Antigua Bermuda Race: a true blue ocean adventure

After a three-year Covid hiatus, registration is now open and preparations are full steam ahead for the fourth edition of the Antigua Bermuda Race starting from Antigua on May 9th, 2023. The 935nm oceanic race is managed by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in association with Antigua Sailing Week, and supported by the Bermuda Tourism Authority and Goslings Rum. The race is designed to suit a wide range of yachts and crew, with memorable parties, both in Antigua and Bermuda.

After leaving Antigua the fleet pass Barbuda and will be out of sight of land until the finish in Bermuda. The race is an experience of about 1,000 miles of tropical Atlantic sailing - a true blue ocean adventure. Sailing in the deep, competitors will experience reaching conditions in warm oceanic swell and a magical night sky.

Meg Reilly, a three-time competitor in Canadian Pogo 12.50 Hermes, has said: "The first few days of the race are basically a guaranteed sleigh ride with reaching in the trade-winds. The approach to Bermuda tends to be more strategic sailing in lighter winds."

The race is open to IRC and CSA Racing Yachts, Cruiser Racers, Super Yachts, and Multihulls. Classic yachts and double-handed teams have their own category, and a secondary motor sailing handicap in the CSA Classes, allows yachts to use their engines and still get a result, subject to a time penalty.

The Antigua Bermuda Race is timed to coincide with the end of Antigua Sailing Week when many yachts are planning to sail north back to North America, or east from Bermuda across the Atlantic Ocean. With the high current ocean freight rates, the Antigua Bermuda Race offers a great option to take your boat north out of the Caribbean in a safe, economic and highly enjoyable way. 

The 2023 Notice of Race has now been released on the event website. The online survey of interest is now open. Whole Boat race charters with an owner's rep should be available, as well as Head Boats (race charters) offering individual crew places on a competing boat - a great way to experience the event and meet new people.