May 07, 2006
Rolex Antigua Sailing Week
English Harbour, Antigua, W.I.
ROLEX ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK CULMINATES WITH LORD NELSON'S BALL
English Harbour, Antigua (May 6, 2006) - While the majority of competitors at Rolex Antigua Sailing Week enjoyed a day of rest after a week's worth of challenging Caribbean sailing, organizers transformed the Regatta Village in Nelson's Dockyard into the site of the Lord Nelson's Ball. The evening prize giving, where over 100 trophies were handed out, is the highlight of the traditional closing ceremony for the week. This year, winners in five classes also received Rolex Steel Submariner timepieces for overall victory. The event, now in its 39th year, hosted thousands of competitors representing 30 countries aboard 191 boats.
From Sunday, April 30 through Friday, May 5, the event's organizing committee, led by Neil Forrester, chairman and general manager of the Antigua Hotel and Tourist Association, hosted daily racing where over the first two days of racing the fleet moored first in Dickenson Bay, then at Jolly Harbour Marina on the west coast of the island, then returning back to English and Falmouth Harbours for racing along the southern coast.
Festive shore side entertainment featured daily live music and hospitality within the Regatta Village.
Despite a few set backs in the schedule - day two's windward/leeward racing was cancelled for Division A for lack of wind and a protest in Division B over a miscommunication about a specific mark rounding in race three - competitors concluded that this year's rendition of the Caribbean classic was memorable. Great racing, a variety of parties at unique venues and classic island weather contributed to the experience.
This morning's Bareboat Championship Race - where the top three finishers in each Bareboat class compete against each other in a fleet race - was a victory by Sweden's Jan Soderberg. Soderberg and crew, aboard a chartered Moorings 445, won this week's Bareboat IV class with straight first-place wins. All five of the Bareboat classes were represented in today's fleet of 16 entries.
In all 30 countries are represented with the most entries coming from the United Kingdom. Caribbean nations represented are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Saint Marten, Trinidad And Tobago, with additional representatives from Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Guyana, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The International Jury was lead by Arthur Wullschleger with members Chris Martin (ANT), Dean Cady (USA), Warwick Coppelson (USA), Graeme Hayward (CAN), Peter Jolly (GBR), John Osmond (USA) and Geoffrey Pidduck (ANT).
Race Committee headed by Tom Paterson with Dave Arnold and Peter Grimm serving as Principal Race Officers for Divisions A and B, respectively.
For more information about Rolex Antigua Sailing Week including results, photos and daily highlights video, visit the event's official website www.sailingweek.com.
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Fotos: Daniel Forster/Rolex
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