Antigua Sailing Week

Overview

Known as the Caribbean’s hottest sailing week, Antigua Sailing Week is one of the world’s premier racing regattas, and in 2024 Sunsail is proud to be the official bareboat yacht charter sponsor. Held in late April/early May each year, this regatta for ocean-going yachts has been running for over 40 years and attracts yachts and sailors from countries all over the world, as well as thousands of spectators.

Antigua Sailing Week is a Caribbean Sailing Association event and is run using the CSA Rating Rule.  The actual Sailing Week comprises five days of competitive racing beginning on Sunday.  Racing takes place for approximately three to four hours per day and is run out of English and Falmouth Harbours on the south coast of Antigua.

No description of Antigua Sailing Week is complete without a mention of the famous social scene. Heavily sponsored by some top international brands, socializing and partying are a significant part of each day’s activities. Midweek there is the famous Lay Day where spectators and competitors join in fun events centered around Antigua Yacht Club as well as enjoy all the sights and activities that Antigua has to offer. The awards presentation takes place on Friday evening after the final day of racing. Celebrations and serious rum drinking continue into the small hours at the awards presentation party, which every year provides Sailing Week with a glamorous finale.

Pricing and booking information

For full pricing and to book your place on the Antigua Sailing Week, please contact a member of the sales team on 888 350 3568.

Official Regatta Information

The information given in this section is just to give you a basic idea about the various regattas.

For more up-to-date information about organizing authorities, racing rules and regulations, programs, racing classes, handicap systems, entry, etc., contact the individual racing committee at [email protected] or visit www.sailingweek.com

Background Racing Information

When racing, it is better to have a lower rating. This means that when you are taking part in the race, there will be less time added to your racing time.  The higher the rating is; the more time that is added to your racing time. Charterers will obviously wish to have the lowest rating possible.

If the yacht has a furling mainsail, then its rating is lower, as, in theory, it takes longer to get around the course, whereas if they have a fully battened mainsail, the rating is higher as in theory, the yacht will get around the course quicker.

Entry & Registration

Online entry can be done at: www.sailingweek.com

Contact information is as follows:
National Sailing Academy
Dockyard Drive,
English Harbour,
Antigua.

Tel: +1 (268) 725-6651
Email: [email protected]  Website: www.sailingweek.com

Complete entry forms, C.S.A. Certificates, and fees must be returned to the Secretary, P.O. Box 2035, St. John’s, Antigua, not later than the Thursday before the start of the Sailing Week.

Entry Closing Dates

The closing date for entry into the Antigua Sailing Week is 30 days prior to the start. Anyone wishing to enter the race after this time will be liable to a supplement and is subject to Race Committee approval.

Classes & Classification

The Sailing Week normally consists of four races around laid buoys off the coast of Antigua, and one Olympic-type course off Dickenson Bay on the second racing day. The event is usually split into two separate divisions as follows:-

Division A - Racing Fleet, Sport boats, and Racer/Cruiser Fleet (with spinnaker)
Boats in Division A – may fly normal spinnakers or asymmetrical sails and will all be rated with spinnakers.

Division B - Racer/Cruiser Fleet (non-spinnaker), Cruiser Fleet and Bareboats
Boats in Division B – Racer/Cruiser non-spinnaker fleet: may not fly spinnakers, MPS, or asymmetrical sails. They may carry one or two jibs and utilize a pole.

Cruiser Fleet:  May fly spinnakers, an MPS, asymmetrical sails, and one or two jibs and will be rated in accordance with their election to carry such sails or not.

Bareboat Fleet:  May only carry mainsail and jib, with no pole.

To qualify for the Bareboat Class, each boat must be confirmed to be part of a bonafide bareboat charter fleet sailed in charter trim with standard mainsail and jib. Spinnaker poles are not allowed and boats that are chartered with full sail inventories are not eligible.