Yachting World - July 2018

12

eter Harrison’s Farr 115 Sojana

claimed the Lord Nelson Trophy

for the second time at Antigua

Sailing Week, posting a scoreline of seven

race wins in class. The regatta was back

on storming form again this year, with

116 entries from 37 countries racing in

punchy tradewind conditions.

“We have had beautiful crew work,

everybody was really on their game,” said

Harrison. “We had our boat restored

three years ago and have new

sails and the crew have all

done her justice.”

Jonty and Vicky

Layfield’s Swan 48 Sleeper

also won all seven races in

her class. The Layfields are

resident in Antigua and are

Kamikaze Tim

Dodging the bow wave of this

yacht is the inimitable marine

photographer Tim Wright, who

has a frightening dedication to

getting close to the action. This

is Wright on the front line at

Antigua Sailing Week in April.

He operates from an 11ft AB

inflatable tender, powered by an

outboard with a tiller extension.

He drives it solo and shoots

while standing, clipped on with a

harness. “The boat is extremely

manoeuvrable, and I can place it

with precision without having to

explain my intentions to a driver.

It’s also nice to be low down and

close to the water,” he says.

Sojana carries off Antigua trophy

The Farr 115 Sojana won the Antigua Sailing

Week Lord Nelson Trophy for the second time

Touch 2 Play, El Ocaso and Scarlet Island Girl battle it out in

punchy tradewind conditions at Antigua Sailing Week

P

active in encouraging young Antiguans

to the sport. They had Antiguan teenager

Shanoy Malone calling tactics on board.

“I love this regatta,” said Layfield. “To

beat sailors like Ossie Stewart and Ross

Applebey on Scarlet Island Girl is a great

feeling. The seas were steep and it was

very hard; people think it’s easy, but it’s

not – this has been a tough regatta.”

The event attracts all kinds of yachts,

from Cork 1720s to Harrison’s

superyacht and ramped up

charter yachts in between

and the combination of

full-on racing and shoreside

parties has kept the event

at the top of racing sailor’s

bucket list events for 51

years and counting.

ON THE WIND

Paul Wyeth

Paul Wyeth

Paul Wyeth