Antigua Racing Cup: Class Winners Honoured Tonight!

RESULTS: Full results, including IRC rating dual scoring HERE

April 12, 2026: Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua – The Antigua Racing Cup was treated to picture perfect conditions on the south coast of Antigua for the final day of racing. Two races were held for all classes, raced on windward leeward courses, ranging from 8 to 12 nautical miles, bringing the first edition of the regatta to a fitting conclusion.

Stable breeze from the east of between 12 to 17 knots kept sail selection finely balanced as did subtle shifts and gusts which demanded constant attention from the crews. It made for a superb setting for a thrilling finale, with fine margins and hard fought racing right to the end of the regatta.

CSA 1

Dan Gribble’s Tripp 65 Custom Prevail (USA) completed a perfect final day with two more CSA corrected time wins. In Race 8, Prevail beat John McMonigal’s Oyster 82 Zig Zag (GBR), skippered by Carl Raynes, by 10 minutes 16 seconds, with Lennart Davidsson’s S&S 79 Kialoa III third. Race 9 saw Prevail do it again, this time by 6 minutes 49 seconds from Kialoa III, while Zig Zag was third. Across both races, Prevail was again the benchmark in the big boat class, finishing the regatta in commanding style.

CSA 2

The final day produced exactly the tight battle that has defined the class all week. In Race 8, Steve Rigby’s Grand Soleil 46 Belladonna (GBR) took the CSA corrected time win by 1 minute 06 seconds from RP37 Warthog (ANT), with Bruce Chafee’s Reichel Pugh 42 Rikki (USA) just 7 seconds further back in third. Race 9 saw Warthog strike back, taking the corrected time win by 2 minutes 30 seconds from Belladonna, while Rikki was again third, only 49 seconds behind Belladonna. Across both races, Belladonna, Warthog and Rikki were locked in another superb three way fight, with the lead changing hands and the margins staying fine right to the finish.

CSA 3

Poul Hoj Jensen’s Danish Blue (ANT) finished the regatta in style with two more CSA corrected time wins. In Race 8, Danish Blue beat Katy Campbell’s Panacea X (CAN) by 1 minute 38 seconds, with Mark Zamaria’s Team Strada Awaken (GBR) third. Race 9 saw Danish Blue win again, this time by 2 minutes 52 seconds from Bernie Evan-Wong’s High Tension (ANT), while Panacea X was third. Across both races, Danish Blue remained the class act, but the fight behind stayed lively with Panacea X, High Tension and Team Strada Awaken all in the mix.

CSA 4

Ashley Rhodes’ Melges 24 Whiplash (ANT) rounded off the regatta with two more CSA corrected time wins. In Race 8, Whiplash beat Sigma 38 The Project, skippered by Lee Oldak (USA), by just 14 seconds, with Mallory Rousseau’s Montebello Pepsi (FRA) third. Race 9 was another close one, with Whiplash taking the win by 26 seconds from The Project, while Montebello Pepsi was third by just 1 minute 36 seconds. Across both races, Whiplash stayed in control, but The Project kept the pressure on and Montebello Pepsi remained right in the fight.

Principal Race Officer Neil Andrew brought deep experience and calm authority to the first edition of the Antigua Racing Cup. Closely connected with race management in Antigua for a number of years, Andrew and his experienced team have helped shape this new regatta into a sharper, more race focused event.

“I think this new regatta has got off to a great start. I have been coming here since 2018 and I feel very connected with Antigua. We have run this regatta with the experienced team that delivered Antigua Sailing Week before, and I think it has gone really well. Although we have had stable wind for three days, yesterday we had a rain squall and a 50 degree wind shift, so we had to postpone for an hour, but the competitors understood because we kept them informed over the radio. This event has been more intense, more race focused, and that has kept me on my toes. The standard of sailing has been high, the racing has been close, and to come through a week like this with no protests at all is phenomenal in my experience. Both myself and the excellent team have just had a really good time here.”