As the Superyacht Challenge Antigua returns to the island this week (6-12 March), we take a look at the line-up of yachts vying for the top prize – a barrel of rum – in one of the first Caribbean regattas of the year...
Action
No regatta is complete without a Huisman-built sailing yacht charging through the field and Action is a familiar face on the regatta circuit. The 37.3-metre sailing yacht will be competing in this regatta for the second year in a row and will showcase the best of her Dutch creators Dykstra Naval Architects and Royal Huisman. After winning her class last year she is the defending champion and will undoubtedly put up a tough challenge to her competitors in 2023.
Catalina
Catalina is part of the history of the Superyacht Challenge Antigua, as her former owners, the Gosnells, donated the ship’s bell which is now the only trophy awarded at the event. The Gosnell Trophy is won through a peer vote for the yacht which has “competed in the spirit of the regatta." Previously named Timoneer, the 44.8-metre yacht was built at Vitters with exterior design and naval architecture by Dubois Naval Architects. Catalina has been cruising around America since competing in last year's event and has scaled the west coast of the US in the past six months.
Gitana
Gitana was built-in New Zealand by Fitzroy Yachts and delivered in 2009. Previously known as Salperton and Palmira, she has been a regatta winner since she left the shipyard and has been nominated for multiple awards in her lifetime including Best Sailing Yacht 45m+ at the 2010 World Superyacht Awards. She received a refit in 2017 and 2020 ensuring her already well-equipped sloop has been kept in racing shape. Exterior design and naval architecture on the 45 metre are courtesy of Dubois Naval Architects.
Kawil
The Sparkman & Stephens sailing yacht Kawil is another regular on the superyacht regatta circuit. She has travelled far and wide to compete in some of the most prestigious events around the world and even lifted the first-place trophy at the New Zealand Millennium Cup regatta in 2020. Kawil started life in America at the Derecktor Shipyard and can sleep six guests in three cabins with a spacious pilothouse that provides wind and sun protection. Having missed out on first place in her class by a mere point last year, she will no doubt be back with a vengeance at this year's event.
Zig Zag
Zig Zag is entering the Superyacht Challenge Antigua for her seventh year in a row and has previously won the Gosnell Trophy at the 2020 regatta. She was built by Southampton shipyard Oyster to a design by Humphreys Yacht Design and is one of 17 Oyster 82 models built. At 25 metres long, she is one of the smallest yachts competing in this year's regatta, but this British beauty certainly packs a punch having just won the 2022-2023 Southern Ocean Racing Conference in Port Canaveral.