Antigua Sailing Week, domani il via alle regate
Antigua Sailing WeekMaxiVela 25 Aprile 2010 Zerogradinord 0
[singlepic id=5658 w=300 h=204 float=left]Antigua Sailing Week – Antigua – Nemmeno la nuvola prodotta dall’ormai noto vulcano finlandese poteva fermare la trasferta pianificata da tempo da numerosi equipaggi europei verso Antigua, terra del rum e, da quarantatre anni a questa parte, teatro dell’Antigua Sailing Week. Al Comitato Organizzatore è infatti bastato spostare di un giorno l’inizio delle regate per poter contare su una entry list che, seppure meno ricca dal punto di vista numerico, nulla ha da invidiare rispetto al passato per quanto riguarda i nomi coinvolti.
A Falmouth Harbour, dove Zerogradinord.it è arrivato da poche ore, le banchine sono affollate e tra gli scafi che scalpitano per affollare la linea di partenza della prima regata, in programma domani mattina, ci sono barche che hanno scritto pagine importanti della vela recente, come il Judel-Vrolijk 72 Ran di Niklas Zennstrom, lo Swan 90 DSK Pioneer Investments di Danilo Salsi, il Frers 90 Kialoa V e il Cookson 50 Privateer. E poi altre imbarcazioni magari meno conosciute, ma non per questo da sottovalutare ai fini dello spettacolo che questa manifestazione sa regalare. Citiamo ad esempio il Reichel-Pugh 75 Titan 15, il TP52 Interlodge, i quattro Farr 65 Spirit of Diana, Spirit of Isis, Spirit of Juno, Spirit of Minerva. Un evento che coinvolge oltre cento equipaggi, molti dei quali presenti per il puro gusto di esserci, e che vedrà impegnati tra le boe anche alcuni scafi italiani. Oltre a DSK Pioneer Investemnts, infatti, battono bandiera italiana anche il “mitico” One Off Caccia alla Volpe di Carlo Falcone e il Felci Yachts 61 Tyke di Marco Serafini.
Maestro di cerimonia per quanto riguarda la Racing Division sarà Dave Brennan, Presidente di Comitato di Regata molto noto a livello internazionale e già impegnato in manifestazioni come la Key West Race Week, l’Etchells South Atlantic Championship e l’International Rolex Regatta. Brennan, inoltre, è già stato designato come Principal Race Officer della tappa della Volvo Ocean Race che nel 2012 si dieputerà a Miami. A collaborare con lui, come responsabile della Cruising Division, sarà Dick Neville.
A causa della nuvola il prologo della manifestazione – la Guadaloupe-Antigua, valida come prima prova dell’Ocean Series – ha visto al via solo nove equipaggi. Da domani, invece, si farà decisamente sul serio. Il programma della manifestazione prevede infatti per gli scafi della Racing Division lo svolgimento della Yachting World Around the Island Race: in pratica il giro dell’isola di Antigua, lungo circa 50 miglia. Nei giorni seguenti, invece, si disputeranno una serie di regate sulle boe dal percorso di volta in volta diverso nelle acque a sud dell’isola.
Evento sportivo a parte l’Antigua Sailing Week è molto famosa per i party indimenticabili offerti dai vari sponsor ai protagonisti. Grande è l’attesa per la festa in programma alla Dickenson Bay e per l’English Harbour Rum Street Party, previsto per martedi sera quando gli equipaggi potranno toccare con mano la tipica accoglienza caraibica.
Per consultare la entry list clicca qui.
Per consultare il sito della manifestazione clicca qui.
ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK, READY TO RACE
[Antigua Sailing Week Press Release] With just ona day remaining before the start of 43rd edition of Antigua Sailing Week (24-30 April 2010), there is still a consistent stream of entries coming in. While numbers at this stage of countdown are lower than in previous years, there is no doubt that what the entry list lacks in quantity it makes up in quality. Some of the biggest names in yacht racing are heading to this premier regatta, which is rated as one of the best events in the Caribbean.
For many of the crews on the biggest yachts competing such Niklas Zennstrom’s 72-footer Ran, Ron O’Hanley’s Farr-Cookson 50 Privateer, Tom Hill’s custom Reichel-Pugh 75 Titan 15, and Austin Fragomen’s Judel-Vrolijk TP52 Interlodge, races like next Sunday’s Yachting World Around the Island Race are regarded as the ultimate in ocean racing. Guaranteed sparkling crystal clear, turquoise water, coupled with warm trade winds and plenty of close tactical competition as they head round the beautiful beach-strewn coastline of Antigua, is the sort of challenge that sets Antigua Sailing Week apart from other regattas.
Those on the start line next Saturday for the opening race of this seven-day Caribbean classic will be reassured to learn that Dave Brennan, the highly respected international race officer, will be calling the shots as PRO in the Racing Division for the duration of the week.
Brennan, who is race officer at some of the other major regattas in the world such as Key West Race Week, Etchells South Atlantic Championship, the International Rolex Regatta, St Thomas, and who has also signed up for the next Volvo Ocean Race stopover in Miami, said he was thrilled to be asked to cover Antigua Sailing Week. He is bringing his old friend Dick Neville to run the Cruising Division while he concentrates on the Racing Division. Commenting on the regatta, Brennan said: “Antigua Sailing Week is the granddaddy of all the regattas in the Caribbean with a rich history and tradition”.
Chatting about how he intends to run the racing, Brennan continued: “I grew up in the old school of yacht racing when race committees didn’t talk to the sailors and vice versa. The courses and classes were displayed with signal flags which made the signal boat look like a Chinese laundry. There was a lot of unnecessary confusion. Today I work very hard on communicating my intentions to the sailors. We normally start with a short VHF communication on the various designated VHF regatta channels at our harbour start before the signal boat leaves the dock. We let the sailors know what is going to be expected of them that day, such as that they may be kept ashore if there is no wind, or the number of expected races for example.
“Once on the water at our designated start areas Dick Neville [Cruising Division] and I [Racing Division] will share as much information that we think the competitors may need to know, to help them make decisions about their racing that day. The basic course information will also be posted in clear English on dry marker boards for everyone to see but the ability to share that information on the VHF radio makes it easier for everyone.”
Back on shore, Antigua’s party scene is also legendary with events such as the Dickenson Bay beach bash and, this year for the first time ever, the English Harbour Rum Street Party on the Tuesday night where competitors and visitors to the island will experience traditional Antiguan hospitality at its best and a taste of Antigua Carnival.
The schedule for Antigua Sailing Week starts with Race 1 of the Ocean Series – the Guadeloupe to Antigua Race – on Friday April 23, with racing for Antigua Sailing Week series kicking off on Saturday afternoon following an early morning breakfast briefing at Antigua Yacht Club. The Yachting World Around the Island Race (Race 2 of the Ocean Series) is on Sunday 25 April, and the Round Redonda Race (Race 3 of the Ocean Series) takes place on Wednesday 28 April (lay day).
For regular, updated information, racing schedule, and to secure a place on the start line of Antigua Sailing Week and the Ocean Series 2010 go to www.sailingweek.com. The race organisers have decided to extend the closing date for entries until Wednesday 21 April, so there is still plenty of time to enter.
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