70 teams from 16 nations set off on a 600 nautical mile circumnavigation of 11 Caribbean islands in one of the most challenging sailing events in the world.
If you thought it was all about the boats, time to think again!
In the lead up to the main event today, a new series of races culminated with the Antigua 360. Over 20 boats set off to race around the island – and two kiteboards!
Tiger Tyson, Antigua and Barbuda’s Olympian kiteboarder, joined the boats in an attempt to break the record – and he did!
Previously held by the highspeed trimaran Phaedo at 2 hours 44 minutes. Tiger showed everyone how it’s done and flew in at 2 hours 38 minutes.
He was joined at the start by a US kiteboarder, who was forced to retire with a ripped sail.
With strong winds, seas and a record amount of sargassum, this was a challenge for the boats, let alone the kiteboard.
If Tiger was able to surmount the weekend’s challenging conditions, one can only imagine what he will achieve in the PanAm games in Chile later this year and at the next Olympics.
The main event starts today with the starter gun at Fort Charlotte in English Harbour, whither the course heads north as far as St. Martin and south to Guadeloupe taking in Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Saba and St Bart’s, tackling every point-of-sail.
Boats from Australia, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, France, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and the United States will be participating along Antigua and Barbuda, of course, which holds her own among these prestigious teams.
The multi-hills are the monsters that expect to be back and partying in English Harbour by Tuesday afternoon, while some of the smaller boats will be happy to be back in time for the closing party on Friday!
Around 80 volunteers are participating in the event this year to ensure that every event is a success.
The Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard and Antigua and Barbuda Search and Rescue (ABSAR) are both playing a major role as well to ensure the safety of the participants.
ABSAR, for example, meets every boat on their return.
Without these volunteers, Antigua and Barbuda would not have excelled as it has as a Centre of Excellence in sailing.
The 2023 sailing season goes right into July with the return of the North American Optimist Championships which left Antigua and Barbuda with glowing reviews in 2015 and 2016.
Their return will increase the need for more volunteers.
Antigua and Barbuda is no stranger to a challenge, however as the country welcomed 64 nations during the World Championships in 2019.
Hundreds of visitors, sailors, their families, organisers, hangers-on will descend on the island placing Antigua and Barbuda’s sailing prowess on the world stage.
The country will be well- represented by our now-well-travelled young optimist champions, trained by Antiguan and Barbudan Olympian, Karl James.
