Sailing yachts get ready for the Superyacht Challenge Antigua 2019

By Rebecca Bradbury 25 January 2019

Competitors in the 2019 Superyacht Challenge Antigua have begun to gather in Antigua's English Harbour, preparing to go head to head when racing gets underway next week on 31 January.

Made up of five sailing yachts, the spectacular fleet will take part in four daily pursuit races off the stunning south coast of Antigua, with warm trade winds and ocean swell expected to produce ideal conditions.

Now in its ninth edition, the regatta is designed solely for the pleasure of superyacht owners and combines competitive racing during the day with fun-filled social events in the evening.

charter yacht SPIIP competing in the Superyacht Challenge Antigua

Returning to defend her win in the 2018 Corsairs Class is the 34m/112ft charter yacht SPIIP from Royal Huisman. She also holds the Gosnell Trophy, awarded after a vote by the competitors and the race committee for the yacht that competed in the spirit of the regatta, both offshore and on land.

She will face stiff competition from the 45m/148ft sailing yacht CATALINA, a Dubois-designed ketch from Vitters which has competed in regattas across the world since her launch in 2001.

The 34m/112ft charter yacht KAWIL will also be returning to the Superyacht Challenge Antigua after winning the Buccaneers Class in 2017. More recently, the Derecktor Shipyards yacht won her class in the 2018 Newport Bermuda Race and will definitely be one to look out for when the Antigua event gets underway.

Two-time runner up sailing yacht ‘Zig Zag’ will be trying her utmost to claim this year’s title in the Buccaneers Class

sailing yacht Zig Zag competing at the Superyacht Challenge Antigua

But two-time runner-up in the Buccaneers Class, the 25m/82ft sailing yacht ‘Zig Zag’ from Oyster Yachts, will be trying her utmost to claim this year’s title when she takes to the Caribbean waters once again.

Another strong contender on the scene will be the 32m/122ft sailing yacht NILAYA from Baltic Yachts. She won her class at the 2016 edition, adding to her silverware collection after multiple triumphs at the Rolex Maxi Yacht Cup and the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta.

Also competing will be 42m/140ft Pendennis sailing yacht REBECCA. Although this will be her fifth time taking part in the regatta, she hasn’t won since her debut in 2012. But win or lose, she will have reason to celebrate as she will mark her 20th birthday during the challenge.