The 23rd Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, hosted by the Antigua Yacht Club and sponsored by Panerai and part of the Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge, wrapped up last night with fitting celebrations.
  
Earlier in the afternoon competition on the water was fearsome when skippers and crew were joined by local families in the annual gig racing and cream tea party. All manner of traditional (and not so traditional) gigs and small craft were sailed, rowed and skulled around a short course giving spectator’s an entertaining afternoon  in the beautiful setting of the Admiral’s Inn gardens.

The elaborate prize-giving ceremony kicked off with Regatta Chairman, Kenny Coombs giving a big and much deserved thank you to John and Julie Riley the owners of Sinbad, the committee boat. The trophies to be awarded were:

The A & F Sails Trophy for the Best performance of a local yacht to Andrew Robinson and his recently restored Carriacou sloop, Summer Cloud;

The trophy for the first overall Traditional Class for Alexis Andrews and his Carriacou sloop, Genesis;

The party boat of the regatta, and another local contender, Old Bob won the Dunlin Trophy Best Performance of a Gaffed Rigged Yacht (as well as the Tree House Body Shop Trophy for the best dressed crew!);

Lone Fox took the Nicholson Yacht Charters Trophy for best charter boat and coincidently Ashanti IV was placed first overall in the Classic Class for the Ashanti of Saba Trophy;

Velsheda beat Ranger to first in the Spirit of Tradition Class A;

Captain ‘Sparky’ of the stunning ketch Rebecca picked up the Ticondoroga Trophy for overall winner in the Spirit of Tradition Class;

The Ann Wallis White Trophy for the Largest Classic AND the Antigua Sails Trophy for the Best Elapsed Time Spirit of Tradition Class;

First Overall in the Classic & Vintage Class and collecting the Wayfarer Marine Trophy was Sumurun
This year’s winner of the Mount Gay Rum Trophy was the beautiful schooner, Ashanti IV.

There was an uproar of applause when the owner/ crew of Galatea were called up on stage to receive the Spirit of the Regatta prize and equally for the ‘Pink Ladies’ who received a special bottle of ‘Rose de St Barth’s’ and for Peter Hutchinson and Rainbow awarded a bottle of Old Bob Ale for competing in 20 out of 23 Classic Yacht Regatta’s.


The moment everyone was waiting for came at the end of the evening when the proud and longtime owner of the beautiful William Fife ketch Sumurun, Mr Robert Tobin, was awarded the much prized Panerai Trophy and the stunning and special edition Radiomir Panerai Timepiece – a fitting ending to a highly successful 2010.

For more, visit www.antiguaclassics.com