Antigua Sailing Week is one of the most famous and prestigious regattas in the world. Hundreds of sailors descend from all over the globe to take part in the races, as well as thousands of spectators hoping to get a sight of the action.
Here we give you all the things you need to know about Antigua Sailing Week 2020, whether you want to take part, charter a yacht in Antigua or just absorb the vibrant party atmosphere on the island.
Maria Soleil, Senior Marketing ExecutiveThe 53rd Antigua Sailing Week (ASW) kicks off on Saturday 25 April and runs until Friday 1 May. The event runs in the same month as the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, which concludes on 7 April 2020. The Caribbean Sailing Association runs ASW and uses the CSA Rating Rules.
The first day of racing starts with the famous Peter & May Round Antigua Race. Being an optional race, the 53-mile route is a prequel to the main week of racing so makes for a nice warm up for the week. The official ASW races get started on the Monday and run for five days, followed by a trophy presentation and huge party to end the week.
More information about the schedule of races can be found on the official website.
Performance and cruising yachts from all over the world berth at the iconic Antiguan sites of English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour.
Each day, yachts duel for three or four hours around the buoys off of Antigua’s south coast to battle for prizes and bragging rights.
Perfect sailing conditions of reliably consistent trade winds, steady seas and plenty of sun make for a great week of sailing.
After each exhilarating day of competing, sailors head back to Antigua Yacht Club for daily prize givings and parties that last late into the evening.
ASW is one of the longest-running regattas in the world and was started by a group of friends more than 50 years ago. The inaugural race was on 8 to 15 June in 1968. It changed to the earlier April date and has become tradition for it to start on the last Sunday in April.
Find out more about the history of the event at Antigua Sailing Week’s website.
Olympians, professional sailors and keen amateurs all come together to take part in a thrilling week of sailing. In 2019 crews from more than 20 nations took part across classes of all sizes and types.
In 2019 Olympians Richard Clarke and Jesper Bank were just some of the experienced names that featured in ASW. 2020 sees businessman and philanthropist Sir Peter Harrison bring another team to the event on his 34m ketch Sojana.
Everyone looks forward to the evening parties, featuring lots of rum, food and music. The midweek Lay Day event is a chance for crews and spectators to take a break and enjoy the best of what Antigua has to offer. In 2020, Lay Day will take place at Pigeon Point Beach and there will be plenty of water sports and activities for everyone to enjoy such as stand up paddle-boarding and dinghy racing.
You can see the current entry list for ASW here.
Witness the action and enjoy the post-race nightlife on your own yacht charter during ASW. We have a number of partners we work with to find you the best monohull or catamaran at the best price.
As you can imagine, boats get booked up quickly for this popular occasion so get in touch now if you want to see one of the world’s premier regattas up close.
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If you want to know more about bareboat, flotilla, or by-the-cabin charters, speak to one of our experts who will be happy to share their knowledge with you.
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2020-01-16 13:28:28.000