So, you are a water enthusiast brave enough to conquer the huge waves in one of the islands in the Caribbean? If you are in for an ultimate ride of your life then here is the Antigua Sailing Week.
One of the major regattas in the world, the Antigua Sailing Week is held every once a year in the end of the month of April. It is number one in the entire globe and also on tonnage. Hundreds of boats of all classes from different corners of the planet literally come to this Caribbean island with that sole purpose to race. This contest is grounded on sportsmanship but hold on to your seats because it can get really fierce.
The Antigua Sailing Week entails a lot of time, money and preparation for those who are really decided to win. They are required to cruise at the open seas between a long stretch of 16 and 28 miles. It needs a considerable amount of stamina and hard- earned discipline just to keep up with the pace.
Aside from the vessel crews, the Antigua Sailing Week draws a lot of crowds. The spectators flock at the vantage points from the hills that have become ideal spots from where to watch the hundreds of boats streaked like elaborate pieces of paper scattered across the Caribbean Sea. This has also benefited a lot to their tourism as there has been a great amount of media coverage and large companies that sponsor the event such as American International Bank, Amex, Bacardi, Rolex and Suzuki.
Antigua Sailing Week is not just all about a tough match- up on the ocean, it is also spells partying the night away. What they call as Lay Day on a Wednesday, is supposedly for rest for all the boat crews but they have begun to head to the Falmouth Harbour where the action takes place. They cram themselves into an area in their dinghies and just about anywhere else to have loads of fun with music, food and drinks.
When the boat crews set sail on the Caribbean seas, there are also accompanying activities on the dry ground. There is Dockyard Day that happens on a Saturday where it is jampacked with dinners and games. It includes the wobbly greasy pole event and tug- of- war, to mention the least. There is also the presentation of prizes at the Old Officers’ Quarters in Nelson’s Dockyard given by no less than the Minister of Tourism and other dignitaries present. At about six in the evening, the Royal Antiguan Police Band plays “Beat The Retreat” that makes everyone on the dance floor to groove.
The Lord Nelson’s Ball is the grand finale of the Antigua Sailing Week. It is something more formal where all the boat crews are given a recognition they deserve but most of all, the champion awarded with a trophy and cold cash.
On April 29 to May 4, 2007, history will once again mark itself for the next Antigua Sailing Week. For more information, log on to www.sailingweek.com.
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Antigua Weather
... winter, however, the mercury plunges down slightly, reaching almost mid-seventies, providing for much cooler nights. Antigua weather is classified as the sunniest and driest in the Eastern Caribbean. Annual rainfall is only about 45 inches, with varying frequency so that the island often experiences drought. Brief spurts of rain often occur between the months of July and October, lasting very shortly, rarely for long. In addition, the rain seldom falls over Antigua Sailing Week consecutive days. To make up for the frequent droughts, Antigua practices desalination of seawater. Antigua weather is dry for the most part, year round. The island rarely experiences the stifling humidity common in most of the Caribbean Islands due to the tropical heat. This means that even on the hottest days, Antigua...
Antigua And Barbuda
... and Saint Martin serve as its northwest neighbors. The island nation's unique location points towards its being the perfect place for a tropical island vacation or to hide a fleet as what the legendary Admiral Horatio Nelson did in 1784. With its warm, steady winds, a complex coastline of safe harbours, and a protective, nearly unbroken wall of coral reef, it's no wonder Antigua and Barbuda became Great Britain's most important Caribbean base. Today, roughly 200 years later, Nelson's Dockyard still echoes the grandeur of the British Royal Navy with trade winds fueling one of the world's foremost maritime events, Sailing Week. And yet even with Sailing Week drawing to a close in late April, Antigua and Barbuda remains one of the most sought after destinations in the Caribbean year-round. ...
Way Of Living In Antigua
... in its pristine blue waters. There is more to the vacation getaway than what you think it is. The islands comprising it are all rich in its heritage and culture, where the way of living in Antigua is no exemption to that. They say that it is hard to see the identity of a particular country especially if you are an outsider. Here, we are going to step into the world of the way of living in Antigua to be more acquainted with this paradise that claims to have "365 beaches for each day of the year". * Religion Local natives are not concentrated in a single religion but majority them are Christians that come from different branches. There are lots of churches that have been built where some even dated back hundreds...
Antigua Island
Starting December 31, 2006, all travelers, including US citizens, going to and from the Caribbean, Central and South America and Bermuda are required to have a valid PASSPORT. Alternatively, you can also bring any travel document that establishes your identity and nationality, such as a driver's license, as entry or re-entry requirements to the US. Time Zone Antigua Island follows the Atlantic Standard Time, which is just an hour ahead of the Eastern Time Zone and the same as Eastern Daylight Time. GMT -4. Language The official language of Antigua Island is English. It is one of the largest English-speaking islands in the Caribbean. Attire You can go around on Antigua Island in informal but Antigua Sailing Week conservative attire. If you are going to the town, shops, or restaurants, casual attire is acceptable although some hotels and restaurants stipulate a jacket and tie for men and dresses for women in the evening. Beach attire should...
Antigua Bay
... reason why plenty of visitors are attracted to the place. It has become one of the more popular and developed destinations in the Caribbean islands. Dickenson Beach is the most renowned Antigua Bay. It can easily get crowded when the cruise liners are docked in the port area. It is magnificent for sight- seeing especially when the sun sets behind the vessels that are lined- up. There is also the Shirley Heights which offers a fantastic view of the Antigua Bay. It is a gun emplacement site where it allows you to survey one of the lofty historic locations in the West Indies. The Nelson's Dockyard with fortifications of the English Harbour is already filled with yachts nowadays rather than with the British warships. This amazing vista extends your horizon to the nearby isles of Montserrat and Guadalupe. It is unmistakably breathtaking when the zephyr caresses your skin as you gaze on what your eyes behold. However, if you are...
Antigua
... other. Finally, in the Treaty of Breda, the British regained Antigua and possessed it until 1981 when the island gained its independence, along with Barbuda. Climate Antigua has an average rainfall of 45.6 inches. However, due to great variations every year and the absence of rivers, the island is subject to frequent droughts. Even so, the soil, especially in the interior, is very fertile, producing export quality sugar and pineapples, plus local favorites like sweet potatoes, yams, maize, and guinea corn. Temperatures on the island range from mid-seventies in the winter. In the summer, the temperatures rise up a notch to around mid-eighties. Antigua is considered as one of the sunniest parts of the Eastern Caribbean Islands with constant northeast trade winds. Its naturally rocky coast is much indented by bays and arms, providing excellent harbours that afford shelter during storms. Transportation Antigua's single airport, the V C Bird Airport, is serviced by several major airlines from all over the world, including Virgin...
English Harbor In Antigua
British Navy in lieu of the command given by Horatio Nelson. It is focused on the fifteen square miles of Nelson's Dockyard National Park that came into being in the great age of sail. The English Harbor in Antigua served as a headquarters of the fleet of Leeward Islands during its chaotic periods. Even if the location was greatly expanded, it was already abandoned by the nineteenth century and was closed in 1889. It has been the haunt of many notable naval officers such as Rodney, Collingwood, Hood, Cochrane and Prince William Henry. Today, it is now the lone Georgian- type in the world and it has been completely restored as a tourist destination. Almost all of the park's other spots have also been maintained by authorities which all overlook the English Harbor in Antigua. One of the attractions is the Clarence House which is the closest of all. This has been a residence constructed for the future King William IV, who used...
Antigua Hotels
... hole" because of how it could naturally shelter any ship from violent storms as well as hide an entire fleet from enemy's eyes. The Admiral's Inn was once one of the several buildings built in the dockyard, using bricks brought all the way from England as ship's ballast. It used to be the engineer's workshop. Now, some 200 years after Nelson's time, this Antigua hotel has been renovated and modernized though its old British charm remained. This Antigua hotel offers 14 double rooms with Antigua Sailing Week a private bathroom and shower each, free transportation by boat or car, and a restaurant that serves three meals a day. Antigua Beachcomber Hotel Combining warmth and relaxation that are the staple of Antiguan vacations, the Antigua Beachcomber Hotel is situated right on the breezy northeast coast of the island of Antigua. Only three minutes away from the V C Bird International Airport, the island's single airport, this Antigua hotel is extremely convenient whether you are a holiday...
Antigua Carnival
... is here where one will discover how wealthy they are in terms of preserving what their ancestors have gained. Even if it is your first time in the Antigua Carnival, you would want to join in the fun overtly seen in the natives' countenances. You are very much welcome to groove with the performers as it takes you around the streets of Saint John to the Antigua Recreation Ground, home to the national sport of cricket. Wise reminders for the new excursionists, do not don on your best clothes because a lot will be spraying water over the crowd to keep it cool. As the weather can get really humid, the hotter it is in Antigua Carnival. Alongside is a festival village for dining. You and your friends can stop for a while to taste the banquet full of locally prepared barbeque chicken, fish and burgers direct from the grill. There are also plenty...
Virgin Island Sailing Adventure
... be happy to credit you with a sea hours that you can use towards a captain's license or for bareboat rentals. Join a yacht for one or two weeks and be an active member. This offer is available in the summer (June to July), from the Virgin Islands to the Antigua Sailing Week Grenadines or in the fall (Oct. to Nov.) from the Grenadines to the Virgin Islands. Meals and ship's standard are included but this is not a service oriented charter experience. One week: $1500 per person; mostly sailing, not many stops. 10 days: $2000 per person; recommended at least to allow for island adventure and weather considerations. Two weeks: $2500 per person; this is the best! It allows for island exploration on the way, at the captain and weather's discretion Day Sailing Wether you visiting for one of the many...
Antigua Map
... to your computer. Merriam-Webster - NYTimes Maps Merriam-Webster's Online Atlas has a map of the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, showing its world location, as well as an enlarged version showing the bordering islands of Anguilla, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserat, and Guadeloupe. This Antigua Antigua Sailing Week map will give you a basic idea of the island's precise location in the Caribbean region. AntiguaNice.com Another place where you can get an Antigua map is the site run by Antigua Nice Ltd. Besides offering you printable versions of both Antigua and its capital, St. John's, the site also has a navigable online map available. Click anywhere on the maps provided to begin your discovery of Antigua and the capital of St. John's. Antigua-Barbuda.org - Official Department of Tourism Map For an official copy of the Antigua map, the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Tourism website...
Antigua Airport
... airlines. It links neighboring places such as Saint Martin to the Antigua airport with not just one turn each day. Travel time Antigua Sailing Week for those who are from North America can expect touchdown after four hours. While those who are from Europe averages from eight to nine hours after take- off. Upon reaching the V.C. Bird International, transporting to your destination is not a dilemma since there a lot of companies that provide car rentals such as Avis, Capital Rentals and Tours, Carters, Dion's, Dollar, Jacobs, Oakland, Richard's, Slane Supreme, Stead's and Thrifty. Since there are public vehicle rides to and from the Antigua airport. It is but wise to have a reservation before traveling. However, there are taxis or cabs that are for hire on a fixed- fare manner to the capital city of Saint John or the other local hotels. There is only one information desk on the ground site of V.C. Bird International but you can always research online for more information so you are...
Blue Waters Antigua
... service matched with a carefully preserved resort? Blue Waters Antigua will surely prove what you are looking for. It is Antigua Sailing Week a family- owned hotel fronting a beach with clear waters and a shoreline that is powdery- white in color. It is one of the longest establishments in the entire country. With 77 rooms and suites, Blue Waters Antigua have it made in superior quality giving their guests that chance to experience the classic vacation getaway set in paradise. It takes pride of its two secluded bays, three fresh- water swimming pools, palm al fresco restaurant, Pelican cocktail bar, tavern by the beach, all- weather tennis court, air- conditioned gymnasium, live band music and fourteen acres of tropical gardens. This is also perfect for water enthusiasts because Blue Waters Antigua provides all...
Fly Fishing In Antigua
... ferocious because of that will to survive, are the favorite of those who engage in such activity. A 16 inches bonefish for example, has three times the strength and stamina of a rainbow trout that is 20 inches long. The pikes however, are akin to kittens compared to tarpons. Being able to catch them seems to be the most rewarding experiences imaginable. Here are great sites for fly fishing in Antigua: * Falmouth Harbour Marina Situated on the English Harbour main road, Falmouth Harbour Marina has been specially built to cater huge yachts intended for fly fishing in Antigua. It has a dockage for vessels of up to 330 pounds with a draft that reaches up to 20 inches both stern- to and alongside. It is also complete with...
Cades Reef Antigua
Barbuda contribute a lot to the excellent conditions of Antiguan waters. There is almost no current whatsoever in most places and the water temperatures averages about 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 25 degrees Centigrade. Additionally, underwater visibility is somewhere between 50 and 140 ft., thus ensuring that you get a spectacular view of Antigua's diverse and Antigua Sailing Week plentiful tropical marine plants and animals. Cades Reef Antigua: Shallow Diving and Underwater Park Among the most popular dive spots in Antigua is Cades Reef Antigua, an offshore site that stretches for about 2.5 miles. Cades Reef Antigua is actually a barrier reef that runs parallel to the southwest coast of Antigua. It is only about 50 minutes by boat from the capital of St. John's. The reef provides with a collection of numerous dive spots, each offering large amounts of soft corals such as sea fans as well as a colorful marine...