Fabulous Start for 49th Edition of Antigua Sailing Week

Antigua April 23, 2016. With a record fleet of yachts taking part in the Round Antigua Race, Antigua Sailing Week kicked off with the Guadeloupe to Antigua Race on Friday 22nd April and the 52 nautical-mile, Round Antigua Race on Saturday 23rd April attracting 42 yachts; nearly twice as many as the 2015 race.

Tony Langley's British TP52 Gladiator, Piet Vroon's Ker 51 Tonnerre 4 and Oyster 82, Starry Night of the Caribbean had excellent starts in the big boat CSA 1 class. Gladiator took monohull line honours in an elapsed time of 4 hours 46 minutes and 20 seconds, which was just 8 minutes and 37 seconds outside Sojana's race record, set in 2009. Gladiator was the CSA 1 class and overall winner, after time correction.

New recruit Rhone Kirby will be sailing with Gladiator all week. Rhone represented Antigua & Barbuda at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games hoping to represent his country at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Rhone will be in the afterguard of Gladiator, providing local knowledge to Volvo Ocean Race winners, Ian Walker and Jules Salter. Driving the powerful TP52 during the practice session on Friday, Rhone said "It is just a dream ride. I am so grateful to Mr. Langley and the Gladiator Team as this is an opportunity to learn so much."

Gladiator tactician Ian Walker said "It was a pleasure to have Rhone (Kirby) on board. I told him before the race that if he thought there was anything we should be doing, he should not be afraid to speak up; which he did and it was very much in line with our plans. He is obviously a very talented young man. The Gladiator team is very well organised and the boat is in great shape. We only have a handful of professional sailors on board this week but that is the whole idea. Tony Langley wants to give other talented people the chance that few people ever get. If I had been given that opportunity at 17 years old, my eyes would have been popping out."

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Tony Langley’s TP52, Gladiator ©Paul Wyeth

About Antigua Sailing Week

Antigua Sailing Week is held annually at the end of April and the 49th edition will commence with the Round Antigua Race on Saturday 23rd April, 2016. Following that will be five days of competitive racing off the rugged south coast of Antigua which will wrap up on Friday 29th April. Antigua Sailing Week is considered to be one of the Caribbean's most prestigious regattas with more than 100 yachts participating annually. For more details: www.sailingweek.com