It’s been some 40 years since Chuck Bayer sailed the stunning waters around Antigua when he was sailing on an Andrews 90-footer La Concorde. Since then, he’s been racking up championship titles around North America; he’s a 3-time North American Beneteau 36.7 champion and 27-time NOOD Regatta champion. This year he’s bringing his helming skills to Antigua to participate in the first-ever Antigua Sailing Week event April 22-26. He’ll be the skipper and PIC – person in charge – of a team of 21 sailors ranging from 22 to 81-years-old coming from Detroit, Michigan to race Sao Jorge, a Harmony 52 which the group have chartered.
“Most of my crew are other racing skippers and at least 10 of my crew are boat owners themselves,” Bayer explained. “We will be about 50/50 women and men and have several world champions in several classes joining the boat. We are very serious racers sailing under the Bayview Yacht Club burgee. Most of the 21 will race at least one or two days as we rotate days off to enjoy the island, snorkeling, bars and restaurants around the island.”
Bayer sails primarily in North America – on the Great Lakes, the East Coast and Florida plus he’s done just a little racing in the Caribbean. He races Flying Scotts regularly in Florida but 40-foot sprint boats are Bayer’s optimal race boat. He’s sailed and raced it all in just the last 12 months including J-70s, J-111s; J120s, a C&C 41, a S&S 41, a Farr 45 turbo, an Italia 9.89 ( in which the team he raced won the Chicago Mackinac Race), a Lagoon 50 and a SunSail 42 ft catamaran. He’s excited to add a Harmony 52 to the list although he doesn’t know a lot about the boat – yet!
“We know very little about the boat other than I have her rating certificate and have sent it to my sailmaker to discuss it’s sail plan,” Bayer smiled. “At least 30% of the crew is racing the Heineken Regatta with me a few weeks earlier in Sint Maarten before we cruise to St. Barts, Anguilla and St. Kitts, so hopefully we’ll get to check her out there.”
Chuck Bayer has assembled a large & experienced group of racers from Detroit’s Bayview Yacht Club
It’s a good thing that Sao Jorge’s certificate allows for up to 3300 pounds of crew weight – depending on the wind conditions Bayer’s team will race with as many crew as possible. He’s hopeful that the team can become familiar with the boat and put some tacks and jibes on April 21 and 22nd, prior to the event start.
“At the least it would be great to put up all the sails, put the running rigging through her paces, practice a few sets, jibes and takedowns,” Bayer commented.
A passion for sailing and the camaraderie that comes from a shared competitive racing spirit, and Antigua’s warm weather and beautiful scenery were elements all too enticing to ignore, noted Bayer.
“It’s a great time to leave Detroit where it is exceedingly cold plus we’re curious to try the new Antigua Sailing Week format – we first considered the other regatta but thought that the first time with a group this size ASW with its point-to-point sailing offers more of a laid-back race that focuses on tactics and boat speed and not as much crew work/sail handling as buoy racing,” he said. “We intend to race the daily optional windward leewards but we’re on vacation and the ASW format is not so intense.”
Several of his crew are also professional vacation planners who have helped Bayer with all the logistics which, understandably, have been daunting.
“We divide up the tasks; one group is responsible for groceries and beverages, another plans dinner reservations,” Bayer explained. “Crew uniforms have been a logistical issue, getting them ordered in the right sizes, having them embroidered with the team’s name then shipped.”
The teams base camp overlooking Falmouth Harbour
Antigua’s Bluff House will be the crew headquarters/base camp for the week, and with the recent addition of the Pink House at the same compound, there is plenty of space for husbands, wives, girlfriends and boyfriends who have decided to join and enjoy the fun – no FOMO (fear of missing out) for this crowd, Bayer laughed.
“The charter company, Sail Racing Academy, has been wonderful, entering the yacht and arranging logistical help, and we are renting 2 full size vans to transport the crew to various destinations such as The Hut at Little Jumby for an after-race regatta party,” Bayer noted. “From there we will go off to enjoy the nightlife before returning to our accommodations. It should be a great time!