Antigua Sailing Week | April 27 – May 3, 2024

Overview

Known as the Caribbean’s hottest sailing week, Antigua Sailing Week is one of the world’s premier racing regattas, and Sunsail is proud to be the official bareboat yacht charter sponsor. Held in late April/early May each year, this regatta for ocean-going yachts has been running for many years and attracts yachts and sailors from countries all over the world, as well as thousands of spectators.

Antigua Sailing Week is a Caribbean Sailing Association event and is run using the CSA Rating Rule.  The actual Sailing Week comprises five days of competitive racing beginning on Sunday.  Racing takes place for approximately three to four hours per day and is run out of English and Falmouth Harbours on the south coast of Antigua.

No description of Antigua Sailing Week is complete without a mention of the famous social scene. Heavily sponsored by some top international brands, socializing and partying are a significant part of each day’s activities. Midweek there is the famous Lay Day where spectators and competitors join in fun events centered around Antigua Yacht Club as well as enjoy all the sights and activities that Antigua has to offer. The awards presentation takes place on Friday evening after the final day of racing. Celebrations and serious rum drinking continue into the small hours at the awards presentation party, which every year provides Sailing Week with a glamorous finale.

Pricing and Booking Information

For full pricing and to book your place on the Antigua Sailing Week, please contact a member of the sales team on +27 (0)21 200 1837.

Entry & Registration

The closing date for entry into the Antigua Sailing Week is 30 days prior to the start. Anyone wishing to enter the race after this time will be liable to a supplement and is subject to Race Committee approval.

Classes and Classification

The Sailing Week normally consists of four races around laid buoys off the coast of Antigua, and one Olympic-type course off Dickenson Bay on the second racing day. The event is usually split into two separate divisions as follows:

Division A

• Racing Fleet, Sport boats, and Racer/Cruiser Fleet (with spinnaker)
• Boats in Division A – may fly normal spinnakers or asymmetrical sails and will all be rated with spinnakers.

Division B

• Racer/Cruiser Fleet (non-spinnaker), Cruiser Fleet and Bareboats
• Boats in Division B – Racer/Cruiser non-spinnaker fleet: may not fly spinnakers, MPS or asymmetrical sails. They may carry one or two jibs and utilize a pole.

Cruiser Fleet

• May fly spinnakers, an MPS, asymmetrical sails, and one or two jibs and will be rated in accordance with their election to carry such sails or not.

Bareboat Fleet

• May only carry mainsail and jib, with no pole.
• To qualify for the Bareboat Class, each boat must be confirmed to be part of a bonafide bareboat charter fleet sailed in charter trim with standard mainsail and jib. Spinnaker poles are not allowed and boats that are chartered with full sail inventories are not eligible.

Background Racing Information

When racing, it is better to have a lower rating. This means that when you are taking part in the race, there will be less time added to your racing time.  The higher the rating is; the more time that is added to your racing time. Charterers will obviously wish to have the lowest rating possible.

If the yacht has a furling mainsail, then its rating is lower, as, in theory, it takes longer to get around the course, whereas if they have a fully battened mainsail, the rating is higher as in theory, the yacht will get around the course quicker.

What’s Included in Regatta Package

• Race Entry Fees
• Welcome Cocktail
• Race Support
• Yacht Prep and Hull Cleaning
• Yacht Measurement
• Pre-Race Briefing

What’s Not Included in Regatta Package

• Flights
• Taxi transfers
• Local cruising taxes
• Mooring fees
• Departure Taxes
• Provisioning & beverages
• Spinnakers, poles, cruising chutes – not available in the Caribbean
• Delivery charges to/from Race locations (if required)
• Tickets & entry to official functions
• Moorings – dockage and entry fee are paid locally

Official Regatta Information

The information given in this section is just to give you a basic idea about the various regattas.

For more up-to-date information about organizing authorities, racing rules and regulations, programs, racing classes, handicap systems, entry, etc., contact the individual racing committee at info@sailingweek.com or visit www.sailingweek.com

Find out more

For more information about this event and pricing call us at +27 (0)21 200 1837.