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Sailing Week to be placed under new management for 2026 (file photo)
By Shermain Bique-Charles
Email: [email protected]
Following what many have called a lackluster edition of the once-renowned Antigua Sailing Week (ASW), the Cabinet has announced plans for a new management team to oversee the event starting next year.
Frustrated by the outcomes of Antigua Sailing Week 2025, the Cabinet addressed concerns regarding the event’s declining popularity.
While the franchise is currently managed by the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA) under a contract with a prominent promoter, Cabinet members sought clarification from Senator Philip Shoul, Chairman of the National Parks Authority (NPA), and Executive Director Ms. Annemarie Martin.
The officials recounted how, in 2007/2008, then-Minister of Tourism Hon. John Maginley privatized the event by selling its franchise to the Hotels and Tourism Association.
A license was granted to a private individual to shape the character of ASW events. This decision has led to a significant drop in participation, with entries declining from 142 boats in earlier years to fewer than 50 currently.
The Chairman of the NPA has obtained policy guidelines that assure the continuation of ASW at the end of April each year.
Furthermore, the license held by the private individual has expired and will not be renewed.
In a collaborative effort moving forward, a committee comprising various stakeholders will be tasked with planning and executing ASW 2026, with the government promising its support to ensure the event’s success.
So nothing else contributed to the decline of sailing ⛵️ week?? Yes just point fingers
According the dates mentioned in the article, Why blaming something that happened 17 years ago under another administration? Over the last five years, the present administration saw the decline the annual sailing week event, and did nothing to fixed it. Now it hit rock bottom you start the blame game. I am sure every year at the end of the annual regatta, there is a statistic data report submitted. Use the statistics data to make changes to the annual sailing week and stop with the blame game. This year we lost 92 boat. How much did we lost last year and the year before? Check the marketing themes ads over the last five/ten years and the amount of boats we lost/gained for the same period.
92 boats? Wow which means something must have happened for all those participants to change their minds at once.. really?
Well that would be the best thing because what is happening is absolutely distasteful knowing this is out celebrated event. Smh
The event has indeed lost it’s luster. I had even forgotten about sailing week.
Promotion this year was pooooor