Superyacht Challenge Antigua 2026 Overall
by Louay Habib 9 Mar 16:42 UTC
4-8 March 2026
The 15th edition of the Superyacht Challenge Antigua concluded in Nelson's Dockyard after four days of spectacular racing and vibrant social events.
Over 300 sailors including, owners, guests and crew, gathered for the Prize Giving at The Admiral's Inn beneath the pillars of the famous Georgian Hotel and Restaurant. PRO Hank Stuart was Master of Ceremonies and The Admiral's Inn's Paul Deeth presented the prizes to the competitors.
A schooner's debut to remember: Adix wins the Gosnell Trophy
The prestigious Gosnell Trophy, awarded for the overall Spirit of the Regatta after a vote from competing teams, went to the 213ft three-masted gaff schooner Adix, racing in her first Superyacht Challenge Antigua.
"It's a real honour to receive the Gosnell Trophy," said Adix Captain Oliver Bell. "For us this regatta has never just been about results, it's about the spirit of the event and the people involved. To have the other teams vote for us makes it incredibly special.
This has been our first Superyacht Challenge Antigua and it's been fantastic from start to finish. The racing has been tough with big breeze and squalls on the start lines, but the atmosphere on the water and ashore has been brilliant. I'm incredibly proud of our crew because everyone pulled together and pushed the boat hard in some demanding conditions.
Events like this remind you why sailing these yachts is so special. You've got beautiful boats, great competition and a wonderful sense of camaraderie between the teams. To be part of that, and to be recognised for the spirit of how we raced, means that we've done our job and honoured the legacy of Adix. We'd love to come back and do it all again next year."
A fleet of ten magnificent superyachts had competed in moderate to strong Caribbean trade wind conditions, delivering four days of thrilling racing around Antigua's dramatic coastline with fun-filled social events in Nelson's Dockyard every evening.
Hetairos smashes course record to win the Stan Pearson Trophy
The 218ft Dykstra/Reichel Pugh ketch Hetairos delivered a standout performance to win the Stan Pearson Trophy and set a new race and monohull course record, completing the 48.31nm course in 3 hours 20 minutes 35 seconds. The time beat Hetairos' previous record set in 2022 by 25 minutes 55 seconds and surpassed the outright course record of Leopard 3 by 12 minutes 23 seconds, which was set in the 2026 RORC Antigua 360 Race. For the record achievement, Hetairos was also awarded the skipper's weight in rum. Captained Graham Newton had been spotted bulking up in the gym and the Admiral's Inn restaurant in preparation for the award! SYCA co-founder Stan Pearson would have been full of laughter!
Series Victories for Hetairos, Rebecca, Linnea Aurora and Geist. Full ORCsy Results here
Flawless series victory for Hetairos
In the Privateers Performance Class, Hetairos dominated the regatta, winning all four races sailed to secure the class victory.
"Hetairos is a big, complex yacht to race and it really comes down to teamwork," said Hetairos Captain Graham Newton. "With a ketch you're effectively sailing two boats at once, so the coordination between the bow, the cockpit and the mizzen team is critical. Communication is everything. We've got a lot of experienced sailors on board and everyone knows their role, but it's the way the whole team works together that makes the boat perform.
"That's one of the reasons the Superyacht Challenge Antigua is such a great regatta for us. The conditions are usually fantastic and the racing is always interesting, but it's also a really enjoyable event for the whole crew. Antigua is an amazing place to sail and it's a great way to start the season. When you've got a big boat, a strong team and conditions like this, it reminds you why we all love doing it."
Bagpipes and battles: Rebecca secures the Privateers Class
In the Privateers Class, the 140ft German Frers ketch Rebecca, captained by Seumas Meharg claimed the class win after a close final-race showdown with the 213ft three-masted schooner Adix, taking the title by 1.6 points. Rebecca crew boss Johnny Mordaunt takes up the story.
"It was all to play for going into the last race," said Johnny Mordaunt. "We'd been OCS the day before which left us chasing Adix on the scoreboard, so the pressure was definitely on. Leaving the dock with the bagpipes playing was a great way to fire everyone up and get the team in the right mindset. The conditions made it tricky as well with squalls coming through the course, so the guys had to be ready for anything.
"We had sails prepared for every scenario and the bow team stayed on their toes the whole time. It's been a brilliant week though, the vibe on board has been fantastic. Even when we ripped a spinnaker and a jib earlier in the week, the team just got on with fixing everything and kept pushing. That kind of teamwork is what makes it so rewarding when it all comes together at the end."
Linnea Aurora wins Corsairs Class in debut regatta
The Corsairs Class was won by Linnea Aurora, the striking 128ft Hoek-designed sloop launched in 2024, competing in her first Superyacht Challenge Antigua. Linnea Aurora's tactician Magnus Woxen commented at the Prize Giving.
"Our expectation coming here was really to have a fun regatta and build the team," said Magnus Woxen, who was also tactician Linnea Aurora, winning the Superyacht Class in the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race. "The owner had always wanted to cross the Atlantic with his own boat and then race in the Caribbean, so this was a perfect step in that plan and a great warm-up for bigger events to come. We had several crew who sailed the transatlantic and a few new faces joining us, so it was a good way to bring everyone together. Antigua is always a fantastic place to sail, and this year the breeze and swell made it exciting, even if it meant we had to be a little cautious at times with such a big boat. But the atmosphere here is really special. It's competitive sailing but also a very social and friendly regatta, which makes it a great event for owners and crews alike."
Perfect series victory for Geist
In the Buccaneers Class, the Spirit 111 sloop Geist, captained by Justin Pope, produced a flawless performance, winning all four races in her debut appearance at the regatta.
"This was the boat's first time racing in the Caribbean and it's been a brilliant experience," said Graham Sunderland, tactician on Geist. "The conditions here are very different from what the boat has seen before. When the breeze gets up you really feel the size and power of the boat as the loads build through the hull and rig. It's impressive but it also makes you very aware of looking after the boat and the people on board at the same time. What we've enjoyed most is how interesting the racing has been. The fleet here is incredibly diverse with very different designs, yet you still end up having great racing against boats that look nothing alike. Add the squalls, the shifts and the sea state and it keeps everyone thinking all the time. For a first regatta here it's been fantastic and the team has really enjoyed the challenge."
Seamanship above Silverware: Namuun's safety call wins respect
As with all contestants in the Superyacht Challenge Antigua there is a safety officer on board communicating with all competitors via VHF. On the 108ft Hoek-designed sloop Namuun this was Ted Street. "In the last race, we had a problem with two of our starboard winches. We realised that this was a safety issue as we were in close quarters with Adix at the time. We communicated that we had the problem and put the engine in gear to remain in control. Safety is above everything, there can be no compromise."
Numuun would have won their class by just completing the race and high praise should go to the team for their decision to retire. The Rebecca Trophy, presented by Pendennis for Spirit of Tradition, was awarded to the Namuun, Captained by Georgia Poublan.
More than a regatta
Now in its 15th year, the Superyacht Challenge Antigua has become a highlight of the Caribbean season. Its appeal lies not only in the quality of racing, but in its atmosphere: mutual respect on the water, camaraderie ashore and the rare opportunity to race extraordinary yachts in an extraordinary place.
The 16th edition of the Superyacht Challenge will take place in early March 2027, directly before the St Barths Bucket. The 2027 SYCA Notice of Race will be published soon. The SYCA is an invitational event, open to superyachts in excess of 30.5 metres with a valid ORCsy rating certificate. Yachts 30.5 metres or less, but greater than 25 metres, with a valid certificate may request entry.
For more information: superyachtchallengeantigua.com