As the Superyacht Challenge Antigua returns to the island after a one-year hiatus, we take a look at the line-up of yachts taking to the crystal Caribbean waters to compete in one of the first regattas of the year. The race runs from March 8-13 and the winning team will receive several barrels of rum.
Hetairos
At nearly 67 metres in length, Hetairos is the largest yacht to be launched by Baltic to date. While she looks every bit the classic yacht (she was inspired by a Bristol Pilot Cutter), Hetairos is built from a carbon composite with a lifting keel and 2,620 square metres of sail, which means she is deceptively quick around the racecourse. She was designed by Dykstra Naval Architects and checked in at Vitters in 2014 for an extensive 14-month refit that saw her fitted with a new propulsion system and engine room, all new hydraulics and carbon ECsix rigging.
Hanuman
Hanuman was built by Royal Huisman and is a regular on the regatta circuit. In fact, she is one of the most successful winning J-Class yachts on the water today. The 42 metre sailing yacht was first launched in 2009 but underwent a refit in 2018 which saw a complete overhaul of all her racing and sailing systems including a new, lightweight carbon rig and boom that shaved 500kg of her overall weight. Other credentials include a high-speed Reckmann furling headstay as well as an impressive sail wardrobe with sails. Hanuman even scooped the Neptune for Sailing Yacht of the Year at the World Superyacht Awards in 2009.
Rebecca
The 42.4 metre Germán Frers-designed Rebecca is one of the largest ketch-rigged sailing yachts to leave the Pendennis shipyard. The owner wanted a true modern classic that combined the best of both worlds, offering a traditional profile matched with impressive performance under sail. She left the shipyard in 199 and has paid two visits to her home shipyard since her launch for refit work.
Kamaxitha
Another Royal Huisman sailing yacht currently racing in the Superyacht Challenge Antigua is Kamaxitha. Constructed under the codename Spirit of Tradition, the 55 metre was built in 2012 to a design by Dykstra Naval Architects and Rhoades Young Design. Kamaxitha’s owner started out building a classic sailing ketch but later chose to change his brief after seeing the sailing yacht Hetairos from the same designers. She has a lifting keel and flies 2,449 square metres of sail downwind.
Kawil
The Sparkman & Stephens sailing yacht Kawil is a familiar face 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.
Freya
Freya was launched by Nautor's Swan in 2012 as a Swan 90 and was the 2,000th hull delivered by the Finnish shipyard since its inception. She measures 27.71 metres in length and was designed by longtime Swan collaborator Germán Frers. While Freya was built primarily as a performance cruiser she is also designed with long-range bluewater sailing in mind.
Action
No regatta is complete without a Huisman-built sailing yacht charging through the field, and while Action is the smallest of the three yachts from the Dutch shipyard competing in this year's Superyacht Challenge Antigua, she still packs a mighty punch. The 37.3 metre sailing yacht features naval architecture by Dykstra Naval Architects and joins the fleet fresh from a refit in 2020. Action will undoubtedly put up a tough challenge to her competitors.
Farfalla
Farfalla is a 31.8 metre performance cruiser built by Southern Wind and delivered in 2015 as a raised saloon version of the SW102. Her design, from the boards of Nauta Yacht Design in collaboration with Farr Yacht Design, scored Farfalla a Neptune at the 2015 World Superyacht Awards and she will be one to watch on race day. An aluminium rig was chosen over carbon to dampen the noise transfer for improved comfort when cruising.
Nilaya
The 34 metre Nilaya was built in composite by Baltic Yachts and has an exceptional regatta track record. When she was launched in 2010, she was heralded as a new breed of racer-cruiser that could offer superb comfort with exceptional speed and performance. Nilaya displaces just 89 tons and features a lifting keel from APM reducing her draft from 5.5 metres to 3.5 metres. She is designed by Reichel/Pugh with an interior courtesy of Nauta Yacht Design and is currently listed for sale with Superyacht Partners.
Zig Zag
Zig Zag is no stranger to the regatta circuit and the Superyacht Challenge Antigua will mark the yacht's sixth race in a row. At 24.99 metres in length, Zig Zag is the smallest yacht at the regatta but renowned for racing as hard as any of the largest yachts in the fleet. She springs from the drawing boards of Humphreys Yacht Design and is one of 17 Oyster 82 models built by the British shipyard.