Thursday – Concours D’Elegance
ACYR – The ACYR kicked started today with the single handed race being cancelled due to strong winds. However the panel of four judges spent the morning assessing those yachts that had entered for the Concours D’Elegance. Gold winners were Juno, Windbreker, Ticonderoga, Seefalke, Freya of Midgard, New Moon and Montana. The Arne Frissel award for the most seaworthy vessel went to Vela, the 112′ sail training schooner built in 2020. The overall winner of the Locman Italy watch went to Ticonderoga. Full results can be seen here
Friday – A Windy Start
ACYR – The first race, Old Road, started with winds gusting up to 35 knots but all sailors returned back safely with smiles on their faces as everyone is so pleased to be back on the water after two years of postponements . Winners in their classes were the beautiful 114′ staysail schooner Aschanti IV, the classic 36′ sloop Alani sailing in her first Classics, traditional Carriacou work boat Genesis, vintage 1936 Seefalke II, spirit of tradition 91′ yawl Bequia, the tall ship class 157′ staysail ketch Chronos and the historic class 44′ LJ Windward.
Saturday – Still Blowing Hard
ACYR – On Saturday, the second day of Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, the trade winds were still blowing hard which tested the lovely classic boats and their crews especially after the Friday evening dock party with a steel band and plenty of beer and rum courtesy of our sponsors Carib and Mount Gay.
The Butterfly course saw the 1929 Alfred Mylne cutter, The Blue Peter, win the vintage class and the 1973 S&S Swan, Montana beating the rest of the fleet in her historic class. The 91′ yawl Bequia came first again in the Spirit of Tradition class, as did Aschanti IV in the schooner class.
The dragon challenge continued in Falmouth Bay with Filippo Amonti of Cortina Yacht Club winning the first race, Mike Toppa of New York Yacht Club winning the second and Rocco Falcone of Antigua Yacht Club winning the last two races of the day.
Sunday – Calmed Down
ACYR – The last race of the series at Antigua Classics on Sunday, the Windward race, saw the winds calm down to a steady 18 to 20 knots with clear Caribbean skies which gave the crews a welcome break from the blustery last two days of racing.
The 65′ schooner Juno won the race today.but came second overall with Aschanti IV winning first place in her class..
The Dragon Challenge continued inside Falmouth Bay with Rocco Falcone of Antigua Yacht Club wining the first race, Fritz Bus of St Maarten Yacht Club winning the next one and Jules Mitchell representing Monaco Yacht Club winning the last two races. the overall winner was Rooc Falcone successfully defending his 2019 challenge.
Prize-giving
ACYR – The Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta wrapped up on Sunday evening with a prizegiving ceremony attended by a huge crowd who were welcomed by the Chairman, Carlo Falcone who introduced His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Governor-General of Antigua & Barbuda to present the awards.
Aschanti IV, the beautiful 114′ staysail schooner built in 1954, won first place Locman watch in her classic schooner class as well as the Lyman Morse-Wayfarer Trophy for the lowest corrected time overall in vintage and classic class.
The Antigua Dragon Yacht Club Challenge winners came up on stage to receive their awards with Rocco Falcone representing Antigua Yacht Club successfully defending his 2019 winning place, Filippo Amonti of Cortina Yacht Club taking second place and Jules Mitchell of Monaco Yacht Club coming third.
Full results can be seen here