Antigua Sailing Week prides itself on delivering the sparkling racing conditions that have competitors grinning from ear to ear and the fun doesn’t stop ashore either. The Lay Day Eve is often the chosen night for race crew to let their hair down, during the regatta and everybody in Antigua is in for a rare treat. The most successful reggae solo artist in the world, second only to legend Bob Marley, will be performing live on Tuesday 26th April at Antigua Sailing Week.
Following two spectacular days of racing punctuated by strong breezes sweeping across the Caribbean, the Les Voiles de St. Barth shifted into “lay day” gear today. Understandably, the approximately 400 owners, skippers and crew competing here — on 48 boats from 17 countries — wanted to make the most of their stay on St. Barth, so some took advantage of the rest, relaxation and entertainment (including a remote-control sailboat regatta) offered at Nikki Beach resort on St. Jean Bay while others went off packing to enjoy some of the wonders the island has to offer.
The warm tropical breeze and clear blue sky is not lost on the sailors here at Les Voiles de St. Barth – especially those from the colder climes of the U.S. where spring has not quite yet sprung. Even normally jaded professional sailors were waxing on about the conditions here. Today offered 15 – 16 knots of breeze and a much reduced sea from yesterday, when many boats returned to the quay to lick their wounds and effect repairs, which included torn sails, broken head foils, and damaged rigging.
The first day of racing at the 2nd edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth dawned with 25 knots of tropical tradewind breeze and showers sweeping over the picturesque French island located midway down the Caribbean chain. The regatta’s fleet of maxis, racing and cruising yachts, multi-hulls and classics – 48 confirmed on race day – set off on a race course around the nearby archipelago, and met with plenty of wind and bumpy seas, especially on the islands’ exposed eastern side.
A dramatic end to a fantastic week of sailing with two of Pendennis’ most iconic 40m plus sailing yachts battling for the lead on the final race day of last week’s St. Barth’s Bucket regatta. During the event, which celebrated 25 years of Bucket racing, recently launched SY Christopher and classic ketch SY Rebecca performed spectacularly, culminating in a nail biting downwind leg of the clockwise course with both yachts at the head of the 40-strong regatta fleet.
The Carl Gustaf Hotel, high on the hill overlooking the main port of Gustavia, provided a great vantage point to watch the Les Voiles de St. Barth fleet slowly filling up the anchorage and quays in the main harbor of this idyllic French island. Boats continued to arrive throughout the day, while others took advantage of the day’s fresh easterly breeze to go through some crew manoeuvres and test sails.
There will be more than fifty of them: yachts of every size and class from all over the Caribbean, competing at Les Voiles de St. Barth. For the second year, the St. Barth Yacht Club and their partners have come up with a spectacular program for this international yachting event that runs from April 4 – 9. Some of the most notable yachts with their experienced crew will be on hand for a week of racing on the fantastic sailing waters of the Caribbean
Dubois has announced that, in partnership with Yacht Carbon Offset, it has balanced the estimated carbon footprint of this year’s regatta, which includes an allowance for participants’ air travel to Sardinia. Hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo, The Dubois Cup will take place between 4-6 June 2011.
When the stage lights are switched on for the second annual Les Voiles de St. Barth, it is a sure bet that the production, set for April 4-9, will deliver an unforgettable experience for its participating sailors, their friends and families.
In less than two months, Antigua Sailing Week, the Caribbean’s longest running and best-known regatta, will be in full flow and there is still time to experience one of the top sailing regattas worldwide. Competitors will be flocking to Antigua from all over the world, sailors and yachts from well-over a dozen countries are coming to the magical island in the central Caribbean.
The Dubois Cup is an exciting regatta that brings together many Dubois designed yachts, owners, crew industry associates and media alike. There are currently eight yachts confirmed Including three of Dubois’ prominent launches from the last year. Superyacht Kokomo (58.4m) sailing yacht Twizzle (57.5m) and yacht Zefira (49.7m
With one month to go until the start of racing, the Les Voiles de St. Barth has registered no fewer than 49 yachts, divided according to their size and class in five divisions:“Don’t change a thing!,” said Read about the Les Voiles des St. Barth format, which features short daytime race courses that will have Rambler 100 and Leopard 3 facing off for the first time with that type of racing.