Trade winds, turquoise water and a spectacular pursuit start set the stage for the first race of the 2026 Superyacht Challenge Antigua Series along Antigua’s dramatic south and west coasts.

Privateers Performance Class

Hetairos delivered a commanding performance in Race 1  in an elapsed time of 2h 42m 59s, comfortably securing the class win under the ORCsy Rule. Second place went to Rebecca, two minutes behind Hetairos.  Rebecca secured the Privateers Class win. Adix completed the podium  5 minutes 39 seconds behind Rebecca on corrected time, as the top Corinthian boat, while Catalina placed fourth.

The 213ft three-masted gaff schooner Adix, captained by Oliver Bell, executed the best start in the class, just three seconds shy of the line at their starting signal. The fisherman sail on Adix is one of the most distinctive features of the schooner’s remarkable rig. Set between the main and mizzen mast on Adix, this large quadrilateral sail fills the gap between the rigs, increasing sail area when reaching or running.  Developed on classic racing schooners to maximise power, its origin can be traced back to the great racing schooners of the late 19th century.

“It was a really nice trade wind day with breeze in the high teens, which suits Adix well,” said captain Ollie Bell. “We had a good start, just a few seconds behind the line, and managed a clean first spinnaker hoist, which was great because we hadn’t been able to practise much with the breeze earlier in the week. The boat really came into her element running and reaching under the island. Getting the fisherman set and feeling the boat stretch away was a special moment, and you could hear the cheers from the bow when the manoeuvres came off well.

After Cades Reef it became lighter and more tactical and we struggled a bit against the smaller boats trying to keep the big schooner moving in the patchy breeze. But overall it was a great sail. Adix is made to be pushed in these trade wind conditions and it’s fantastic to be here racing against similarly impressive yachts.”

Buccaneers Class

Geist produced the best start of the day, just two seconds shy of the line and continued with a stunning performance on the race track to win the race on ORCsy corrected time. Geist completed the 33.51-mile course in an elapsed time of 3h 29m 28s. Second place went to Prevail, finishing 17 minutes 22 seconds behind the winner after correction. Hummingbird completed was just under eight minutes behind Prevail.

Spirit 111 Geist is a striking example of a modern “spirit of tradition” yacht. The 33.9-metre sloop was designed by Sean McMillan and built by Spirit Yachts, combining classic 1930s yacht styling with advanced modern engineering. Her long overhangs, low freeboard and elegant wooden hull echo the great racing yachts of the interwar period, while the underwater shape, carbon mast and high-performance keel and rudder are thoroughly contemporary.

For Spirit 111 Geist, Race 1 at the Superyacht Challenge Antigua was both a test of preparation and an exploration of the yacht’s potential in Caribbean trade wind conditions. The elegant wooden sloop has raced extensively in the Mediterranean but had never previously competed in Antigua, making the event a new experience for the team.

Navigator Simon Schofield explained that the regatta offered a fascinating comparison between very different yachts racing under the same ORCsy rating system. “It’s interesting how diverse the boats are in their style and design,” Schofield said. “They’re obviously not all sailing at the same speed, but we’re still having really good racing and good competition with boats that look very different. We were also surprised how quick our boat goes in a breeze because we’ve never really sailed it in proper wind and waves before.” 

Tactician Graham Sunderland noted that managing the power of a large yacht in the strong Caribbean trades requires both enthusiasm and caution. “Classic superyacht stuff really,” Sunderland said. “You want to make sure you get around in one piece, look after the people on board and keep the boat free of breakages, which is always a challenge. When the breeze is up you really feel the size of the whole thing and the loads pushing through the sea. It’s impressive, but it’s also when you know the boat is under peak loading, so you’re loving it and being cautious at the same time.” 

The tactical element of the race also kept the afterguard busy, particularly as squalls and rain cells swept across the course. “I find it tactically super interesting,” Sunderland added. “You get the classic sunny trade wind weather, then these rain squalls come through which change the wind direction and even the visibility. Trying to keep track of the pattern is great fun, but it’s definitely not easy.” 

For the crew on Geist, the result was especially satisfying after a winter programme of upgrades and new sails aimed at improving the yacht’s performance. As Schofield reflected, “We’ve changed quite a few systems and put new sails on, and we’ve had a few days of struggling to get the boat fully up and running. It’s good that it looks like that work is paying off.”

Corsairs Class

Linnea Aurora was one second over the line at the start, getting a starting penalty but secured victory in Race 1  on ORCsy corrected time. Linnea Aurora completed the 33.51-mile course in an elapsed time of 3h 46m 45s. Second place went to Namuun, finishing 4 minutes 50 seconds behind the winner after ORCsy adjustment.

Every night is party night at the Superyacht Challenge Antigua. The Caribbean Night including the loud shirt competition and entertainment including fire eating and more traditional Caribbean fare is always a popular evening spent in Nelson’s Dockyard with all the SYCA Family.

Racing at the 2026 Superyacht Challenge Antigua continues on Saturday 07 March with more spectacular racing out of Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua.

More Than a Regatta

Now in its 15th year, the Superyacht Challenge Antigua has become a highlight of the Caribbean season. Its appeal lies not only in the quality of racing, but in its atmosphere: mutual respect on the water, camaraderie ashore and the rare opportunity to race extraordinary yachts in an extraordinary place.