All super at Superyacht Challenge

Antigua (March 13, 2020) – Day Two of the 2020 Superyacht Challenge Antigua was blessed with beautiful conditions on the South Coast of Antigua. A stable breeze of 14-15 knots just south of east, with no squall activity, produced picture-perfect conditions.

The Corsairs were set a 33nm course. The Buccaneers and Privateers a shorter 18nm option. Fifteen superyachts were running in the deep offshore and playing the bays and cliffs inshore. From Boggy Peak to Shirley Heights, the magnificent superyachts were a spectacular sight.

Oyster 885 Firebird skippered by James McDonald took a second bullet in the Buccaneers Class. The 108ft (33m) Baltic WinWin, sailed by Kim Schindelhauer, took another close win in the Corsairs Class. In the Privateers Class Peter Harrison’s Farr 115 ketch Sojana took her first race win.

The Oyster 885 Firebird is unbeaten in the Buccaneers Class. The 182ft (55.5m) Dykstra schooner Adela skippered by Greg Norwood-Perkins was runner-up for the second time. The 121ft (37m) Dykstra sloop Action skippered by Josh Gilchrist was a close third.

Adela’s love-affair with the regatta dates back to 2012. “It is the friendliest of all the regattas in the ‘med and the Caribbean,” smiled skipper Greg. “The competition is great on the water and afterwards all the crew get together to enjoy a bit of fun. Adela had a better day today, especially the latter part of the race.

“Going inshore worked well tactically, and crew work was part of that. Good boat handling comes from lots of practice. By the way I don’t know who has won the cook off, but it should definitely be Adela!”

Peter Harrison’s 115ft (35m) Farr ketch Sojana, skippered by Jonny Malbon won Race Two, beating yesterday’s winner, the 108ft (33m) Malcolm McKeon designed sloop Missy, into second place. The 94ft (29m) Southern Wind sloop Aragon, skippered by Nico Carpentier was again third.

“We are pretty slippery downwind; we have spent a lot of time working on that and the boss has been really good at refining the sails” commented Sojana’s skipper Jonny Malbon. “Sojana is a heavy boat with marble and mattresses but Peter (Harrison) is very happy for us to push the boat, and we are always at 100%, you have to do that to be competitive. We are happy because the boss loves it.”

In the Corsairs Class, the 108ft (33m) Javier Jaudenes sloop WinWin, took their second bullet and executed a perfect start, acing the line. The 112ft (34m) sloop Nilaya, with Filip Balcaen at the helm, was second. Third was the 112ft (34m) sloop Liara sailed by Tony Todd. This is Tony’s first regatta with the brand-new superyacht, designed by Malcolm McKeon and built by Baltic Yachts.

“I have been on board Liara for every mile sailed since she left the yard,” smiled Tony. “We tore a sail today, but we were on the money until that point. The boat is new to all of us, each day we improve little ‘nick-nacks’ here and there, we are still working the boat up. This is my fourth boat and everything I dreamt about.

“Baltic are and have been phenomenal. It never comes out of the box just right, but they have been fantastic with the upgrades. The Cook Off last night was fantastic, our Daisy did a great job. I was taking the meat from our stand and taking a bit of lobster from next door for a bit of surf ‘n turf!”

Four J Class yachts had formed the strongest class fleet since the 2017 J Class World Championship but a massive collision before the first race has reduced the fleet in half. For J Class news, click here.

Event details – Results – Facebook

A record entry of fifteen superyachts and four J Class will compete in the 10th anniversary of the Superyacht Challenge Antigua on March 12-15.

Source: Louay Habib