An Epic Day for Vintage Yachts

Over one of Nelson’s Dockyard’s Hot Spot Cafe’s legendary breakfasts and an espresso, we watched the classics fleet set off towards the Pillars of Hercules for day 2 of the Antigua Classics Regatta. What a view; tall masts against the sky, gleaming wood, shining brass add most of all an air of anticipation for another day’s sailing in the Caribbean’s most beautiful waters.

All classes are beautiful. The Vintage Class of five Historic yachts includes many designed in the early 20th century (e.g., Alden schooners, Herreshoff designs) and makes an especially impressive sight.
CHARM III

Charm III has made a habit of turning adversity into silverware. Built in Sweden in 1928 for a would-be Prohibition rum runner who never quite made it into the trade, she drifted instead into gentler English ownership before Richard and Maryse West found her near Plymouth in 1980 and brought her to the Caribbean. What followed was a 16-year rebuild on a beach in Anguilla, done the hard way, plank by plank. Since then, she has survived collisions, hurricanes, snapped engines and heavy seas — and still turned up to race, often winning. Fresh from a recent Antigua refit, she arrives once again immaculate, improbable, and very much alive.
THE BLUE PETER

Another familiar and well-known boat, with quiet confidence. Launched in 1930 and fast from the outset, she built her reputation racing out of Burnham-on-Crouch before carving out decades of success in the Mediterranean. When Matt Barker found her in 1999, she was restored to her former glory and, by 2012, had crossed the Atlantic to begin a new chapter in Caribbean waters. Now a familiar and formidable presence in Antigua, she returns with five class wins, a recent Vintage Class victory, and an overall title to her name — a boat with a past that still knows how to win.

TICONDEROGA

Few yachts arrive with the weight of legend quite like Ticonderoga of Greenwich aka “The Mighty Ti”. Launched in 1936 as Tioga II, she was designed by L. Francis Herreshoff but transformed mid-build by her owner into something far grander — a decision that reportedly led to such friction that the designer never attended her launch. Any doubts were quickly silenced: she went on to win 24 of her first 37 races and carved out a formidable reputation across oceans, including a record-setting Transpac duel decided by just minutes. The “Mighty Ti,” has since become a familiar force in Antigua waters — a yacht whose beauty is matched only by a racing pedigree that still commands respect.

SAHARET OF TYRE

The elegance of Saharet of Tyre stands out immediately. Launched in 1933 by Camper & Nicholson, this 114-foot Bermudian ketch was built for an American collector who combined a love of sailing with a passion for antiques — a spirit that still lingers in her polished teak, walnut interiors and quiet refinement. Now owned by Luc de Clercq, who brought her across the Atlantic in 2019 to realise a lifelong dream, she has since carved a graceful path through Caribbean waters, slipping past storms, island-hopping from the ABCs to Panama and back again. Meticulously restored and maintained over decades, she returns to Antigua not just as a yacht, but as a living piece of craftsmanship — one that still turns heads as readily as it cuts through the sea.

SEEFALKE II

Oli Greensmith’s Seafalke II has sailed an improbable course. Launched in 1936 for the German Navy as a Baltic training yacht, she later served the Royal Marines out of Portsmouth before being sold on and, remarkably, sailed across the Atlantic without an engine to Antigua in 1996. Triumph and trouble have followed in equal measure — from taking overall honours in the Classics to being dismasted in the remnants of Hurricane Mitch. By 2012 she lay neglected ashore, until a painstaking local restoration brought her back to life. Today, she sails again as both competitor and survivor — a small wooden sloop with a history far larger than her 41 feet.

In a steady, perfect racing wind, the Caterpillar course awaited the boats today, a course with something for everyone. Reaching, fetching, tacking, flying spinnakers; it’s a sailor’s dream course. Athena flew her rather flirty, distinctive spinnaker in grand style, while Ashanti IV stepped out of history with all sails flying, drawing gasps of admiration as she took line honours for the whole fleet. The Caribbean sea was a spectacle worth seeing with spinnakers and sails etched against the sky.

After the race the sailors had smiles on their faces. Kyle Glowacky, skipper of Ticonderoga summed up the day, echoing the view of all sailors. “It was epic; we had 15-18 knots of breeze and Ti was charging around the course at 10-11 knots most of the day.” Paul’s Deeth the owner of Petrana could only agree; “an epic day, perfect conditions and a brilliant race!” The ever philosophical Sandy Mair on Cricket said “we came last, making stupid mistakes, but we had an amazing time!”

The inimitable Charm III was first in the Vintage Class as was Juno in the Classic Class. In The Traditional Class Navasana broke her mast leaving the way for Genesis to win Race 2. Not daunted, Navasana’s owner, Aidan McCauley declared it fixable; “We’ll be back on Sunday.” Vela claimed first in the Tall Ships class and Petrana won the Legacy class.

The leader board in Modern Classics Class A is tight at the top. Ilios took first place today and moved into a tie for second with Athena with Freya, who was second today, still holding a narrow lead in the class. In Modern Classics B, Bunglebird held her first place with Katina on her heels, while in Class C, Absolute Properties Blue Peter, was again first.

For full results go to : https://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu/50482
An exciting day 2, but still with all to sail for.