Have you been wishing you had made up your mind sooner to charter a boat to participate in Antigua Sailing Week 2014? Well it’s not too late! There are still single places and whole yacht charters available if you know where to find them.
Antigua Sailing Week’s Official Yacht Charter Sponsor, Sunsail, reports that although all available boats in Antigua are chartered for Antigua Sailing Week, there are still several bareboat options available in St. Maarten. For more information on how to book your Sunsail boat for Antigua Sailing Week see: http://www.sunsail.com
Lucy Reynolds of Performance Yacht Charter announced that Sunset Child is still available for charter. Lucy says, ‘Sunset Child – formerly El Ocaso – is a well-known Caribbean racing yacht which has won most of the prestigious regattas in the Caribbean – the St. Thomas International Regatta overall most recently; the Caribbean Sailing Association’s Traveller’s Trophy in 2013; and the Lord Nelson Trophy as overall winner of Antigua Sailing Week 2012; among many other wins. The J120 is well known for being fast and responsive and is sure to put a smile on your face and put your team on the podium if you’ve got what it takes.’
The charter package for Sunset Child includes the yacht and all her racing and safety equipment, one professional crew and two training days before the regatta. The cost of the charter package is £8,995 but get in touch with Lucy to negotiate a last-minute discount.
Performance Yacht Charter also still has a few individual spaces available on Northern Child for £1,495 inclusive of two professional crew, technical racing t-shirts, racing lunch and refreshments, all berthing and race entry costs – literally turn up and go sailing.
Oyster Lightwave 48, Scarlet Oyster is available for whole boat charter for Antigua Sailing Week 2014. Built in 1987, Scarlet Oyster has been continuously updated and excels in every sailing event she participates in. She has proven very effective in typical Caribbean conditions which tend to see winds of 15+ knots. She has a very extensive sail wardrobe and sail configurations can be adjusted to optimise for the CSA Rating Rule, anticipated conditions and courses, and of course the ability of the crew.
Scarlet Oyster is one of the most competitive race charter yachts on the market with wins that include 1st in class in the RORC Caribbean 600 in 2013 and 2012 (and fourth overall in 2012), several 1st in class wins in the RORC Rolex Fastnet Race, and 1st in class (2nd overall) in the ARC racing division. She has also been very competitive in the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta and Antigua Sailing Week finishing in 2nd place in both regattas in each of 2012 and 2013.
Scarlet Oyster races with a crew of 12 and can accommodate six sleeping on board. The cost of the regular charter package for Scarlet Oyster is £10,495 but last minute deals can be negotiated.
For more information about the availability of Sunset Child, Northern Child, Scarlet Oyster and Performance Yacht Charter options, see: http://www.performanceyachtcharter.com
Ondeck Antigua still has a variety of options available for participating in Antigua Sailing Week 2014. At one end of the scale is Sonic of Ayr, an all carbon 37 foot Santa Cruz that sails like a rocket. Sonic of Ayr is available for whole boat charter or, alternatively, individual places can be booked for the whole event at US $1,895 including sleep on board if required.
Back by popular demand is Ondeck’s ‘Rock up and Race’ offer which allows residents and visitors to Antigua the unique opportunity to take part in the racing for only one day or more. With Ondeck’s local Antiguan Chief Instructor Logan Knight at the helm, novices and/or experienced sailors will be able to join and really be part of the action. At US $225 per day including water, lunch and all safety equipment, this is a unique opportunity for this year’s event. With its base in Antigua, Ondeck’s guests are guaranteed to be part of the post-race party action as well. Book now at www.ondecksailing.com
Volvo Ocean 70, Monster Project, still has a few individual places left on board for Antigua Sailing Week 2014. It will be your last chance this year to sail on the 70 foot carbon fibre, canting keel racing machine and to experience the thrill of high speed sailing in the warm Caribbean sunshine!
You can join Monster Project for an 8-day complete package (2 days training, 6 days racing) for £3,500 per person, or tailor your own combination of training/racing days for £450 per person per day. Packages include Monster Project’s very own race clothing.
Don’t miss out! For more information and to book your place on Monster Project today go to www.volvo70charter.co.uk.
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 52.2, Great Escape of Southampton, is available for whole boat charter with a 10-day package including a couple of practice days. Great Escape has been highly competitive at Antigua Sailing Week and other Caribbean regattas in previous years. She can race with 12 sailors and has sleeping accommodation for 9. For more information and to find out about a great last-minute deal, see: www.sail-great-escapes.co.uk.
Antigua’s Miramar Sailing has some fantastic late deals for Antigua Sailing Week 2014. You can join skipper Tony Sayer on Augustine or skipper Johannes Schwarz on Cuba Libre. Both boats are available for the Yachting World Round Antigua Race and Antigua Sailing Week from April 24th through May 2nd.
Cuba Libre is one of the legendary Volvo Ocean 60 transatlantic race yachts. She races with a maximum crew of 18, and a minimum crew of 8 including the skipper, with accommodation on board for 12. Cuba Libre is available by individual berth for US $1,530 or whole yacht for US $18,360.
Augustine, a Beneteau First 42, is a competitive performance racing yacht. She accommodates 6 crew overnight, and races with 10. Augustine has individual places available (inquire for price) or the whole yacht can be chartered at a great last-minute price of US $7,000. Visit www.miramarsailing.com.
German charter company KH+P yachtcharter, a loyal supporter of Antigua Sailing Week, still has a few individual spaces available on its entered bareboats. For more information and to find out how you can join a KH+P crew see: www.sailingweek.com/v4/khp-yacht-charter.
So there you have it. Antigua Sailing Week may only be a few weeks away, but it’s not too late to make a last minute charter booking – whether as an individual or chartering a whole boat with a group of friends. Flights are still available from the US and UK at very reasonable prices – for example, from New York from US $650 and from London from £650. Check with your travel agent for more details on flights from your location.
Hope to see you on the water in Antigua!!
