ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK

Happy sailors enjoying some Antiguan rum cocktails while reviewing Antigua Sailing Week brochures!

August in Great Britain is the peak month of the year for sailing regattas and Antigua Sailing Week ambassador, Louay Habib, was on hand to proudly promote Antigua Sailing Week at high profile sailing events. Two thousand flyers supporting Antigua Sailing Week as well as the 2014 Caribbean Sailing Association International Race Calendar and the Antigua Yachting Calendar, were distributed to yacht owners and sailors at prestigious events.

The crew of Antigua Sailing Week-sponsored Sunsail F40 entry, Coastal Graphics, sharing post-race stories.

Since 1826 Cowes Week has played a key part in the British sporting summer calendar and is one of the UK's longest running and most successful sporting events. With around 1,000 boats, it is the largest sailing regatta of its kind in the world. Antigua Sailing Week teamed up with Sunsail F40 entry, Coastal Graphics, laying on a dock party for hundreds of sailors racing in the 32-strong Sunsail Fleet and a few jolly gatecrashers to boot! The party enjoyed some Caribbean music and a few rum punches, courtesy of Antigua Sailing Week.

“What a great party!” beamed Michele Portsmore, who has never been to Antigua. “I am definitely putting Antigua Sailing Week on my 'must do list' and after a few rum and gingers at the dock party, it's my new summer drink!”

Besides making many new friends, regulars of Antigua Sailing Week also joined in the fun, including Paul and Deborah Miller from results service, Regattaguru.com, which provides online entry and results for Antigua Sailing Week and many other Caribbean and Cowes-based regattas.

J/109 sailors checking out the Antigua Sailing Week brochures.

After Cowes Week, the Antigua Sailing Week promotions focused on the J-Cup in Plymouth. Over 300 sailors racing in J Boats were treated to a Caribbean drinks party at Chandlers Bar at the Royal Western Yacht Club, the foremost yacht club in the South West of England. Hundreds of promotional flyers were eagerly snapped up by the racers, some of which gave details of a discounted Antigua Sailing Week entry fee.  Plymouth local Nigel Passmore was keen to find out more about Antigua Sailing Week. “We will be sailing our J/133, Apollo, across the Atlantic to the Caribbean next year and will definitely be entering,” commented Nigel.  “Antigua is the first place that I sailed with my wife so I have very fond memories of the island but I have never raced at Antigua Sailing Week before.  All of the people I know who have participated tell me what a great regatta it is, and I am really looking forward to it.”

In September, Antigua Sailing Week will be represented at the PSP Southampton Boat Show and at selected high profile regattas promoting Antigua and Barbuda through Antigua Sailing Week.

Article and photographs by Louay Habib.