Š Lucy Tulloch, lucy@thelucy.com
general development of the yachting product. The Antigua Sailing Association, which reports to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is the national authority for sailing in Antigua and Barbuda waters. In looking to the future Antigua and the yachting community have made a significant commitment to the education of children in the sport of yachting, thereby opening the door to the many opportunities for work in the yachting industry. The National Sailing Academy, founded by visionaries from the yachting world in 2010, is funded by a voluntary assessment of one US dollar per foot of length per visiting yacht each year, in addition to significant charitable contributions received mainly from visiting yachts. The government of Antigua supports this initiative, and has declared swimming and sailing national sports.
Previous page (left): 113 Velsheda, J Class politely ducking (therefore not taking the wind) Previous page (right) top: Coyote 2, Beneteau yacht- Antigua Sailing Week 2011 Previous page middle: Visione beating to windward. Superyacht Cup Winner, Antigua 2010 Previous page bottom: Antiguan-built Herreshoff Dinghy taking part in the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta Opposite top: Barrett trimming from the Leeward deck of Galatea of Kate, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta Opposite middle: Antigua Yacht Club, National Sailing Academy on the water Opposite bottom: View of Falmouth Harbour during the yachting season This page (top): Schooner Eleonora, 354 action on the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta racecourse. Taken from the over 100 year old Galatea of Kate, built in St. Kitts. This page (bottom): ABSAR rescue boat following a Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta race
image courtesy ABSAR
Free swimming lessons are provided by Swalings Swim Club in Jolly Harbour. Children are brought by school buses to the Antigua Yacht Club every weekday afternoon for free sailing lessons conducted by the Academy. Twelve new Optimist dinghies were purchased in 2010, and a small fleet of Pico dinghies, the next step up from the Optimist, recently arrived in Antigua. In April 2010 Woodstock Boatbuilders launched a 39 ft. Carriacou sloop, Summer Cloud, for use by students who graduate from dinghies to keel boats, and in May 2011 Richard Matthews, founder of Oyster Marine, donated a Cork Keelboat to the Academy. Plans are in place for an expansion of the teaching program to Parham and to Jolly Harbour, where the government of Antigua and Jolly Harbour Marina offer good facilities for the program. There is a feeling of great momentum in this initiative, and the heritage of yachting in Antigua and its future success appear to be secure.
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