Yachting Regate 2008

The Antigua Classic Yacht Regate 2008

Back in the 60’s Classic yachts, which were gathered in English Harbor Antigua, had begun chartering and the captains and crews challenged each other to a race down to Guadeloupe and back to celebrate the end of the charter season. From this informal race, Antigua Race Week was formalized in 1967, and in those days all of the yachts were classics. As the years grew on, the classic yachts were slowly outnumbered but the faster sleeker modern racing yachts and 20 years later the Classic Class had diminished to a few boats and was abandoned in 1987. However this same year seven classic yachts turned out and were placed in Cruising Class 3 with the bare boats. The class was so unmatched that it was outright dangerous, so Captain Uli Pruesse hosted a meeting onboard Aschanti of Saba with several classic skippers and in 1988 the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta was born, with 7 boats.

The Regatta has evolved into what it is today with the help of a faithful and long standing committee, and some friends who have brought notoriety to the event. In 1991, Elisabeth Meyer brought her newly refitted Endeavour and Baron Edmond Rothschild brought his 6-meter “Spirit of St Kitts” and “CSR” became the first Sponsor and inaugurated the Concours d’ Elegance. After a few years, Boat International Magazine and our good friend Christian Chalmin took over the Concours d’ Elegance and with the publicity their magazine gave us we gained worldwide recognition. In 1996 we created the “Spirit of Tradition Class” which has now been accepted all over the world, which gives the “New” classics, built along the lines of the old, a chance to sail alongside their sisterships. In 1999 we celebrated the first race between the J class yachts in 60 years. Mt Gay Rum has sponsored the regatta for many years, and we have recently added Panerai as our first ever Platinum Sponsor.

The Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta has maintained a steady growth, hosting between 50 and 60 yachts every year and enjoys a wonderful variety of competitors including traditional craft from the islands, classic ketches, sloops, schooners, and yawls making the bulk of the fleet, together with the stunningly beautiful Spirit of Tradition yachts, J Class yachts, and Tall Ships. All of which makes a wonderful spectacle of sail, in the ideal trade wind sailing conditions of the Caribbean. The sailing combined with Antiguan hospitality, plenty of rum, sunshine, and great camaraderie, in a friendly relaxed atmosphere, places the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, in a class of it’s own.

Bavaria Yachts 36
 

The local success of Bavaria reflects the wider international growth in sales of the German production-yacht range. Founded in 1978, the company now employs more than 500 staff to produce about 2000 boats per year, across its range of 10 models from 32-50ft.

The boats come onto the market well priced due to the economics of scale and the modern manufacturing methods and processes utilised by Bavaria Yachts. While budget pricing has been a strong factor in the number of Bavarias sold in Australia, so has been the distributor's approach to marketing them. Not only are they sold as true sailaway packages, but they also include the best of Bavaria's optional features within the standard specification.

With the new 36, this means the deep lead keel instead of the factory's standard cast-iron keel, and a 29hp Volvo MD2030 diesel engine instead of the listed 19hp Volvo MD2030.

Also included are many items that are often listed as optional extras, such as an electric anchor windlass, electronic wind and log instruments and GPS chartplotter, VHF radio and masthead antenna, and more.

The result with the Bavaria 36 is a boat that is ready to go out for an afternoon's club race or a week's family cruise and actually offers enjoyable sailing en route. Not all cruising people-movers turn out to be the sweetest of sailing craft, but in this case I was very impressed by the 36's capabilities under sail. (And under motor, too, for that matter. When North South Yachting's Andrew Parkes said the boat “goes like the clappers with the motor on,” he wasn't joking.)