North Swell and Atlantic Breezes Define Antigua Sailing Week Day 2
by Meredith Glacken / Antigua Sailing Week 24 Apr 21:15 PDT
22-26 April 2026
Antigua Sailing Week 2026 Day 2 - The fleet sailed from Green Island to Little Jumby/Maiden Island © Tim Wright /
www.Photoaction.com / ASW
The second day of Antigua Sailing Week brought a striking change in tempo and conditions, as the fleet prepared to depart the Caribbean Sea and push northward into the open Atlantic.
Crews who overnighted at Green Island South spent the morning hours readying their boats, surrounded by hillsides covered in flowering dagger log agave - the national flower of Antigua - which bloom for only a few days every 20 years. One by one, sails were hoisted, and the fleet made their way to the start line in 8 knots of downwind breeze.
"The boats that really focused during the light air start and worked hard to get themselves into position were the best suited when the wind filled in," said ASW Race Officer Chris Mansfield. "Being in the right place when that happened was crucial."
As the wind built, the North Swell created powerful currents as racers and cruisers tracked along Antigua's northeastern coastline.
"It was very different from yesterday. Lots of varying conditions to contend with, which made it a fun challenge," said trimmer Dean Krocken of Kali, whose crew clenched first place in CSA Class 1 for the second day in a row. "We put the spinnaker up and did four jibes or five into the finish."
Tight competition continued across the classes as the afternoon progressed. Mid-course conditions were ideal for reaching and downwind manoeuvering, and a 15-kt breeze rewarded boats that could balance speed with control.
"Today was quite challenging because we're used to upwind starts," said headsail trimmer Pieter Hooft, who was aboard the CSA Class 2 winner Contigo - Team HI 1. Hooft and his crewmates traded jibes with Vildiur for the first 6 miles of racing between Man o' War Point and Devil's Bridge before pulling ahead near Guinea Island.
"We sailed zeeuwe-meisjes (wing-on-wing), and the drag from the current actually gave us an advantage," Hooft said, describing how the opposing flow of water across the hull was able to create just enough of an increase in apparent wind for the Dutch team to pull ahead.
Meanwhile, cruisers taking part in the rally embraced the steady wind and a lively sea state, while also taking part in Antigua Sailing Week's Daily Treasure Hunt. Over the last two days, the challenge saw crews sharing snapshots of their adventures, including crew photos in their English Harbour Rum hats, turtle sightings, historic landmarks, and more.
"The treasure hunt was a blast!" said Rob "The Dawn" Britts on board Mystic Lee. "The whole day turned into an adventure."
On shore at the destination, sailors arrived at The Hut at Little Jumby to once again to share stories from the day's passage and race one another in a fun beach relay. Racers and ralliers competed together as they speed-walked while balancing a lime on a spoon, swam to the moorings and back, and finally hopped into sailing dinghies to race around a mark to the finish. In a stunning comeback, the crew of Impala who trailed Kiss Cool in the first three races, edged out their rivals to claim first place in the exciting final seconds of the dinghy race.
As the sun set, the party moved from the beach to inside the Hut's restaurant and DJ York got the party going and the dance floor filled up with crews partying late into the night.
With two days in the logbook, Antigua Sailing Week 2026 continues to serve up great sailing, Caribbean culture, natural beauty, and shared adventure - both on and off the water. As the event moves ahead to Saturday's leg from Jumby Bay to Ffryes Beach, Mansfield says that sailors can expect a new perspective on the island's coastline and sailing character.
"The beauty of this format is that every day feels different," said Mansfield. "Different wind, different seas, different views - but the same spirit of competition and community."
Results can be found here.
For all the news and images of the day, please visit sailingweek.com.