This year’s Superyacht Challenge Antigua is expected to start today, on Friday, January 31, at 1200 local time (1700 GMT). The majority of the Superyacht Challenge Antigua fleet were out on the water on Thursday, January 30, honing their boat handling skills as well as manoeuvres in feisty conditions. The gorgoeus yachts got a real taste of fantastic Caribbean sailing. 20 knots gusting up to 25, with 3-metre swell, provided for exciting sailing on the south coast of Antigua.
Infinity Pool at the Gunpowder House - Photo credit to Kevin Johnson
A skippers’ briefing was held at the Admiral’s Inn, followed by a Welcome reception cocktail party held at the Gunpowder House, the beautifully restored 18th-century gunpowder store was a splendid setting to open the proceedings.
With a hedonistic cocktail of a few drinks and some of sailing’s well-known characters, there was plenty of plotting for an early bath in the infinity pool! The opening reception was a fun-filled affair with rival crews enjoying plenty of laughter. The Superyacht Challenge Antigua is the first superyacht event of the year and many of the sailors were meeting up for the first time in 2014.
Onboard superyacht Adela - Photo credit to Louay Habib
The first race is scheduled to be just over 22 miles long. The predicted weather is for strong Trade Winds of 20 knots or more and a significant sea state. Spectators in Antigua can views the racing from Fort Charlotte, Rendezvous Bay and Curtain Bluff.
Starting and finishing just outside Nelson’s Dockyard, the fleet will enjoy a fast close reach at the start, followed by a tactical downwind run in deep ocean. A broad reach back inshore is followed by a tricky windward leeward. Then the penultimate leg, which will have the magnificent fleet powering to windward for a 6 mile beat with a sprint broad reach to finish, just outside Nelson’s Dockyard.
Racing starts Friday 31 January at 1200 local time (1700 GMT). The yacht trackers will be activated 15 minutes before the start, go to the Live Tracking page at the event website.
