ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY

From Top Left: Yachts on the Noyac Bay during race, Minister Fernandez presenting the award.
From Bottom Left: CEO James speaking with WLNG during the race, CEO James, Mayor Schroeder, Minister Fernandez, Dean Fenton, ABTA

St. John’s, Antigua (Sunday August 20, 2018) Antigua and Barbuda Hamptons Yacht Challenge went off with a bang in picturesque Sag Harbor in The Hamptons. In its 4th year, a record-breaking 27 yachts with over a hundred crew members entered the regatta in the fastest growing one-day yachting event in the Northeast that took place on Saturday, August 18th.

The initial overcast conditions at the start soon gave way to glorious sunshine as the yachts started the event with a steady 8 -10 knot breeze – made for a great competition. The glorious August summer day ended with Captain Phil Walters and the crew of “August Sky” emerging as the overall winners. The Captain and crew, a total of 6 persons, from the winning yacht received as the FIRST PRIZE- Airfare, Hotel accommodations and a Charter Sailboat to race in Antigua Sailing Week 2019.

The Elite Island Resorts, St James’ Club, one of the destination’s co-sponsors for the event will be providing on island accommodations for the winning team. Other prizes included a stay at the historic Copper and Lumber Store Hotel, and a keg of award winning English Harbour Rum.  The American University of Antigua (AUA) which has been a key co-sponsor of the event from inception was also present in supporting the country’s tourism efforts in the Hampton’s  

The day culminated in an awards Caribbean cocktail party that truly brought Antigua and Barbuda to The Hamptons. Hundreds of sailors and crew celebrated under the big tent at Havens Beach where they danced the evening away to the music, food and liberal amounts of the award winning English Harbour Rum of Antigua and Barbuda.

Prior to the event Tourism officials led by Minister of Tourism and Investment the Hon. H. Charles Fernandez also used the opportunity to engage the affluent Hamptons Community with interviews with the local Sag Harbor Express and the popular local radio station, WLNG. Minster Fernandez strengthened ties with dignitaries in the region by meeting with Sag Harbor’s mayor Sandra Schroder. During the meeting the two agreed to an exchange program which will see Antigua and Barbuda’s young sailors visiting the Hamptons and a team from the Hamptons participating in next year’s World Dingy Championship which will be hosted in Antigua and Barbuda.

“The Antigua and Barbuda Hamptons Yachting Challenge is a critical part of our Yachting marketing strategy. The reception and interest that was generated by Antigua and Barbuda with this weekend’s activities will further help to grow yachting visitor arrivals from the Hamptons and further cement our position as the mecca of Caribbean Sailing,” said Hon. Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez, Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Tourism and Investment.

The evening was also a celebration of the life of Rob Roden, who sadly passed away a week prior to the event. Rob and his wife Theresa are the publisher of the Captain’s Table Yachting Magazine, and he was instrumental in starting the event which has linked the yachting communities of Sag Harbor and English Harbour.