Classics Starts Next Week

The 35th Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta will begin next Wednesday, April 17th, and promises to be an unforgettable experience for all who attend.

This unique event is a perfect blend of sport, tradition, camaraderie, and maritime heritage. The onshore events will be held in Nelson’s Dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dripping in history, while the racing will be conducted off the scenic south coast of the island.

This year’s regatta will feature the largest registered fleet of classic boats since 2014, with a diverse range of vessels gracing the waters off Antigua’s picturesque shores.

This fantastic fleet will include all types of boats, from the 177-foot sister ships Chronos and Rhea to the 29-foot Falmouth quay punt Phoebe of Fowey.

The oldest yacht on the water will be the beautiful 70-foot custom cutter Galatea, built in 1899, while the youngest will be Chloe Giselle, a spirit of tradition sloop built in 2014.

There will also be an impressive line of other yachts, including the magnificent 115-foot staysail schooner Eros, the majestic 114-foot ketch Saharet of Tyre, the three-masted square topsail schooner Alvei, the marconi yawl Nordwind built by the German navy in 1939, the legendary racing yawl Bolero, The Blue Peter who will be back for her tenth Classic Regatta, the beautiful schooners Charm III and Adventurer, and a fleet of local Carriacou sloops, among others.

An eruption of primping and polishing is expected in Nelson’s Dockyard on Wednesday afternoon before the judging of the Concours d’Elégance gets underway.

A team of prestigious judges, led by Jane Coombs, wife of the Regatta founder Kenny Coombs, will inspect the meticulously maintained classic yachts and have the unenviable task of selecting the winners.

Racing will begin Thursday morning, and the boats and crews will test their mettle on the Classic Regatta’s tried and true courses.

 Racing will continue through Sunday before the skippers try their hand at multitasking in the single-handed race on Monday. At the awards ceremony on Monday night, the winners will be awarded a barrel of English Harbour Rum.