Please select your home edition
Edition
Excess Catamarans

2019 Antigua Bermuda Race: The path to Bermuda

by Louay Habib 7 May 2019 12:20 AEST 8 May 2019
The largest yacht in the 2019 Antigua Bermuda Race fleet is the 100' SHK Scallywag from the Royal Hong Kong YC, skippered by David Witt from Australia © Paul Wyeth / pwpictures.com

The third edition of the Antigua Bermuda Race organised by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in association with Antigua Sailing Week will start on Wednesday 8 May 1200 (AST). The 935 nautical-mile ocean race has attracted a diverse fleet of yachts from the 100ft carbon flyer SHK Scallywag, to the 1938 Classic Mariella - and just about everything in between. The common denominator is the need to sail north after the finish of the Caribbean season.

The Antigua Bermuda Race gives purpose to the need to go north, offering safety in numbers with satellite tracking and the added attraction of two fabulous parties in Nelson's Dockyard Antigua and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. The rich diversity of the travels of the competing yachts is astounding.

The 100ft Supermaxi SHK Scallywag (HKG) is the hot favourite for Line Honours. Skippered by David Witt, the team will be representing the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and will sail on to Newport, Rhode Island, USA for the forthcoming Transatlantic Race 2019. Given the right conditions, SHK Scallywag is very capable of beating the race record set last year by Stephen Murray, Jr. (USA) Volvo 70 Warrior (2 days, 18 hours, 32 minutes and 48 seconds).

The Antigua Bermuda Race is part of the Atlantic Ocean Race Series. Three teams will pick up valuable points prior to the start of the Transatlantic Race 2019: SHK Scallywag, Pata Negra (GBR), and Hermes II (CAN).

Lombard 46 Pata Negra, skippered by Andy Lis, will be competing for the second year. Following last year's race, owner Giles Redpath skippered the boat to an overall win in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race.

Pogo 12.50 Hermes, co-skippered by Morgen Watson & Meg Reilly has competed in all previous editions of the Antigua Bermuda Race. They have been in the Caribbean since November, racing at numerous regattas. Between them, co-skippers Morgen Watson (CAN) and Meg Reilly (USA), have sailed 180,000 nautical miles offshore, including 19 Atlantic crossings!

A close duel is expected between two Canadian Volvo 60s. Chris Stanmore-Major's Challenger and Gilles Barbot's Esprit de Corps IV are evenly matched for the friendly duel. Challenger has taken part in all previous editions of the race and Esprit de Corps IV returns after rescuing the crew from Monterey in the inaugural race.

One of the most travelled is undoubtedly Afanasy Isaev's Grand Mistral 80 Weddell (RUS). In the last 12 months, Weddell has sailed over 20,000 miles including, Tasmania to Argentina through the Southern Ocean, Argentina to Cape Town through the South Atlantic, and Cape Town to Antigua through the North Atlantic. Weddell will return to the UK after the Antigua Bermuda Race to compete in the Rolex Fastnet Race.

American entries in the Antigua Bermuda Race include Kevin McLaughlin's x-55 Rye (USA) from Fairhaven, Mass. and Peter Grueterich's xP-44 Xpatriate with his team from the Riverside Yacht Club, CT. Both teams will be returning to North America after the Caribbean season.

From Germany, Guido Wenzl & Florian Linse will co-skipper their Pogo 50 Maremossa. The crew of family and friends have been exploring the Caribbean for over a year but will be visiting Bermuda for the first time. Maremossa will sail on to Maine, USA for further adventures. Henry Rourke's Open 40 Raucous, which was racing at Antigua Sailing Week, will be racing in the Double Handed Class.

Carlo Falcone's 1938 79ft Alfred Mylne yawl Mariella is by far the oldest yacht taking part in the Antigua Bermuda Race. Carlo will lead a crew of Antiguans and Italians in the race and will then leave the beautiful classic to fly to Vancouver to meet his new grandson for the first time! Rocco Falcone, Carlo's 20-year old son, will join the Mariella crew for a delivery to Tuscany for a classic yacht regatta in June.

The Antigua Bermuda Race is supported by the Bermuda Tourism Authority and Goslings Rum which guarantees a rousing send-off in Antigua. Following the Skippers' Briefing, a Welcome Party for all participants will be held in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nelson's Dockyard on Tuesday 7 May.

For more information on the Antigua Bermuda Race please go to antiguabermuda.com

Related Articles

Oliver Heer confirms 2028 Vendée Globe ambition
The Swiss skipper aims to return for the 2028 edition of the legendary solo race with a newer boat After completing the Vendée Globe 2024 on his first attempt, Oliver Heer, the Swiss-German skipper of Tut gut Sailing, has confirmed his intention to return for the 2028 edition of the legendary solo race. Posted today at 8:18 am
SailingFast to provide unrivalled event support
During the WASZP Games at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy SailingFast UK is set to land in Weymouth on the 8th of July and will be on-site until the 26th of July to provide the GOLD STANDARD in event support. Posted today at 7:00 am
2025 29er Europeans at Lake Garda Opening Ceremony
More than 500 sailors paraded through the Riva del Garda's beautiful streets The 2025 29er European Championship officially opened today in stunning Riva del Garda, hosted by Fraglia Vela Riva. More than 500 sailors paraded through the city's beautiful streets in a colorful, high-energy opening ceremony. Posted on 2 Jul
The power of tech
What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? Posted on 2 Jul
Stay, play and save at the 2025 Sydney Boat Show
The ultimate indoor boating experience will take over Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park The ultimate indoor boating experience, Sydney Boat Show, will take over Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park from 14 to 17 August for the first time. Posted on 2 Jul
Jazz Turner Faces Everything and Rises
Non-stop, solo, unassisted British Isles navigation has captivated sailors & non-sailors alike Jazz Turner's Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin Vega 27ft yacht has captivated sailors and non-sailors alike. Posted on 2 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D3
Surprise exits in Marstrand as Quarter-Finalists decided The qualifying round-robin stages at GKSS Match Cup Sweden in Marstrand finished today with the surprise departure of defending champion USA's Chris Poole/ Riptide Racing and Switzerland's Eric Monnin/ Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team from the Open Class. Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais Day 1
Sled sparkle in Cascais' Atlantic surf to lead After seemingly being starved of boisterous top end conditions for some years now Okura's Sled crew have been relishing a return to big breezes and big waves. Posted on 2 Jul
Freestyle Pro Tour Paros overall
The Meltemi winds once again set the stage for the final day As the riders gathered at the event site of the 2025 FPT Paros for one last time and the Meltemi winds once again began blowing strong, the stage for the final day of the event was set. Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race: Offshore classics set to race
IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it. While French round the world race legend Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (aka VDH) isn't competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race, two of his former steeds will be on the IRC Zero start line. Posted on 2 Jul
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignBoat Books Australia FOOTERRolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTER