 Photo by Giles Martin-Raget IslandStats.com
The Antigua Bermuda Race is open to yachts and multihulls with a minimum length of 40ft (12m) holding a valid IRC and/or CSA Rating Certificate or Superyacht rating. Dual scoring will be provided. A provision of a Motor Sailing Handicap will be overlaid for Cruiser Racers.
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club is already taking pre-registration of yachts interested in racing. Schooner America, the replica of the original winner of the America's Cup and the 112ft (34m) sail training ship, Spirit of Bermuda are confirmed entries. An international fleet of yachts is expected for the race, with exclusive social events organized in Antigua and Bermuda.
"Bermuda is excited to be hosting the 2017 America's Cup and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club sees the Antigua Bermuda Race as an opportunity to have some fun getting to Bermuda in time for the month-long America's Cup celebrations," comments Les Crane, Chairman, Antigua Bermuda Race.
"Bermuda is one of the prettiest sailing grounds in the Atlantic. There are only 21 square miles of land, but it's spread among 181 islands, creating countless pink sand beaches, coves and anchorages. Along with the vibrant town life, it's a great place to be. Add in the America's Cup and it is the place to be in May 2017. Each spring many yachts pass through on their way to New England or Europe, stopping for only a day or two. We want to encourage them to stay a while and enjoy all that Bermuda has to offer," continues Crane.
The Antigua Bermuda Race course is straightforward: Start off Fort Charlotte Antigua, Antigua to port, Bermuda to port, finish off St David's Light Bermuda. Approx. distance 935 nm. In early May the northern limits of the tradewinds can be as much as 28 degrees north. Easterly or south-easterly winds are common for the first half of the passage, giving exhilarating reaching or downwind conditions. Light southerly winds are common in the Horse Latitudes that traverse the Sargasso Sea and the finish in Bermuda is likely to be a tactically different change to the fast-surfing conditions of the tradewinds.
The reproduction schooner America is a modern replica of the 139ft (42m) yacht that won the Royal Yacht Squadron's 100 Guinea Cup in 1851. The winners, members of the New York Yacht Club, donated the trophy to the Club, to be held as a 'challenge' trophy and the America's Cup was born. The scale replica of the America has been owned by Troy Sears' company, Next Level Sailing, since 2006:
"The Antigua Bermuda Race is a natural, and I was surprised that the race didn't already exist," said Troy Sears, owner and skipper of the schooner America. "It was an honor to introduce Antigua Sailing Week to the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and be a key part of the development of the race. I am sure their leadership will produce a fantastic regatta. For us, racing against our friends, the Spirit of Bermuda, will be a fantastic way to enter Bermuda before The 35th Defence of The America's Cup. The race will also be the final leg for the schooner America and The America's Cup Tour after visiting more than 100 ports on both coasts of the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean."
The 112ft (34m) sloop, Spirit of Bermuda was designed for the Bermuda Sloop Foundation as a sail training ship and as the flagship for Bermuda. Her design takes inspiration from a Royal Navy Sloop of War from the 1830's.
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