Antigua Sailing Week |
22 – 26 April, 2026

Overview

Known as the Caribbean’s hottest sailing week, Antigua Sailing Week is one of the world’s premier racing regattas. Held in late April/early May each year, this regatta for ocean-going yachts has been running for many years and attracts yachts and sailors from countries all over the world, as well as thousands of spectators.

Antigua Sailing Week is a Caribbean Sailing Association event and is run using the CSA Rating Rule.  The actual Sailing Week comprises five days of competitive racing beginning on Sunday.  Racing takes place for approximately three to four hours per day and is run out of English and Falmouth Harbours on the south coast of Antigua.

No description of Antigua Sailing Week is complete without a mention of the famous social scene. Heavily sponsored by some top international brands, socializing and partying are a significant part of each day’s activities. Midweek there is the famous Lay Day where spectators and competitors join in fun events centered around Antigua Yacht Club as well as enjoy all the sights and activities that Antigua has to offer. The awards presentation takes place on Friday evening after the final day of racing. Celebrations and serious rum drinking continue into the small hours at the awards presentation party, which every year provides Sailing Week with a glamorous finale.

Pricing and Booking Information

For full pricing and to book your place on the Antigua Sailing Week, please contact a member of the sales team on +44 (0)3303321513 or fill out the form below.

Want to join? Fill out the form below and a Vacation Planner will contact you.

Entry & Registration

The closing date for entry into the Antigua Sailing Week is 30 days prior to the start. Anyone wishing to enter the race after this time will be liable to a supplement and is subject to Race Committee approval.

Classes and Classification

The Sailing Week normally consists of four races around laid buoys off the coast of Antigua, and one Olympic-type course off Dickenson Bay on the second racing day. The event is usually split into two separate divisions as follows:

Division A

• Racing Fleet, Sport boats, and Racer/Cruiser Fleet (with spinnaker)
• Boats in Division A – may fly normal spinnakers or asymmetrical sails and will all be rated with spinnakers.

Division B

• Racer/Cruiser Fleet (non-spinnaker), Cruiser Fleet and Bareboats
• Boats in Division B – Racer/Cruiser non-spinnaker fleet: may not fly spinnakers, MPS or asymmetrical sails. They may carry one or two jibs and utilize a pole.

Cruiser Fleet

• May fly spinnakers, an MPS, asymmetrical sails, and one or two jibs and will be rated in accordance with their election to carry such sails or not.

Bareboat Fleet

• May only carry mainsail and jib, with no pole.
• To qualify for the Bareboat Class, each boat must be confirmed to be part of a bonafide bareboat charter fleet sailed in charter trim with standard mainsail and jib. Spinnaker poles are not allowed and boats that are chartered with full sail inventories are not eligible.

Background Racing Information

When racing, it is better to have a lower rating. This means that when you are taking part in the race, there will be less time added to your racing time.  The higher the rating is; the more time that is added to your racing time. Charterers will obviously wish to have the lowest rating possible.

If the yacht has a furling mainsail, then its rating is lower, as, in theory, it takes longer to get around the course, whereas if they have a fully battened mainsail, the rating is higher as in theory, the yacht will get around the course quicker.

What’s Included in Regatta Package

• Race Entry Fees
• Welcome Cocktail
• Race Support
• Yacht Prep and Hull Cleaning
• Yacht Measurement
• Pre-Race Briefing

What’s Not Included in Regatta Package

• Flights
• Taxi transfers
• Local cruising taxes
• Mooring fees
• Departure Taxes
• Provisioning & beverages
• Spinnakers, poles, cruising chutes – not available in the Caribbean
• Delivery charges to/from Race locations (if required)
• Tickets & entry to official functions
• Moorings – dockage and entry fee are paid locally

Regatta Participation 

If you are participating in a regatta kindly note the following: 

• Charter Start/End: You must book the boat with sufficient time to move it from the base to the area of the regatta taking into consideration the prohibition on night sailing and charter Start / End times. It is recommended that you go to the venue and register prior to charter start. 
• Gennaker: The boat is only equipped with mainsail and genoa. No gennakers nor spinnakers are supplied extra. Spinnaker poles are not available as the yachts are not equipped to carry a spinnaker pole. You are not permitted to bring and use your own spinnaker/gennaker. 
• Yacht Damage Waiver: You are required to take the normal insurance required to charter a yacht. 
• Racing deposit: If you are entering a regatta, it is considered racing, and the refundable deposit amount is $6500 USD for USA and other countries (cash or credit) This deposit will be returned once the yacht is handed back in a satisfactory condition. 
• Halyards: Foresail halyard tension is preset. Should you over tension the halyard you risk overstressing the roller furler swivel and could damage the foil. On return to base all foils will be checked by as part of the debriefing. 
• Damage: You must inspect the hull for any external damage as the vessel will be inspected upon return for damage. Any defects are to be noted on the pre- charter documentation. All decals/stickers must be removed at the end of the charter. Removal fee is €30 EUR per item. 
• Inventory: You must race with all charter inventory carried on board and use the standard genoa/mainsail used for charter. 
• Anchors: The primary anchor is a vital piece of safety equipment. You may not remove the anchor from the vessel. You may not disconnect it from the vessel and leave it “anchored” during racing. 
• Anchorage: At least two qualified crew members sleep on board the yacht while it is anchored overnight. 

Official Regatta Information

The information given in this section is just to give you a basic idea about the various regattas.

For more up-to-date information about organizing authorities, racing rules and regulations, programs, racing classes, handicap systems, entry, etc., contact the individual racing committee at info@sailingweek.com or visit www.sailingweek.com.

Find out more

For more information about this event and pricing call us at +44 (0)3303321513 or check out the regatta website here.