The view from Shirley Heights, Antigua

PremierSail at the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta 2007

"In the 17 years we have been visiting Antigua, we have seen significant improvements in the facilities for the yachting fraternity"

James Hurley, Director

The Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta followed by Antigua Sailing Week, took place between 19th - 24th April 2007. Director of PremierSail, Peter Stirling, was in Antigua at the time and watched several of the races from onboard a spectator boat. For the first four days the wind was a light southerly of 10 – 15 knots instead of the more normal north easterly of 15 – 20 knots. This forced the race committee to revise the courses which they managed with great success.

The regatta began back in the 1960s when the crews of several classic yachts, moored in English Harbour, challenged each other to a race to celebrate the end of the charter season. In 1967 the Antigua Race Week was formalised in the same year that the Antigua Yacht Club was founded and there has been a regatta every year since. Over the years, modern boats began to dominate the event and in 1987 the class for classic yachts was abandoned. However, in 1988 the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta was established as a separate event with seven yachts taking part. Since then the Regatta has grown year on year and is now recognised worldwide as one of the leading classic yacht regattas.

SY Mariette in Falmouth Harbour

This year the Regatta had a record 61 entries with a wide range of different sizes and types of vessel. Perhaps two of the best known yachts taking part were also amongst the prize winners, with Mariette winning most of the Best Elapsed Time Trophies and Belle Aventure winning the The Boat International Concourse d’Elegance. The phrase ‘work hard, play hard’ is to be taken quite literally at the Regatta, as racing during the day is taken very seriously but then so is the partying at night. During the evening, bars are often full to bursting point and reserving a table for dinner is essential.

The Halcyon Steel Band

The Sunday night trek up to the Shirley Heights Lookout is now an absolute must for most visitors to Antigua. At a height of 490 feet it affords a fantastic view across English and Falmouth Harbours and a great vantage point for watching the often spectacular sunset. The view must surely be one of the most photographed in the Caribbean. The area which is now mostly derelict, was originally fortified with various buildings in 1781 by Sir Thomas Shirley, Governor of the Leeward Islands. The lookout has now been restored and has a bar, mainly serving beer and rum and a BBQ serving food.

The evening's entertainment begins with the fantastic Halcyon Steel Band followed by a Reggae, Soca and Calypso Band playing late into the night. Various local crafts people are also kept busy making and selling their wares. These include all manner of hats and baskets made out of banana leaves, jewellery made from local materials and maracas made from gourds and beans.

Local craftsman making banana leaf hats

In the 17 years we have been visiting Antigua, we have seen significant improvements in the facilities for the yachting fraternity. Several new marinas have been built and now even the largest of superyachts are able to moor alongside. Many yacht service companies have established themselves in and around Falmouth Harbour to meet the increasing needs of visiting yachts. Such is Antigua’s popularity that even with the new facilities, finding a space in one of the marinas is not an easy task. However, there are a number of suitable anchorages in both harbours which are only a short journey in a tender.

Of recent interest is Antigua's attempt to keep up with technology, with the Yacht Club and many of the bars around Falmouth and English Harbours now offering WiFi to customers. In fact the facilities in Antigua are now as good as those to be found in many European harbours. It’s no wonder many superyachts choose to make Antigua their seasonal base from which to explore the islands. Indeed PremierSail will make extensive use of Antigua’s facilities, using the island as one of their preferred Caribbean bases.

www.premiersail.com

PremierSail Limited, 179 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2AG. PremierSail Limited is registered in England No. 05344550.
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