ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK

PRESS RELEASE: May 9, 2017 - Antigua Bermuda Race about to set off - 935 nm race on Friday, May 12th at midday. Watch the start from Fort Charlotte

The 112ft three-masted schooner Spirit of Bermuda owned by the Bermuda Sloop Foundation © Ed Gifford

Following on from the overwhelming success of the 50th edition of Antigua Sailing Week, an impressive range of yachts from all over the world will depart from Antigua on their 935 nautical mile race to Bermuda on Friday 12th May. There will be one start for the 21-boat fleet racing in classes: CSA Monohull, CSA Classic and IRC, plus Allegra, the 78ft catamaran. The yachts will be there in good time for the 35th America's Cup.

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 - will be nothing short of 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.

View the facts, stats, course and entries here.
•  40ft - Smallest boats in the fleet, Pogo 12.50's - Hermes (CAN) and Talanta (SWE)
•  162ft (49.50m) - Largest boat - Eleonora - follows Westward's heritage of big schooner racing,
    but has all the character and style of a true classic with the advantages of being a modern
    yacht
•  21 entries from 9 different countries and crews from many more
•  The Antigua Bermuda Race starts from Fort Charlotte, Antigua at midday Antigua on Friday
   12th May, 2017 - spectators welcome to come up to Fort Charlotte to see the start
•  With 21 entries including 17 over 50ft and seven Maxis and one SuperMaxi, the sight of the
    fleet departing for the 900 nautical mile race will be nothing short of 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
•  A fantastic welcome is awaiting the magnificent fleet taking part in the Antigua Bermuda Race.
   As host for the 35th America's Cup, Bermuda will be buzzing with excitement.
•  The Antigua Bermuda Race starts on Friday 12th May 2017 and is supported by the Bermuda
   Tourism Authority and Goslings Rum
•  The destination for the 935-mile offshore race will be one of the oldest yacht clubs in North
    America, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, established in 1844, seven years before the America's
    Cup
•  Goslings, the Official Rum of the America's Cup will be sponsoring the pre-race crew party on
    Wednesday, May 10 at the Copper & Lumber Hotel, Nelson's Dockyard, Antgiua and the Prize
    Giving in Bermuda on May 20th.
    Royal Bermuda, with many years' experience hosting the Newport Bermuda Race arrivals,
    will guarantee a good party
•   Antigua Bermuda Race, organised by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in association with Antigua
    Sailing Week.The inaugural race coincides with the finish of the 50th edition of Antigua Sailing
    Week and the 35th America's Cup event in Bermuda

How to Follow the Race:
All yachts will be fitted with a YB tracker so family, friends and race fans will be able to follow the progress of individual boats or the fleet as they head towards Bermuda. The link will be on the race website.

Website: https://www.antiguabermuda.com/

Social media: https://www.facebook.com/antiguabermudarace/ #antiguabermuda

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqJXlVyaaPQhvcwkFXcytig/playlists