The challenge was on in Antigua on January 28th, 29th and 30th 2011 when yachts in excess of 80 feet (LOA) were invited to participate in an exciting, friendly, new event to Antigua for 2011 – the Superyacht Challenge Antigua!
“Three days of fantastic sailing… the owner loved it all… we will definitely be coming back next year!’….enthused the Captain of the beautiful sailing schooner This Is Us at the Superyacht Challenge’s closing prize-giving dinner held at the Admiral’s Inn on Sunday night.
The Antigua Superyacht Challenge, 2011 from acquafilms on Vimeo.
Spectators lucky enough to have been out on the water or with a good vantage point in the English Harbour or Carlisle Bay area would have enjoyed the impressive sight of the four ‘Superyacht Challenge’ competitors under full sail, and/ or flying colourful spinnakers as they raced around the marks set for three days of exciting pursuit racing.
The SYCA Committee headed by Paul Deeth and Stan Pearson in association with the Antigua Yacht Club (AYC) hosted the event with race ratings and start times being determined by the familiar Bucket Rule administered by Jim Teeters.
The planning of this event all happened in just a few weeks and the organizers were delighted with the interest expressed by some very high profile yachts. With such short notice, however, just four contenders set sail across the start line for Race 1 on Friday 28th – the speedy Swan 90 ‘Nefertiti’, the distinctive French Dominique Preles designed aluminum 100’ ketch ‘Marama’ and two Hoek design modern classic ‘beauties’; sailing yacht Marie, a stunning 180ft. ketch and the equally beautiful 141’ schooner, ‘This is Us’.
From a Start/Finish line off the entrance to English Harbour, the course marks for the three 12 – 30 mile (approx) Pursuit Races were set daily according to the prevailing conditions. The three days were not without incident however, the race committee had their worrying moment when, on the second race day just prior to the first race start, the start marker buoy was seen rapidly disappearing towards Montserrat! Luckily the press boat saved the day not only retrieving the runaway mark, but also standing on the start position with the buoy on the bow, while the race got under way until the Antigua Yacht Club ‘rescue and re-anchor the mark’ team arrived!
Competition between the four entrants intensified daily as the ratings were adjusted according to each yachts daily performance. To add spice to the competition there was an element of friendly Antiguan challenge out on the race course with Paul Deeth helming ‘Marama’, Carlo Falcone, ‘This is Us’ and Stan Pearson a crew member aboard ‘Nefertiti’!
Some fabulous images and footage was taken throughout the event but none better that when the two Hoek classic design entrants, ‘Marie’ and sailing yacht This Is Us came into close contention on the second day, tacking close in shore off beautiful Rendez-vous bay. The finish of the second race on Saturday also created much excited after race buzz, the main subject being the amazing strength of the Swan 90 – ‘Nefertiti’s’ mast and rig as she and ‘This Is Us’ powered to the line both flying spinnakers. Despite the final push from the Captain and crew on ‘Nefertiti’, she was just beaten to the finish by ‘This Is Us.’
Weather-wise, the entire event was blessed with the best of Caribbean sailing conditions, sunny skies and sparkling seas. 18 – 20 knot winds on the first day, dipped off a little for Saturdays two races and then came back up to 18 – 20 + knots for Sunday giving everyone a great final romp around the course. There were a couple of exciting and dramatic moments – none more so than when Marie’s spectacular spinnaker ‘blew’ – as described by the eye-witness crew of ‘Marama’ – …”as if a zipper, unzipped right up the centre of the sail!” Next it was ‘Marama’s’ turn for some bad luck when the jib stay broke at the start of the homeward beat, but with speedy crew action she was soon storming home again in quick time under genoa and main.
The friendly rivalry and fun out on the water continued ashore at each of the events evening’s parties with owners, captains and crew alike all entering into the spirit of the evening’s entertainment. From the first stylish welcome cocktail party held in the gardens of the newly renovated Admiral’s Inn to the sophisticated end of regatta prize-giving dinner at the same venue – there were parties for everyone to enjoy during the regatta.
Informal partytime following Friday and Saturday’s racing was staged in Nelson’s Dockyard around the Captians. Friday night being Caribbean night, a fire-eater, a limbo dancer and jump up D.J music accompanied a sumptuous Caribbean buffet laid on by National Parks. The prize for the loudest Caribbean shirt competition produced some ‘horrors’ and was won by Captain Steve Carson!
The Saturday nights ‘Cook Off’ is a competition which is bound to become an annual Superyacht Challenge signature event! Unchanged from its African origin, the West Indian coal pot is very much a part of Antiguan heritage. Chefs competing in the ‘Cook Off’ were each supplied with their own coal pot and a bag of local coals and, true to tradition, no aid other than a match to fire it up! Fortunately a passing rain shower held off until the competing chefs had presented their mouthwatering speciality ‘Cook Off’ dishes to the judges. Amidst much cheering from his crew, Chef Stuart from ‘This is Us’ won first prize for his ‘Caribbean Chocolate Chilli Chicken’ while Keith ‘Pirate’ Outram of the Marama crew, wielding a plastic sabre in one hand and his prize winning skewered shrimp in the other, claimed the second prize bottle of English harbour rum!
Tommy Patterson representing the SYCA closed the event as he opened it, with a light hearted speech, before congratulating all the winners and with Paul Deeth and Stan Pearson awarding the prizes in reverse order as follows: This is Us’, ‘Nefertiti’, ‘Marie’ and to the winner of this years Superyacht Challenge, the ketch, Marama, helmed by Paul Deeth himself!
A cuban band played on into the night and the enthusiastic comments continued to flow..“ An awesome event ” from the Captain of ‘Marie’, and heard by an owner’s guest aboard ‘Marama’… “ A fabulous regatta, we had such a great time ! We will definitely be back next year and will spread the word to other owners back home that this is an event not to be missed “
With so many positive comments and enthusiasm for this year’s event from Captains, Owners and Crew, the dates for next year’s Antigua Superyacht Regatta are already set for January 27 – 29th. 2012.
Editorial: Clare Sudlow
