Spectacular start planned for Antigua Bermuda Race

Following on from the success of the 50th edition of Antigua Sailing Week, an impressive range of yachts from all over the world will depart from Antigua on May 12 for the 935 nautical mile Antigua Bermuda Race. There will be one start for the 21-boat fleet racing in classes: CSA Monohull, CSA Classic and IRC, plus Allegra, the 78ft catamaran.

With 21 entries, including 17 over 50ft and seven Maxis and one SuperMaxi, the sight of the fleet departing on the Antigua Bermuda Race – set to become an annual event – should be spectacular. The variety of the fleet shows the wide appeal of the offshore race, attracting ocean going cruisers, round the world racing yachts, high performance multihulls, as well as classic designs.

The beautiful classic Bermudian yawl, Mariella, skippered by Carlo Falcone from Antigua is an 80ft (24m) Alfred Mylne-designed classic ketch built entirely from wood by the legendary William Fife & Son yard in Scotland in 1938. It was lovingly restored by Carlo after being badly damaged in a hurricane and now Mariella is in fantastic condition and on top form having secured overall victory in the recent Panerai Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta.

Les Crane, Chairman of Antigua Bermuda Race will be competing on his own boat, a Farr 56, Monterey.

One of the first yachts to enter the Antigua Bermuda Race was Spirit of Bermuda and there is more than meets the eye to the 112ft three-masted schooner. Just a couple of weeks before the start of the Antigua Bermuda Race, Spirit of Bermuda was racing with the giants at Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. Since her launch in 2006, 4,000 Bermudian teenagers have sailed on her free of charge.

The fleet should finish in Bermuda in good time for the 35th America’s Cup.

Event details – Entry list – Facebook

Source: ABR