J/120 EL OCASO Crushing Antigua Week

Thrills, Spills, Fresh to Frightening Sailing For All
(English Harbour, Antigua)- During the last week of April each year, yachts from all over 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 more than 40 years to become one of the pre-eminent yacht racing events in the Caribbean. Its international status ensures its on-going fame worldwide. Over 100 yachts participate each year, ranging in size from 24 to over 100 feet (we have no J's in this category-- yet).

For five days 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.

Amongst the J/Teams sailing this year are the following: CSA 3- the J/120 EL OCASO sailed by Rick Wesslund and the J/125 Aunt Jessie helmed by Jordan Mindich.  In CSA 4 is the famous and redoubtable J/39 SLEEPER VIII sailed by Jonty Layfield's family team.  In CSA 5 are a raft of characters where anyone can win, including the J/30 BLUE PETER sailed by local sailor Tanner Jones from Jolly Harbour, Antigua; the J/95 SHAMROCK VII sailed by Tom Mullen from New Hampshire and the J/105 NO FACE 2 FACE sailed by J. Hin from the Netherlands.

There was drama right from the start- squally conditions intensified the trade winds to churn up the swell into a foaming powerful sea state with rogue waves reaching over three metres. The feisty conditions caused at least two retirements due to gear failure. In CSA 3 two Antiguan yachts came to the fore, but Tanner Jones’ J/30 BLUE PETER raced with great aplomb in difficult conditions to claim second.

After two days of big breeze, day three of Antigua Sailing Week saw similar conditions for the competitors.  However the Ocean mark laid for today’s big boats was a new addition.  It took over 300 feet of line to lay the mark four miles off the leeward coast of Antigua. The sizeable yachts in CSA 1 were an awesome sight today, smashing through the start line to windward through the Caribbean surf and after coming off the wind at the Ocean mark, the yachts speared off downwind, bow up, accelerating off big waves to surf at speeds of 20 knots plus.  In CSA 3, Rick's team on the J/120 EL OCASO was unstoppable, taking its fourth straight bullet of the regatta by some distance.

Wednesday night, Ky-Mani Marley will play to a full house in the historic setting of Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour. Thousands of fans of the reggae artist are expected to pack-out the Antigua Sailing Week venue for the live concert performed by Bob Marley’s son.

Sailing photo credits: Ted Martin, Paul Wyeth- pwpictures.com, Tim Wright- photoaction.com, Jason Pickering.     For more Antigua Sailing Week sailing information

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