ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK

Several days of thrilling competition on the water during Antigua Sailing Week 2012 gave way on Tuesday night for an inspiring and entertaining musical ride courtesy of Ky-Mani Marley, son of legendary reggae artist, Bob Marley.
 
Thousands poured into Nelson's Dockyard to share in what was a memorable evening celebrating the 45th Anniversary of the Caribbean's premier sailing regatta.  Setting the pace was the Spirited Band, boasting a legend of its own in former West Indies fast bowling great, Curtly Ambrose. With a repertoire of popular songs ranging from reggae and soca to lively dance hits, the large crowd was already abuzz and dancing well before the main act took the stage. Another legend Sir Rupert Philo, otherwise known as the Mighty Swallow, had the crowd rocking with some of his popular calypso tunes from through the years.
 
Then the magic began.
 
From the drop of the first note from his Confrontation band, there was an eager sense that something special was going to happen on this night.
 
It did.
 
Performing for well over an hour, Marley held his audience through every song, electrifying the crowd with some of the memorable hits that were done by his late father, the legendary Bob Marley, and kept them moving through every original of his own. Even Ky-Mani's son, KJ, showing incredible signs of a future star attraction, took the temperature on the night several notches higher when he performed a rap to one song.
 
By all accounts, the night was totally satisfying to all involved, and did creditably well to keep Antigua Sailing Week as a signature event for providing fun on both land and water.
 
Activities are being kept shore side today with the traditional Lay Day which is being held at Pigeon Beach.  Starting at 2.30 pm there will be on the water action with Laser Pico racing, rowing races and stand up paddle board racing. On the beach will be beach cricket with cricketing legends Kenny Benjamin and Curtly Ambrose playing with local and visiting cricket enthusiasts.

So find your way to Pigeon Beach and catch all the laid-back Lay Day action.

 

All images Ted Martin: www.photofantasy.zenfoliocom