The week before Antigua Sailing Week is devoted to showing off and racing "classic" sailboats. These are divided into a number of classes. True "classics" are boats designed and built perhaps 60 to over 100 years ago. Made out of wood, most have been meticulously restored and maintained. In addition, boats that have been more recently built, but in the style and tradition of "classics" are allowed to compete. Among these is the J-Boat Ranger.
On
the opening Sunday of this week, all of the boats take part in a parade
through English Harbour. Having lunch at Catherine's Cafe during this
parade is one of the social events of the season.
One of representatives from the Antigua Yacht club dresses up in formal attire and top hat, and is anchored in a dinghy off the dock. He offers a salute to each of the classic boats as they go by.
Schooner Windrose
The largest "classic" in 2005 was the schooner Windrose. Actually built relatively recently, at around 150' and a crew we stopped counting a 30, Windrose competed in a class with two of the J-Boats.
J Boats Racing
As we sailed back to Jolly Harbour during Classic Race Week, we were lucky to come upon two of the J Boats racing past us. These boats are about 120-130' long, and were originally built in the early 1900's. Today, they have been restored, and updated with high tech sails and hardware. America's Cup skippers such as Dennis Connor are sometimes hired to skipper these boats.
Tall Ships Racing
The
tall ship shown at right is a youth training vessel out of the UK.
There is a special class for the two or three tall ships that usually are
around.
This site was last updated 01/04/06