Tom Cunliffe and his wife, Roz , were invited to Judge the finest vessels in the Antigua classic Yatch Regatta.They were spoiled for choice.
It all began 31 years ago, when a group of pals sat drinking rum in the cockpit of the 106ft schooner Aschanti in English Harbour, Antigua. Among them were the late Kenny Coombs and his wife, Jane, owners of Cora A, a tiny Harrison Butler-designed yacht built in 1937.
Immediately outside the harbour, the Atlantic tradewind belt was in full cry, with strong easterly winds and seas unchecked all the way from Africa. Few venues in the world, they decided, offer such ideal conditions for racing sound classic craft. The Antigua Yacht Club was right next door in Falmouth Harbour and, almost before anyone realised it, the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta had been born.
Today, with Aschanti still powering round the courses, joined by some of the great names in traditional yachting, the event has become a riot of racing and good times. Where else on planet earth can you see the likes of the 80ft Fife Yawl Mariella and the enormous Starling Burgess fishing schooner Columbia crossing tacks with local boats such as Genesis, Sweetheart and Free in St Barth, built on the beach at Carriacou, all making hull speed in a Force 6.
Add a cast of classy cruisers up for the excitement before heading home and you have to wonder how Jane Coombs and her team of unpaid volunteers from Antigua Yacht Club contrive to manage this annual week-long extravaganza. Yet somehow they pull it off in April, year after year.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 2018-Ausgabe von Yachting World.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 2018-Ausgabe von Yachting World.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
5 EXPERT TIPS BOB BEGGS ON SAILING IN COLD WEATHER
As temperatures drop, Andy Rice gets tips on how to handle the cold from self-confessed Arctic weather fan and winning Clipper Round the World Race skipper Bob Beggs
SPECIAL REPORT EXTENDED CRUISING IN THE BALTIC
Sweden offers cruisers a warm welcome for winter - Janneke Kuysters has advice on how to boost your sailing time in the region
NIKKI HENDERSON
SEARCHING FOR MORE SPEED? BEFORE TINKERING WITH TINY ADJUSTMENTS, MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT THE BASICS RIGHT THE POWER DRIVING THE BOAT
MATTHEW SHEAHAN
WHAT WILL THE BOATS OF THE 38TH AMERICA'S CUP LOOK LIKE? THAT'S THE $20 MILLION QUESTION IF BRITAIN OR NEW ZEALAND DECIDE TO DEPART FROM THE AC75
60-knot squalls hit Middle Sea Race
The 45th running of the Mediterranean offshore, the Rolex Middle Sea Race, saw a spectacularly random mix of conditions - even for a race which is famed for its variable weather patterns.
Italy win first Women's Cup
The first ever Women's America's Cup was won by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli after a single, twoboat shoot-out final on 12 October.
'Three-peat' for ETNZ
As Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand came into this year's 37th America's Cup as clear favourites. But the Kiwi camp has far more than just the structural advantage of being the ones that wrote the Protocol for the competition, and the originators of the AC75 concept.
ROOM WITH A VIEW
SWEDISH DESIGNER GABRIEL HEYMAN POURED A LIFETIME OF IDEAS INTO THIS PILOT SALOON CRUISER, WHICH INCLUDES ARGUABLY THE LARGEST COCKPIT AVAILABLE AT THIS SIZE
LIVING HISTORY
THE ICONIC SEASON-CLOSING REGATTA LES VOILES DE SAINT TROPEZ WAS AN IMMERSIVE HISTORY LESSON FOR CROSBIE LORIMER
CHANGE OF PLAN
LEAVING AUSTRALIA, MARIANNE URTH NEVER PLANNED TO MAKE LANDFALL IN THE ISLANDS OF VANUATU, BUT THE EXPERIENCE WAS MAGICAL