After a three-year Covid hiatus, the fourth edition of the Antigua Bermuda Race will start from Antigua May 9th 2023. The 935nm oceanic race is managed by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in association with Antigua Sailing Week, and supported by the Bermuda Tourism Authority and Goslings Rum. The race is designed to suit a wide range of yachts and crew, with memorable parties both in Antigua and Bermuda.
After leaving Antigua the fleet pass Barbuda and will be out of sight of land until the finish in Bermuda. The race is an experience of about 1,000 miles of tropical Atlantic sailing - a true blue ocean adventure. Sailing in the deep, competitors will experience reaching conditions in warm oceanic swell and a magical night sky.
Canadian Pogo 12.50 Hermes II has raced in all previous editions of the Antigua Bermuda Race.
"Every year I look forward to the Antigua Bermuda Race and I think Hermes does too," smiled Meg Reilly. "She gets to stretch out her legs and surf some real ocean waves.
The Prize Giving for the 2019 Antigua Bermuda Race was held at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club on May 16, 2019. Honoured guests at the ceremony were Premier of Bermuda E. David Burt, Bermuda Tourism's Daniel Johnson, and Goslings Rum Brand Director Andrew Holmes. Vice Commodore David Benevides, and Rear Commodore Charles Penruddocke represented the RBYC. Past Commodore and Antigua Bermuda Race Chairman, Les Crane was assisted by Margaret Crane. Hand-made customised plaques, fired by John Faulkner in the Royal Naval Dockyard Bermuda, were awarded to every competing yacht. Gosling's Rum and Bermuda Tourism provided drinks and sandwiches for the competitors.
Giles Redpath's Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR), skippered by Andy Lis, was awarded the Warrior Trophy, as the overall winner of the 2019 Antigua Bermuda Race.
“This was just a fabulous race, Scallywag was in a world of its own but all the rest of the IRC fleet finished with 24 hours of each other on a 1000 mile course. There was really tight competition for the overall win, and second place was won by just 21 minutes,” commented Les Crane. “Stories, friendships and opportunities have come about because of this race, which makes it even more special. Many competitors have told us they will be back next year, and we hope to have more teams joining us in the IRC Racing, Double Handed and CSA Cruising classes.”
The fourth edition of the Antigua Bermuda Race will start from Antigua May 6th, 2020.
With all yachts accounted for in the 2019 Antigua Bermuda Race, Giles Redpath's Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR), skippered by Andy Liss, has posted the best corrected time under IRC, winning the Warrior Trophy. In a dramatic finish for second place, Peter Grueterich's xP-44 Xpatriate (USA) corrected out to take runner-up by just 21 minutes after over five days of ocean racing. Kevin McLaughlin's x-55 Rye (USA) was third. Antigua Bermuda Race Chairman, Les Crane was dockside at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club to welcome finishing yachts.
“Only one member of the crew was over 25, and we came together after Antigua Sailing Week,” commented Pata Negra's skipper Andy Liss. “Some of the crew will help me deliver Pata Negra to Newport for the Transatlantic Race, and others will be sailing boats across the Atlantic in the ARC, and private deliveries. The crew for this race are a great bunch, and we have become firm friends. We are delighted to continue the winning tradition for Pata Negra.”
“Everybody has been just awesome on the race, it's a small boat for six days on the water but we just get along great, we had fun all the way!” commented Xpatriate's Peter Grueterich. “I knew it was very very tight between us and Rye, and it was an excruciating finish as it seemed so long get there. When we heard from Les Crane that we had got second, I was completely floored, there was an outburst of joy from the whole crew. This has been an incredible race, with great organisation. The whole idea of a race to finish the Caribbean season is just perfect, after clearing customs in St.Georges we had a party until 4 am with other competitors. We look forward to telling our stories in the Yard Arm Bar at the Riverside Yacht Club.”
Read more: Pata Negra Overall Winner 2019 Antigua Bermuda Race
2019 Antigua Bermuda Race - Day Six
Six yachts are expected to finish the 2019 Antigua Bermuda Race today, Monday 13 May. Afansay Isaev’s Grand Mistral 80 Maxi Weddell (RUS) is expected to finish around midday taking second place in Line Honours, but Weddell will be outside the IRC corrected time set by SHK Scallywag.
Three yachts are in a thrilling battle to win the Warrior Trophy for the best elapsed time after IRC Correction. Pata Negra (GBR) skippered by Andy Liss, Peter Grueterich's Xpatriate (USA) and Kevin McLaughlin's Rye (USA) are all in contention with 114 miles or less to go.
At 0900 AST, Pata Negra was 83 miles from the finish and leading under IRC. Xpatriate has been really catching Pata Negra over the last 24 hours, cutting an eight hour lead down to just over one hour. Xpatriate was 114 miles from the finish and second in IRC. Rye was 93 miles from the St David's Lighthouse and estimated to be just over two hours behind Pata Negra after IRC time correction.
“We are a crew that has been sailing together on various boats for many years,” commented Peter Grueterich, skipper of Xpatriate. “We know each other very well and get along great. We trust each other and have great respect for one another. When we finally got the seaweed off the rudder the boat sails pretty fast! Xpatriate is not in its lightest form as we are bringing lots of cruising stuff with us to our home port in Riverside, Connecticut, but we picked a good course on the left side of the rhumb line and stuck with it. We also have a good set of complementary skills across all watches which makes it so much easier. We are really looking forward to Bermuda. To enjoy rum , ice cold beers and a great dinner at my favourite pub, and of course stick our feet in the pink sands!!”
The 10 yachts still racing on the sixth day of the Antigua Bermuda Race are experiencing super downwind conditions with warm air and ocean and bright sunshine. Atlantic Rollers will be providing a sleigh ride towards Bermuda. However, there are still some holes in the breeze and with the overall win hanging in the balance, avoiding the light patches will be crucial to the competing teams.
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