New trophy for Antigua Sailing Week

Alaistair Abrehart looks ahead at the Caribbean's top regatta

With the 38th annual Antigua Sailing Week 10 days away (April 24-30) and 165 boats registered to date, organisers have finalised details of the Virgin Atlantic Beach Bash, Yachting World has introduced a new trophy for the new Round Island Race and Sportshows TV returns to give 15 minutes of fame to participants.

Virgin Atlantic Beach Bash

The Virgin Atlantic Beach Bash kicks off as racing finishes at Dickenson Bay on the first day (Sunday April 24) at 1.00pm with a water ski demonstration by the Stars of Florida water ski team. Comprised of current or former Cypress Gardens or Sea World of Orlando performers, these American water skiers generally only perform outside the USA and have performed in Europe, South America, the Middle-East and Japan. These seasoned water skiers have performed in all sorts of conditions worldwide and will be performing a range of stunts including flags, front barefoot, slalom, clown, ballet, wakeboard, airchair, back, barefoot, doubles, swan, and the ubiquitous human pyramid.

The Stars of Florida will be followed by a Bath Tub Derby at 3.00pm. The Derby, racing across Dickenson Bay, is open to individuals or teams of up to four people and the craft must be home-made and human-powered; costumes optional. First prize is four economy tickets to London with 400 pounds spending money, second prize is one economy ticket and 100 pounds spending money. There will also be a cash prize of $1000 EC for the Best Virgin Spirit. Entry forms can be picked from the Airport, Skullduggery, the Beach or Big Banana in Antigua.

A karaoke competition complete with costumes to facilitate the transformation to pop star, and tribute band ABBA One from the UK, round out the afternoon's entertainment. Seaweed the Sea Monster will also be on hand in the kiddies' area.

"We're very excited to be bringing the Virgin touch to the fun and frivolity of Antigua Sailing Week," said Jennifer Carlson-Linskey, sales and marketing executive Virgin Atlantic in Antigua. "The Virgin Atlantic Beach Bash is really going to be a lot of fun and I would like to encourage everyone to come out and enjoy Virgin Atlantic's hospitality and get a glimpse of what a trans-Atlantic flight must be like with us."

Virgin Atlantic Airways has signed on as a silver sponsor of this year's Antigua Sailing Week and will also be providing air travel for visiting VIPs and officials.

Virgin Atlantic is one of the world's most acclaimed carriers and was named "Best Transatlantic Airline, 2003" by readers of Travel Weekly. Virgin Atlantic Airways started flying to Antigua in October 1998 and operates three direct flights per week. Virgin Atlantic also serves the Caribbean islands of St Lucia, Barbados, Grenada and Tobago and carried 294,381 passengers to the region in 2002.

"We're delighted that Virgin Atlantic has agreed to support the event," said Jan Santos, vice chairman of Antigua Sailing Week. "Such support is vital to the continuing success of the event and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our sponsors which include Stanford International Bank Limited, Cable & Wireless, English Harbour Rum, American Express, Yachting World and LIAT."

Yachting World Trophy

As Antigua Sailing Week's official media partner and Platinum sponsor Yachting World is presenting a spectacular solid silver punch bowl to the boat with the fastest elapsed time in the inaugural Round Island Race. A solid silver keeper plate is also being presented to the winner as a keepsake.

The 44-mile race, anti-clockwise round the island, will take place on Tuesday 26 April, is open to the three 'big classes' - Big Boat 1 and 2 and Racing 3 - and will start and finish off Curtain Bluff.

Commenting on Sailing Week's new trophy Andrew Bray, editor of Yachting World said: "The new round Antigua race promises to be fiercely fought and will be an exciting spectacle. I'm very pleased that Yachting World is able to present this trophy."

Fifteen Minutes Of Fame

Antigua Sailing Week will once again be welcoming Sportshows Television to film the official TV programme and DVD of the event. They will be filming throughout the whole regatta and distributing the programme around the world. The DVDs from 2002, 2003 and 2004 are available to buy from www.high.tv. Participants are being encouraged to pre-order the 2005 Antigua Sailing Week DVD for a reduced price of $35. Those generous skippers wishing to purchase the DVD for all crew members should contact hightvshop@narrowstep.com for a bulk discount.

Last year's Antigua Sailing Week saw 211 boats in 16 classes registered, with 200 making it to the start line for the first start gun off English Harbour. Twenty-eight yachts 60 feet and over gathered with the fastest monohull in the world, Mari-Cha IV, leading the charge.

24 countries were represented with Russia and Hungary entering for the first time. 85 bareboats battled it out. A total of 28 Swans competed - a record for Antigua Sailing Week - and a king's ransom of international sailing talent that was hard to keep track of was scattered through the fleet.

After the week of racing, Dr Hasso Plattner's maxZ86 Morning Glory walked away with the Lord Nelson's Trophy for best overall, the Curtain Bluff Trophy for winning Big Boat I and the Ricochet Cup for best American yacht. She won four of her seven races, dropping two to Titan XII and one to her sistership Pyewacket. She beat Mari-Cha IV over the line three times.

After a week of building winds, the 37th annual Antigua Sailing Week ended with a bang on the last day of racing. Rain and cloud greeted the fleet but as the day wore on the clouds gave way to Caribbean sunshine. Winds moderated slightly and averaged 23 knots but 28-knot gusts were seen after the start.

Racing concluded on Saturday with the second annual Bareboat Championship Race. Conditions were still demanding with 20-25 knot winds and 6-8 foot seas. 18 boats - the top three from each class - lined up on the start line and DSD Carnival with Phil Otis on the helm emerged victorious.

For more information on Antigua Sailing Week visit: www.sailingweek.com. Stanford International Bank Limited is a diamond sponsor of the event. Platinum sponsors are Cable & Wireless, English Harbour Rum and Yachting World. Virgin Atlantic and LIAT are silver sponsors.