Race Day Four 17 March 2024
Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua, 17 March 2024. The final day of racing for the Superyacht Challenge Antigua (SYCA) got underway in brilliant sunshine with about 15 knots of superb Tradewinds just south of east. Later in the day, the wind veered south and piped up a touch to 18 knots in gusts.
The SYCA Race Committee, led by PRO Hank Stuart, set a 17.5nm triangular course for the Buccaneer Class, which included three long downwind, reaching and upwind legs. The Corsair and Privateer Classes were set a special course ‘99’ of 21.3nm which included two long reaching legs and a deep water beat.
Privateer Class
The 218ft (66.45m) Dykstra/Reichel Pugh ketch Hetairos skippered by Graham Newton, made the best in class start, crossing the line nine seconds after the gun was fired from Fort Charlotte. The 182ft (55.5m) Dykstra schooner Adela skippered by Greg Perkins made a more conservative dial up to the line.
Hetairos completed the race in an elapsed time of 01 Hours 40 Mins and 53 Secs, the fastest elapsed time of the day. Hetairos scored their fourth win of the regatta after ORCsy time correction, completing a perfect score line.
Corsair Class
The Swan 90 (27m) Hummingbird, skippered by Josh Hill, was just four seconds shy of the staggered start and Don Macpherson’s 90ft (27m) Swan Freya made a more conservative start.
Freya and Hummingbird continued their Swan duel as they have done all-regatta. Hummingbird was the first away with Freya in hot pursuit four minutes later. After over two hours of racing, Freya finished the race just 57 seconds ahead of Hummingbird to win after ORCsy time correction. Don Macpherson’s 90ft Swan Freya finished the regatta with a perfect score line of four race wins.
Buccaneer Class
The 108ft (33m) Hoek designed sloop Namuun, skippered by Tom Aiken, made an excellent start just seven seconds after their gun. John McMonigall’s Oyster 82 Zig Zag, skippered by Carl Raynes, crossed the line 14 seconds after the gun was fired.
After ORCsy time correction, Zig Zag won the final race completing a faultless score line for the Superyacht Challenge Antigua.
Caribbean Night © Claire Matches
Caribbean Night is always a colourful affair with Superyacht owners, guests and crew enjoying fabulous Antiguan entertainers on The Lawn of The Copper & Lumber Hotel in Nelson’s Dockyard. Soca dancing, fire-eating limbo dancing, and the hotly contested Loud Shirt Competition. Where do you see a regatta race committee dressed like this? It has been suggested that the Protest Committee should keep the shirts on when settling protests but as there has not been a single hearing that is easy!
Class winners will be congratulated at the Superyacht Challenge Antigua Prizegiving will be held at The Admirals Inn tonight. There is no overall winner but the highly prized Gosnell Trophy will be decided. Each competing yachts, and the race committee, cast one vote for the yacht that has competed in the Spirit of the Regatta, both afloat and ashore. The winner lifts The Gosnell Trophy.