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. |
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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.) |