Dun Laoghaire’s Adrian Lee will helm the fastest boat at the inaugural Antigua Racing Cup this week.
Lee, the inaugural Caribbean 600 winner, takes charge of the HH66 catamaran Lee Overlay Partners III. The multihull is expected to reach speeds of up to 30 knots. The Irish skipper will be contesting line honours against a strong international fleet.
Racing runs from April 8–12 out of Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua. The new regatta combines traditional Caribbean courses with modern race technology.
Race manager Jaime Torres said the event aims to deliver “precise, challenging and fair” competition. “We’re blending the traditional virtues of Antigua’s natural racecourse with modern technology,” Torres said. “The aim is to offer a serious racing experience that rewards the full range of yacht racing skill levels.”
The fleet includes boats ranging from 82ft to 24ft, racing under IRC, CSA and multihull rules. The fastest-rated monohull is the Tripp 65 Prevail, owned by Dan Gribble. It is expected to challenge for overall honours.
Among the largest entries is the 82ft Oyster Zig Zag. It will race alongside the 79ft maxi Kialoa III, a former Sydney-Hobart record holder now skippered by Lennart Davidsson.
In CSA 2, a competitive group includes the RP42 Rikki, fresh from recent Caribbean success. It faces rivals including Apollo, Bella J and the British-chartered Belladonna.
Local interest is strong across the classes, with Antiguian crews competing in multiple divisions.
Organisers have scheduled up to three races per day over four days. Courses will include windward-leeward and coastal formats, with virtual marks used to adapt to conditions. Off the water, the event will feature daily post-race gatherings in Nelson’s Dockyard. The Antigua Racing Cup is positioned as a new addition to the Caribbean racing calendar, combining elite competition with a festival atmosphere.
