Antigua Sailing Week 2025 unfolded from 26 April to 2 May with a compact but competitive fleet of 53 boats. Now in its 57th year, the event remains one of the more prominent fixtures on the Caribbean sailing calendar. While smaller in numbers than in previous years, the mix of seasoned campaigners and fresh entries provided plenty of interest across nine classes. Racing ranged from high-spec machines like Volvo 65s to club racers, cruisers, and one-design fleets.
The regatta opened with the Peters & May Round Antigua Race. Roy Disney’s Pyewacket 70 made its mark early, securing both line honours and the class win after a close tactical contest with Lee Overlay Partners III. From there, the week followed a varied format, with daily race themes like the English Harbour Rum Race and Women’s Race Day, a midweek break on shore, and a final day of racing on 2 May.
Early competition in CSA Racing 3 saw Steve Rigby’s J/122 El Ocaso edge out rivals like Danish Blue and Team Oystercatcher under ideal tradewind conditions. Local boat Warthog was quick off the line and took line honours in the first of two races but finally dropped to fourth on corrected time.
By Day Three, a pattern of closely fought results had emerged. Classes 2–4 were separated by only a few points, with boats like trading places at the top. The conditions helped—steady breezes around 10–12 knots and sunshine made for good sailing and a relaxed onshore atmosphere, which carried into events like the Rum and Reggae night.
The midweek Lay Day at Pigeon Point Beach provided a break from the race course. Crews and locals mingled over beach games, dinghy relays, and music. While light-hearted, it was also a reminder of how social interaction remains a core part of this event’s appeal.
A different energy emerged on Thursday with the Falmouth Ocean Club Youth 2 Keel Race Day. Young Antiguan sailors from the National Sailing Academy had their moment, racing keelboats and showing developing skills in the company of international crews.
Friday’s final race day brought slightly fresher winds, up to 14 knots. In CSA Racing Class 3, El Ocaso completed two wins to move into the lead, securing not only the class title but also the Lord Nelson Trophy—awarded to the best-performing boat on corrected time across CSA Racing 2, 3, and 4.
El Ocaso is now one of a select group of only three boats that have won the Lord Nelson Trophy on three occasions. Sir Peter Harrison’s Farr 115 Sojana won in 2011, 2018 and 2019, while Larry Ellison’s Farr designed Maxi Sayonara was victorious in 1997, 1998 and 2000.
Across the week, 65 per cent of the fleet managed at least one podium finish, underscoring the competitive nature of the racing. Roy Disney’s modified Volvo 70 Pyewacket, competing in CSA Racing Class 1, stood out as the only boat to claim both line honours and corrected-time wins in every race. In the Performance Multihull division, Adrian Lee’s HH66 Lee Overlay Partners III took the overall title.
