Antigua Sailing Week - Preeminent yacht racing event in the Caribbean

by Spirit of Canada Sailing Team on 20 Jul 2013 During the last week of April each year, yachts from around the world arrive in English and Falmouth Harbours to participate in one of the world’s premier sailing events, Antigua Sailing Week. From small beginnings this regatta has developed over 45 years to become one of the preeminent yacht racing events in the Caribbean. Its international status ensures its ongoing fame worldwide.

Over 100 yachts participate each year, ranging in size from 24 to over 100 feet. The Regatta attracts serious racing boats including state-of-the-art, high-tech racing machines, along with a variety of performance cruising and cruising boats.

For five days from April 7th – 12th crews are challenged with a variety of coastal race courses encouraging tacking duels around the buoys – all set on the deep blue Caribbean Sea with the ever-present trade winds. It’s a picture perfect setting that is enhanced as the evening colours brighten the western sky and the sun-burnt, salt-encrusted, weary sailors make their way to the barbecues, steel bands and rum punches. While hundreds of locals and visitors carry on partying well into the evening, many of the yacht crews know there is another day of racing out there and so they leave the late night revelry for the others to finish.

The Caribbean sunshine and wind; the perfect combination to forget our winter days in the Spirit of Canada Antigua Sailing Week website