A Feast Of Classics

Tom Cunliffe and his wife, Roz , were invited to Judge the finest vessels in the Antigua classic Yatch Regatta.They were spoiled for choice.

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It all began 31 years ago, when a group of pals sat drinking rum in the cockpit of the 106ft schooner Aschanti in English Harbour, Antigua. Among them were the late Kenny Coombs and his wife, Jane, owners of Cora A, a tiny Harrison Butler-designed yacht built in 1937.

Immediately outside the harbour, the Atlantic tradewind belt was in full cry, with strong easterly winds and seas unchecked all the way from Africa. Few venues in the world, they decided, offer such ideal conditions for racing sound classic craft. The Antigua Yacht Club was right next door in Falmouth Harbour and, almost before anyone realised it, the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta had been born.

Today, with Aschanti still powering round the courses, joined by some of the great names in traditional yachting, the event has become a riot of racing and good times. Where else on planet earth can you see the likes of the 80ft Fife Yawl Mariella and the enormous Starling Burgess fishing schooner Columbia crossing tacks with local boats such as Genesis, Sweetheart and Free in St Barth, built on the beach at Carriacou, all making hull speed in a Force 6.

Add a cast of classy cruisers up for the excitement before heading home and you have to wonder how Jane Coombs and her team of unpaid volunteers from Antigua Yacht Club contrive to manage this annual week-long extravaganza. Yet somehow they pull it off in April, year after year.