Tight Racing for Superyacht Challenge

(February 3, 2018) – Spectacular conditions prevailed for the penultimate day of the 2018 Superyacht Challenge Antigua. Two short races were completed in a building breeze and sea state. In the Corsairs Class Spiip took Race 3 to take the over all lead for the class, while Rebecca fought back to win Race 4.

Both teams are now tied on points for the regatta with Elfje in third place. In the Buccaneers Class, Acadia posted two more victories to keep a perfect score for the regatta. Zig Zag remains in second with Marama third. The best start in Race 3 was executed by Danneskjold, the 105ft sloop was just 8 seconds shy of the line. In Race 4, Spiip and Acadia were both just 6 seconds behind the gun.

In the Corsairs Class, the 142ft ketch Rebecca and 112ft sloop Spiip, both from the drawing board of German Frers, are tied at the top for the final race. The 172ft Hoek designed ketch Elfje still has a mathematically chance of winning.

“It was lovely today, a beautiful day’s sailing,” said Spiip’s navigator, Campbell Field, “There was a lot of reaching today, which suited the ketches so we are very happy with our results and it’s all to play for tomorrow. This crew loves to come together on Spiip, and if we can win the regatta tomorrow, the party will be all the better.”

“A fourth and first for Rebecca today, excuse the cliché but a game of two halves,” commented Rebecca’s skipper, Darryl Starr. “In Race 4, our tactician Smithy, did a nice move to get us into the shore at the bottom mark. It set us up in flatter water and we were spotting the lifts to keep above the sloops, a great end to an exciting day. Tomorrow we know we are not going to win unless we sail extremely well.”

In the Buccaneers Class, Acadia need only to finish the last race to win the class with Zig Zag second. Marama is lying in third position, a winner in 2014, the 102ft aluminium ketch was originally designed by Dominiqe Presle. Paul Deeth, proprietor of Admiral’s Inn, and founder of the Superyacht Challenge Antigua, is at the helm of Marama for the regatta.

Deeth commented, “Over the past seven editions, the regatta has stuck to the ethos of providing fair sailing and enjoyable social occasions. Designed solely for the pleasure of superyacht owners, their guests and crew, it is a simple recipe, and one that the organizing committee has no intention of changing. Behind the scenes the organizing committee and all the staff put in a tremendous amount of effort to ensure that the regatta is enjoyable, and I know I speak for all of the sailors involved; it is very much appreciated.”

Racing at the 2018 Superyacht Challenge Antigua concludes on February 4, 2018.

Event Details

Source: Louay Habib, Media Manager Superyacht Challenge Antigua