Giant outing

Clash of the maxiboats in the Guadeloupe to Antigua race

In the Guadeloupe to Antigua Race held yesterday (Thursday, April 22), Robert Miller's Mari Cha IV took line hours with a time of two hours 18 minutes and 42 seconds. She shattered her own record set by her previous incarnation in 2001 by 22 minutes and 20 seconds. Visione, Hasso Plattner's 140ft Baltic also broke the record finishing eight minutes behind Mari Cha. Sojana, Peter Harrison's 115ft ketch, was third over the line.

After the corrected times were calculated Mari Cha was still the winner but Visione had been bumped to third by Sojana by a mere four seconds. 16 boats competed in the 42-mile race which started off Des Haies in Guadeloupe and finished off English Harbour, Antigua.

The winners:
Racing: Mari Cha IV, Briand 140, Robert Miller
Racer/Cruiser: Hotel California, Santa Cruz 70
Bareboat: Grenat, Beneteau 50, Dieter Kuhn
Cruiser: Pavlova II, Swan 43, Richard Burbidge
Classic: Taeoo, Schooner 85'

By close of play Wednesday, April 23, 207 boats were entered for Antigua Sailing Week 2004.

ASW04 opened it doors with on-site registration on 12 April. The Guadeloupe to Antigua Race was followed by the Cavalier Rum Beach Party at Pigeon Beach, Falmouth Harbour. On 24 April, the winners of the Schools Art Competition will be on display at Admiral's Inn. At 1700h that evening is the skippers' briefing and then the real fun begins.

Sunday, April 25th, is the Dickenson Bay Race followed by the Great Dickenson Bay Beach Bash. Monday, Division A yachts will race Olympic courses off Dickenson Bay and Division B will race to Jolly Harbour. Tuesday is the Falmouth Harbour Race, which is followed by Lay-Day fun on Wednesday at Antigua Yacht Club.

Thursday, the yachts are back on the ocean with Division A racing windward/leeward courses and Division B sailing the South Coast Race. Friday marks the last official day of racing with the Ocean Race. Saturday the prize giving is preceded with the Second Annual Bareboat Challenge Championship Race.

The Lord Nelson's Ball and prize giving wraps the event on Saturday evening.

Stanford International Bank Limited is a diamond sponsor of the event. Platinum sponsors are Air Jamaica, Cable & Wireless, English Harbour Rum and American Express. LIAT is a Silver sponsor while Sticky Wicket Restaurant and Going Places Travel are Copper sponsors.