antigua Sailing Weeks,
which only goes to confirm the strength and stamina of this classic
Swan 56 when coupled with two impressive crews.
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Ora Wins Bareboat Championship Race
30-04-2005 15:13:35 Today’s third annual Bareboat Championship Race (BCR) for the top three
in each of the six bareboat classes saw Hans Petersohn and his crew
onboard the Sun Fast 37 Ora emerge victorious in the three-hour
race. With Seabiscuit having already won Bareboat V and the overall Bareboat fleet prize,
Petersohn managed to block Seabiscuit’s hat trick with a BCR victory
also. Ora was second to Seabiscuit in class.
Thirteen yachts made it to the start line in a light, 8-knot
breeze. Last year’s winner, Phil Otis sailing BVI Yacht
Charters/HIHO, and Jasmin did not finish.
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Light Wind Day Concludes Antigua Sailing Week
29-04-2005 21:43:44  The
light winds that had been threatening to return to Antigua Sailing week
did so today for the last day of racing. Both divisions raced off the
south coast of Antigua but Division A, on the eastern side of the
island with a course that took them further out to sea, had a little
more wind. By the afternoon, fifty-foot bareboats were traveling
downwind at 2.5 knots. Although light, the wind did hold to give a
final tally of four races for Division A and five for Division B.
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Titan Sets Record In Sailing Week's Inaugural Round Island Race
28-04-2005 21:33:08  Racing
returned today after the Layday high jinks yesterday in the 38th annual
Antigua Sailing Week and competitors were greeted by 14 knots on the
start line. Tom Hill's R/P 75 from Puerto Rico, Titan XII, set a record
of 5 hours, 4 minutes and 45 seconds in the inaugural Round Island Race
for the Yachting World Trophy which was postponed from Tuesday. Twelve
boats in Racing Big Boat II and Racing III undertook the 44-mile
challenge.
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Wind Returns For The Southbound Day Three Of 38th Antigua Sailing Week
26-04-2005 21:32:13  After
the challenging and windless conditions of yesterday, the wind returned
for the third day of racing today. Although not as strong as some
Sailing Week days, the 12-20 knots that greeted the Division A racing
boats was a pleasant surprise as they raced on the South Coast Race
between Curtain Bluff and Shirley Heights. The Division B
Falmouth Harbour Race started with lighter winds off Jolly
Harbour. The course started with a short beat, which was followed
by some deep downwind sailing, a reach and then a good solid beat in a
freshening breeze with twenty-knot gusts to the finish off Falmouth
Harbour.
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Second Day Of Sailing Week Starts And Finishes Windless
25-04-2005 18:44:22  The
weathermen struck for the second day of racing in Antigua Sailing Week
2005. Unseasonably light wind postponed the races for Division A and B
fleets for an hour waiting and while it eventually filled in enough to
start races, it never really held.
On the Division A course - further out to sea than Division B - the
wind was in the region of 8 knots and 220 degrees. By the time the
start sequence had completed the wind had dropped to four knots. When
the racing was finally abandoned for the day, the wind was down to two
knots and had shifted to 340 degrees – it reached all other directions
in between. Titan XII was 300 yards from the finish when the first race
was abandoned due to the wind shifts. Yachts heading to, and from, the
leeward mark with their spinnakers up was the clincher for the race
committee.
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Good Start To First Day Of 38th Sailing Week
24-04-2005 21:43:17  As
the fleet in the 38th annual Antigua Sailing Week made its way to
Dickenson Bay today, the bad weather that sliced through the fleet as
they prepared for the regatta yesterday, held off. A dark sky welcomed
participants but 14 knots of wind, with some 18-20 knot gusts, drove
the fleet North and sunshine was eventually the staple for most of the
day.
The fleet started off English Harbour and after a short beat East,
headed West and then North with those that could, carrying spinnakers
for much of the way. Division B boats were given a little dog leg into
Curtain Bluff and Division A was sent further out to sea. At the end of
the day no protests were heard.
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38th Antigua Sailing Week Kicks Off Tomorrow
23-04-2005 21:20:24  When
registration for the 38th annual Antigua Sailing Week closed today 183
boats representing 27 different countries had registered to race in the
granddaddy of them all. Racing kicks off tomorrow with the Dickenson
Bay Race from English Harbour and will be tough for the next couple of
days. Light winds and big seas deteriorated into rainsqualls later in
the afternoon. Durley Dene, a Bavaria 36 in Bareboat VI, saw 40 knots
and whiteout conditions on its trip from Jolly Harbour to Falmouth
Harbour this afternoon; forecasts for this kind of weather continue
until Tuesday.
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Sedate Guadeloupe to Antigua Race
22-04-2005 16:10:41 In the Guadeloupe to Antigua Race held yesterday (Thursday, April 21),
light winds meant that the record of two hours 18 minutes and 42
seconds set last year by Mari-Cha IV was never in any peril. Fourteen
boats crossed the startline off Des Haies in Guadeloupe and Dixon 65,
Liara, earned line honours crossing the finish line off English
Harbour, five hours, 13 minutes and 30 seconds later. But it was Top
50, a BOC Open 50, skippered by Guadeloupe's Luc Coquelin, that won the
overall prize in the 44-mile race. Swan 65 King's Legend was second and
Santa Cruz 70 Hotel California was third.
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Virgin Atlantic Beach Bash, New Trophy, Fifteen Minutes OF Fame
17-04-2005 20:56:32 With the 38th annual Antigua Sailing Week 10 days away (April 24-30)
and 165 boats registered to date, organisers have finalized details of
the Virgin Atlantic Beach Bash, Yachting World has introduced a new
trophy for the new Round Island Race and Sportshows TV returns to give
fifteen minutes of fame to participants.
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Maximus Enters 2005 Antigua Sailing Week
12-04-2005 13:22:28 English Harbour, Antigua – March 7, 2005 – Maximus, the new 100-foot
supermaxi from New Zealand officially entered Antigua Sailing Week 2005
(April 24 to 30) on February 28 and will be shipping from New Zealand
to Antigua on March 18. With Maximus’ attendance, the first Round
Island Race record looks set to be a fast one to beat.
“Maximus
is being shipped to Antigua and is expected to arrive in the harbour on
the 22nd of April so the schedule is very tight,” said Charles St Clair
Brown one of the founders of EBS Yachting, the company behind the
yacht’s development. “As long as we have good cooperation and
assistance from the authorities and can get the rig stepped in time we
should be racing by the 24th.
“Maximus is performing to the owners’ expectations. We have an
excellent New Zealand crew and are looking forward to the event.”
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Canadian Hockey In The Caribbean
06-04-2005 13:53:54 March 14, 2005 - With the official cancellation of hockey in Canada,
fans of the sport may want to head down to Antigua Sailing Week at the
end of April (April 24 to 30). Hockey Canadian-style will be the name
of the game on the official rest day, LayDay. Ron MacLean, host of
Hockey Night in Canada, will be picking up a hockey stick as he takes a
short break from competing on his yacht, Nanuk of the North, which won
its class last year.
In addition to
playing, MacLean is expected to provide a little off the cuff
commentary adding Antigua Sailing Week to his broadcast resume which
has expanded over the years to include hosting CBC's coverage of the
Olympic and Commonwealth Games, Hockey Day In Canada, the Calgary
Stampede and the Export A Skins Golf game.
"I
cannot wait to race the waters once navigated by Horatio Nelson. My
longtime partner on Hockey Night in Canada Don Cherry, is very much
inspired by the teachings of Lord Nelson," said MacLean.
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