The Antigua Bermuda Race Returns: 935 Miles of Bluewater Tradition

The fifth edition of the Antigua Bermuda Race launches on April 29, and with it comes one of the Caribbean’s most compelling late-season offshore challenges. At 935 nautical miles, this isn’t a coastal romp — it’s a proper bluewater passage race that tests crew, boat, and strategy in equal measure.

A Race With Real Offshore Credentials

Run jointly by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and Antigua Sailing Week, the Antigua Bermuda Race occupies a unique niche in the racing calendar. It bridges the gap between the Caribbean racing season and the summer circuit up north, offering a legitimate offshore race rather than a gentleman’s cruise under spinnaker. The course takes the fleet north from Antigua through the variable winds of the horse latitudes before picking up the prevailing westerlies that sweep toward Bermuda.

The fleet this year is open to IRC and CSA racing yachts, cruiser-racers, superyachts, and multihulls, with dedicated divisions for classic yachts and doublehanded entries. There’s even a CSA motor-sailing division for those who want to compete but may need to fire up the iron genny through the calms — time penalties apply, naturally. Minimum LOA is 35 feet with a crew of at least two, and boats must carry Cat 1 ISAF offshore safety equipment, satellite comms, AIS, and transponders.

Tactical Challenges on the Course

The tactical picture from Antigua to Bermuda is far from straightforward. Leaving the trades behind, the fleet will push through the doldrums-like conditions near 30°N where the Azores High ridges west toward the American seaboard. The routing puzzle comes down to when and how aggressively to break north for the westerlies without getting parked in light airs or punished by a late-season frontal system sliding off the eastern seaboard.

Doublehanders in particular face a grueling sleep management challenge. At 935 miles, the race typically stretches over five to seven days depending on conditions, and fatigue management becomes as critical as sail selection.

The Bermuda Bonus

This year’s finish carries extra incentive. The awards ceremony is set for May 7 at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, timed to overlap with SailGP Bermuda’s Great Sound action that same weekend. It’s a rare chance to park your ocean racer in Hamilton and watch the F50s foiling at close range — not a bad reward after nearly a thousand miles at sea.

For those still on the fence, registration remains open at antiguabermuda.com. The race also offers whole-boat charters with owner representatives and individual crew berths on competing boats, making it accessible even if you don’t have your own 35-footer dialed in for offshore work.

Why This Race Matters

In an era when many offshore races have become professionalized to the point of excluding amateur sailors, the Antigua Bermuda Race deliberately holds the door open. The cruiser-racer and doublehanded divisions aren’t afterthoughts — they’re central to the event’s identity. This is a race that takes its offshore credentials seriously while remembering that the point of sailing is to actually go sailing.

Whether you’re racing hard for corrected time or simply using the fleet as motivation to make a passage you’ve been meaning to do anyway, the Antigua Bermuda Race is one of the best ways to close out the Caribbean season with purpose. Fair winds to all entries — we’ll be tracking the fleet from here.