NEWS

Then start making your plans to take part for 2011 from 24th – 29th April 2011.read more...
 

With America’s Cup legend Peter Holmberg on the helm, and a crew made up of highly respected professionals including Frazer Brown, Marc Fitzgerald, Jac Vincent, and guest star for the day, British record breaking yachtsman Brian Thompson, the stage was set for a good performance in this, the final part of the three-act Antigua Ocean Series.

Ondeck, the preferred yacht charterer for Sailing week and the Official merchandiser, is opening up last minute racing availability onboard it’s Farr 65 Sailing Yachts.  The Company is offering both day and week long rates and has up to 4 spaces available per day on the round-the-world racing yacht.  The core crew consists of 11 like-minded individuals and 3 Ondeck professionals and the yacht will be competing in racing division.  The week is shaping up to be as exhilarating as ever and the racing is set to thrill and excite all those taking part.  The places are open to novices and seasoned sailors alike and all instruction will be given whilst on board.  For a chance to race the most prestigious event in the Caribbean circuit, please call Liz on +1 268 720 3660.

Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua – With a ground-breaking format and schedule, a brand-new race-management team, and a strong, diverse fleet ranging from the one-design Dragons to state-of-the-art Grand Prix racers, the 42^nd consecutive edition of Antigua Sailing Week is shaping up as yet another memorable series. And with the competition scheduled to begin just days from now, on Saturday, April 25^th, the event’s organizers are now bracing for the influx of old friends and fresh faces to the windswept Antiguan waters.

The format and the race committee may be new—as are many of the entrants making their debut at Antigua Sailing Week—but there are also many familiar boats and sailors descending on the dramatic and picturesque Caribbean isle. Among them are Mike Slade’s remarkable 100-foot canting-keel maxi, ICAP Leopard; the Grand Soleil 50, Mad IV; and the Rogers 46, Yeoman XXXII. The TP 52, Rio and the renamed Ireland-flagged Cookson 50, Lee Overlay Partners which raced in Antigua two years ago as Chieftain, will test all of them.

Tenacious Tony Bullimore’s 102-foot Catamaran Setting Sail For 2009 Antigua Sailing Week

Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua – Legendary British yachtsman Tony Bullimore’s long list of offshore adventures and accomplishments is unparalleled. In a career that’s spanned four decades and over 400,000 competitive nautical miles, Bullimore has recorded victories in the Round Britain Race, the Round Europe Race, a pair of Transatlantic contests, and the Rolex Fastnet and Middle Sea Races. Bullimore earned worldwide notice and acclaim after surviving five long days following a capsize in the Southern Ocean in the 1996 Vendee Globe solo race around the planet, and later tackled those same stormy seas while registering a second in the Oryx Quest round-the-world race.

Now, Tony Bullimore is setting sail aboard his well-tested, 102-foot catamaran in yet another world-class yachting event: the 2009 edition of Antigua Sailing Week.

Thursday 9^th April 2009 PredictWind are pleased to announce an ongoing partnership with the organizers of the Antigua Sailing Week. For the 2009 and 2010 sailing weeks, all competitors will have access to PredictWind’s high resolution Wind Forecast for the duration of the regatta.

Less than a year after its release the weather forecast system PredictWind is now widely used by amateur and professional sailors all over the world. The feedback from users is very encouraging: “I have now used PredictWind in all the venues of the TP 52 Medcup with Quantum Racing”, says navigator Ian Moore. “PredictWind has become an integral part of our daily preparation, and weekly planning. I highly recommend it.”  Peter Isler states “This summer I’ve been trying out PredictWind.com’s models in races across Europe and the US and although initially skeptical, I have been very impressed, and now count a trip to the predictwind.com web site as a regular part of my pre-race prep… no matter whether I’m buoy racing in San Francisco Bay or sailing in an offshore race across the Baltic Sea”.

PredictWind is a forecast system that provides a worldwide detailed weather forecast down to an incredible 1km resolution. Its founder, Jon Bilger, is a keen yachtsman who participated as a navigator in the America’s Cup in 1995, and proceeded to become head of Alinghi’s weather team. He explains: "At Alinghi, we had access to some of the best weather modeling technology available. As a sailor, I thought that it would be great if the same technology would be available to the public for marine forecasting. PredictWind is a dream come true for me, and I am fortunate to be involved with a team of professionals who are leaders in their field."

This model is proven technology. It has been successfully used by the America's Cup Defender, Team Alinghi, as Brad Butterworth confirms: "Alinghi has used the same weather modeling technology as PredictWind offers, and it played an important role in winning the 2003/2007 America's Cup in both Auckland and Valencia. We have used it in regattas all around the world and have found the technology 'second to none'. I would highly recommend the PredictWind service to anyone wanting an accurate and reliable wind forecast."

Transpac 52 Rio Headlines Early Entrants for 42nd Edition of Antigua Sailing Week

Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua (March 26) – The 42^nd running of Antigua Sailing Week is drawing near, and changes are afoot. A new race-management team, UK-based GWM Racing Ltd., has been installed, and a new format will add spice to the competition.

With former title sponsor, Stanford International Bank, now in receivership, another change is in the offing. But as event chairman, Neil Forrester, says, the regatta remains a going, vital concern, and the 2009 edition is shaping up as another unforgettable contest.

“The racing will in no way be compromised and we’re working hard to ensure that Antigua Sailing Week will be as enjoyable and as memorable as years gone by,” said Forrester, noting that Corum Watches have stepped in as a Gold Level sponsor, a partnership that will help offset costs and expenses. “We may be missing some of the frills this year but we’ll still be providing the thrills!”

The new format will help bolster those thrills. The 2009 running of Antigua Sailing Week will sail begin a day earlier for the racing and cruising fleets, on Saturday April 25^th, forgoing the traditional Sunday start. With that, six full days of competition for the racing fleets will culminate on Thursday, April 30^th.  The Bareboat fleet will start their regatta on Sunday and finish on Friday. Both divisions will race 6 days rather than the previous 5 days.

With Stanford International Bank title sponsors of Antigua Sailing Week for the last two years no in receivership, the bank will now longer be a sponsor of this year’s event. As such the event will be dropping the Stanford name with immediate effect and will revert to simply Antigua Sailing Week.

Once more we would like to reassure everyone that the event will be going ahead as planned. The racing will not be compromised in any way and we will ensure that the 2009 edition of this great event will be as enjoyable and as memorable as the years gone by.

Following the news that our title sponsor has been charged in the USA by the SEC we would like to reassure all the participants and all those planning to attend this year’s Antigua Sailing Week that the regatta will be going ahead as planned.

The organizing committee will ensure that the racing on the water is not compromised in any way by this turn of events. This is a pivotal year for ASW as we are introducing a new format and also the Antigua mini Ocean Series, so this year sees the introduction of the new vision for the event for the coming years. We will no doubt be financially challenged if the balance of the sponsorship does not materialize but we can adjust our budgets accordingly. However on a positive side we do have a new Gold Sponsor in the form of Corum Watches who have become our official timekeeper and this will help offset any shortfall.

We will strive in every way to maintain the high standards of racing that we have been known for. We have contracted this year with GWM Race management  who will be coming over to manage the on-water side of the regatta and they will still be coming. Fortunately over the years Sailing Week has built up it's own resources and is able to continue in adverse circumstances such as these.

We may be missing some of the frills this year but we will still be providing the thrills !!

We look forward to seeing you in April

If you are visiting the Island of Antigua during the infamous Antigua Sailing Week, Ondeck is offering a unique opportunity to really get involved in part of the action.  As well as having 6 yachts entered in the racing already, Ondeck are opening up individual daily places on the spectacular ocean-racing Farr 65’s.  With 3 professional crew and other like minded individuals, the yachts will participate fully in the racing action.  With up to 4 matched 65ft yachts on the course, the racing promises to be adrenaline-filled and very competitive. 

Ondeck, the preferred yacht charterer for Antigua Sailing Week 2009, and now the merchandise suppliers and Silver Sponsors will have a large presence at this year’s event.  The Ondeck base in Antigua specializes in taking novices out racing and with this new offering intend to open up the exclusive sport of yacht racing to the wider public.  You do not need any sailing experience to take part in the racing and can participate in as many days as you would like. Please see http://www.ondeck.co.uk/ for more details.

Stanford Antigua Sailing Week is pleased to announce the appointment of GWM Racing Ltd to advise and assist in all aspects of race management for the 42nd Stanford Antigua Sailing Week, to be held from April 25 to May 1 2009.  The appointment is part of the charges being introduced for the 2009 edition of the Stanford Antigua Sailing Week. Whilst aiming to retain all the traditional fun elements of this classic Caribbean regatta the organizing committee is seeking to introduce a more professional style of race management.  In making the announcement, Neil Forrester, Chairman of the 42nd Stanford Antigua Sailing Week, said "GWM Racing bring a wealth of experience to help us ensure that Stanford Antigua Sailing Week continues to be the most prestigious regatta in the Caribbean".
  
GWM Racing Limited is a UK based company founded in 2007 and owned by Peter Wykeham-Martin and John Grandy, assisted by Emma Bourne. The company specializes in all aspects of the planning and execution of the on the water side of large yacht regattas, and was in charge for the Dubois Cup in Palma in 2007 and the Superyacht Cup also in Palma in 2008. In addition the company is under contract to Porto Montenegro in the Adriatic and is pursuing other opportunities worldwide.

John Grandy is an ISAF qualified International Race Officer and is Chairman of Cowes Week.  Peter Wykeham-Martin, an experienced offshore racer since participating in the 1973 Whitbread Race and many other events including Antigua Sailing Week, was until recently Chief Executive of the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

In a joint statement Peter Wykeham-Martin and John Grandy said “We are delighted to have this opportunity of working with Antigua Sailing Week as our first Caribbean client, following our earlier success in the Mediterranean. We very much look forward to developing our relationship with this premier sailing regatta”

Stanford Antigua Sailing Week is pleased to announce the appointment of GWM Racing Ltd to advise and assist in all aspects of race management for the 42nd Stanford Antigua Sailing Week, to be held from April 25 to May 1 2009.  The appointment is part of the charges being introduced for the 2009 edition of the Stanford Antigua Sailing Week. Whilst aiming to retain all the traditional fun elements of this classic Caribbean regatta the organizing committee is seeking to introduce a more professional style of race management.  In making the announcement, Neil Forrester, Chairman of the 42nd Stanford Antigua Sailing Week, said "GWM Racing bring a wealth of experience to help us ensure that Stanford Antigua Sailing Week continues to be the most prestigious regatta in the Caribbean".
  
GWM Racing Limited is a UK based company founded in 2007 and owned by Peter Wykeham-Martin and John Grandy, assisted by Emma Bourne. The company specializes in all aspects of the planning and execution of the on the water side of large yacht regattas, and was in charge for the Dubois Cup in Palma in 2007 and the Superyacht Cup also in Palma in 2008. In addition the company is under contract to Porto Montenegro in the Adriatic and is pursuing other opportunities worldwide.

John Grandy is an ISAF qualified International Race Officer and is Chairman of Cowes Week.  Peter Wykeham-Martin, an experienced offshore racer since participating in the 1973 Whitbread Race and many other events including Antigua Sailing Week, was until recently Chief Executive of the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

In a joint statement Peter Wykeham-Martin and John Grandy said “We are delighted to have this opportunity of working with Antigua Sailing Week as our first Caribbean client, following our earlier success in the Mediterranean. We very much look forward to developing our relationship with this premier sailing regatta”

The Stanford Antigua Sailing Week continues to attract the top racing boats from around the world to the Caribbean to compete for the prestigious Lord Nelson’s Trophy. Following on from a successful 2008 edition a new Race Committee was appointed to review the event and chart the way forward. The outcome is an exciting new format for 2009 that should appeal to all competitors of the Stanford Antigua Sailing Week from the bareboat charterer to the maxi yacht skipper.

The 2009 edition will sail off a day earlier for the racing and cruising fleets on Saturday April 25th rather than the traditional Sunday start. There will then follow full 5 days of racing to culminate on Thursday April 30th.  The bareboat fleet will start their regatta on Sunday finishing on Friday. Both divisions will race 6 days rather than the previous 5 days.

The regatta for the racing boats will comprise a challenging combination of short inshore and longer off shore races giving all a chance to excel. The traditional Round the Island Race for the “Yachting World Trophy” will now be completed in one day rather than the traditional two. Redonda an island dependency of Antigua and Barbuda situated 40 miles offshore will once again see racing boats encircling its rocky coast line as the “Round Redonda Race” is reintroduced after many many years.
With three distance races, the prologue “Guadeloupe to Antigua Race”, the “Round the Island Race and the “Round Redonda Race”, the organizers will be creating a regatta within the regatta with the “Antigua Ocean Series”. Special prizes and records will be established for each of these three races and an overall prize. Larger yachts not wanting to compete in the shorter inshore races will be allowed to enter the Ocean Series and compete for these prestigious trophies. Antigua is throwing out a challenge to the world’s top maxis to be the first to establish records for these two new races.

Both the racing Division A and the Cruising/bareboats Division B will race on new in shore courses around the southern and western coastlines of the picturesque island of Antigua. The constant tradewinds and the turquoise seas of the Caribbean guarantee some of the best sailing conditions in the world.

Stanford Antigua Sailing Week 25th April to May 2nd 2009

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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...

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In honour of the 40^th 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.

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 20^th Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) with a bronze medal in sailing.

(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.

(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.

(end)

(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.

(end)

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.

(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.

(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

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.

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.

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.

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

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/

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

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

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.”

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.”

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.