Antigua Sailing Week Report

J/122 LIQUID Wins Round Island Race!
(English Harbour, Antigua)- More than 100 boats from 21 countries worldwide have been sailing in the nine-day festival of racing and shoreside events that is Antigua Sailing Week, the Caribbean’s longest running regatta.

Fifty-four yachts are sailing in the CSA Racing Classes and, so far, silverware is already being collected by top J/Crews.

In the 53.0nm Round Antigua Race, Pamala Baldwin’s J/122 LIQUID continues on a roll after their victory in Voiles de St Barths.  They placed second CSA Racing overall in the fleet of thirty-five yachts and easily won CSA 2 class ahead of two well-sailed teams.

“We didn’t really sail to our potential, but we came in first place for our class,” noted Baldwin. “There is plenty to come from Liquid because it’s a great crew. We have come in on podium the whole season and we are definitely here to sail hard this week, work her really hard on our home at Antigua Sailing Week!”

Day 1- Perfect Start for Sailing Week
After the Round Island Race, the fleet was greeted with brilliant sunshine, solid trade winds and Caribbean surf; a perfect way to start the week. The cocktail of heaven-sent conditions was very apt for English Harbour Rum Race Day. The six CSA racing classes were on the Windward Course enjoying some epic downwind legs straight off the front of the brochure!

In CSA Racing 4 class, Baldwin’s Antiguan J/122 LIQUID took second place, while her sistership, the J/122 TEAM INKA from Peru (skippered by Diego Aguirre) took third.

In CSA Racing 5 class, Jonty Layfield’s J/11S started off with a 2nd place, followed by Ben Jelic’s J/120 JAGUAR in 6th position.

The Daily Prize Giving is a big feature of Antigua Sailing Week, it’s where sailors from six continents mingle after racing at Antigua Yacht Club to applaud the day’s winners and watch the video action. Live music from The Climax Band and English Harbour Rum giveaways made for a perfect end to a cracking start for the Caribbean’s most famous regatta!

Day 2- More Perfect Sailing
The second day of Antigua Sailing Week was Fever-Tree Race Day, with the impressive fleet mixing it up in gorgeous weather on the south, east and west coast of Antigua. The Bareboat fleet, Double-Handed and Club Class started off Windward Beach with fresh trade wind in the high teens. The six CSA racing classes raced off Rendezvous Beach on tight round the cans courses with more sheltered but gusty conditions in a packed out race area.

Red-hot racing in CSA 4 continued. Pamala Baldwin’s Antiguan J/122 LIQUID, skippered by Jules White, won both races by the narrowest of margins to take the class lead by a single point.

In CSA 5, Jonty and Vicki Layfield’s J/11s SLEEPER scored two bullets today to lead the class by a single point.

“It is just amazing racing with Sleeper– we hit 15 knots of speed today!” smiled Shannoy Malone, the 11-year old Antiguan who has been racing with the Layfield’s since he was seven and will be competing at the Optimist World Championship to be held in Antigua this summer. “The crew are so friendly and helpful. I am learning so much and racing the boat is a lot of fun. I will never do 15 knots in my Opti, so that was a first for me.”

Day 3- Just Doesn’t Get Better
20 knots of trades powered up the action on Reggae in the Park Race Day at Antigua Sailing Week. Two races were held for most classes– the CSA Racing Classes were launched with a full on foam-up on the Windward Course. The Bareboat Classes and Club Class raced short, sharp, windward-leeward courses off Rendezvous Bay.

In CSA 4, a tie for first place exemplified the intensity of racing in the class, after time correction, between Baldwin’s Antiguan J/122 LIQUID, skippered by Jules White, and another 40 footer. After five races, LIQUID sits in second.

In CSA 5, Layfield’s Antiguan J/11s SLEEPER racked up two more race wins today to lead the class by three points. Then, after scoring a 3-3, Jelic’s St.Maarten J/120 JAGUAR is challenging the podium.

After a memorable day racing at Antigua Sailing Week, sailors will join thousands of revelers for the big party night. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nelson’s Dockyard has been transformed into a mind-blowing open-air concert theatre. Reggae in the Park is a big-time celebration for the 10th edition of the legendary concert. Nelson’s Dockyard will be alive with headline artist Christopher Martin, performing alongside Junior Kelly. After the big night, what better way to recover than Lay Day at Pigeon Beach tomorrow Wednesday 1st May.  Two more days of racing are left with the regatta concluding on Friday.  Sailing photo credits- Ed Whiting/ Paul Wyeth.  For more Antigua Sailing Week sailing informationAdd to Flipboard Magazine.


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