Antigua Bermuda Race – Tag 4

Antigua Bermuda Race – Tag 4

• Start: Friday 12th May 2017 at 1200 AST. The start is off Fort Charlotte, Antigua.
• The Antigua Bermuda Race is supported by the Bermuda Tourism Authority and Goslings Rum
• Antigua Bermuda Race is organised by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in association with Antigua Sailing Week. The inaugural race coincided with the finish of the 50th edition of Antigua Sailing Week and the 35th America’s Cup event in Bermuda
• There will be one start for the 21-boat fleet representing 9 different countries (and crews from many more) racing under CSA Monohull, CSA Classic, MultiRule and IRC
• Yachts from the following countries: Antigua; Australia; Bermuda; Canada; Ireland; Great Britain; Sweden; Switzerland; USA
  Crew from many more nations, including: Australia; Austria; Denmark; France; New Zealand; St. Maarten and St. Lucia
• 21 boats, 17 over 50ft, 7 x Maxi yachts, a SuperMaxi, plus majestic schooners: the sight of the fleet departing will be nothing short of spectacular
• Smallest/Largest:
  • 40ft – Smallest boats in the fleet, Pogo 12.50’s – Hermes (CAN), 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
• Fastest:
  • Fastest Multihull in the race is the Nigel Irens designed APC 78 catamaran, Allegra. Skippered by Adrian Keller with Boat Captain Rob Grimm, the crew includes Paul Larsen, the World’s fastest sailor who achieved 68 knots on board Vestas Sailrocket!
  • Fastest Monohulls: The fastest monohull competing is likely to be the USMMA’s (US Merchant Marine Academy) Volvo 70, Warrior, skippered by Stephen Murray Jr.Warrior
  • Although Warrior and Allegra are competing in different classes, the two fastest yachts in the race might enjoy an interesting battle at the front of the fleet
• 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
• Corinthian sailors with family and friends on board will be on the same race course as Volvo Ocean Race and Round the World record holders and ‚pro‘ sailors
• Personalities also include well-known Australian broadcaster/journalist, Piers Akerman racing on the Australian, El Oro
• 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
• „The variety of the fleet shows the wide appeal of the race and bodes well for the Antigua Bermuda Race to grow in future editions,“ commented Antigua Bermuda Race Chairman, Les Crane who will be competing in his Farr 56, Monterey. „The America’s Cup in Bermuda has ignited interest in the race this year, however it is a well-known route for yachts leaving the Caribbean bound for the Eastern Seaboard of the United States as well as destination in Europe. Our intention is that the Antigua Bermuda Race will be an annual event, popular with a wide variety of yachts.“