RS Elite Summer Series Final Announced

Teams compete in the Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge on Lay Day at Antigua Sailing Week © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

Antigua Sailing Week is delighted to announce that its partner, Nonsuch Bay Resort located on the east coast of Antigua within the protected waters of Nonsuch Bay, has confirmed its sponsorship of Antigua Sailing Week 2016 and the now famous Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge.

Marketing director Mark Whinney says, 'We are delighted to extend our sponsorship of Antigua Sailing Week for another year. The regatta has undergone a metamorphosis over the last few years and has been repositioned as a professionally managed racing event with excellent post-race prize-givings at Antigua Yacht Club and vibrant island parties. Our association with Antigua Sailing Week means that we are able to reach a wider audience of potential visitors to Antigua and be part of what is an excellent opportunity to market our destination to the world.'

To celebrate the sponsorship, Nonsuch Bay and Antigua Sailing Week have announced the date of the RS Elite Summer Series Final which will take place on Sunday 15th November. Sailors who have raced in the regular Sunday series over the summer months are invited to participate in what promises to be a hotly contested battle. Winner of the Series Final will move on to represent Antigua in the Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge, a one day invitational stadium style regatta held on Lay Day of Antigua Sailing Week 2016. Top prize for the Challenge is a one week all inclusive stay for two people including use of sailing facilities at the beautiful Nonsuch Bay luxury resort.

Previous winners of the Lay Day event have been: in 2013 - Mark Dicker, skipper of Whisper, a Southern Wind 78; in 2014 - Olympic medallist and America's Cup winner Peter Holmberg; and in 2015 – Italian sailor Pietro Corbucci from team At Last. The entire day is great fun for spectators and offers entertainment on the water and on the beach. Lay Day festivities also include a gourmet Caribbean barbecue from Nonsuch Bay Executive Chef Mitchell Husbands, first class commentary of the racing and of course legendary beach games and entertainment throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

The line-up of skippers for the RS Elite Summer Series Final is the biggest to date and includes former Antiguan Olympians Franklyn Braithwaite and Karl James, Patmore Watson, Ashley Rhodes, Bernie Evan-Wong, Tony Sayer, Tanner Jones, Robbie Ferron, Marc Fitzgerald and Geoffrey Pidduck - most of which are familiar names because of their keel boat successes. Racing starts at 10 am and heats will run throughout the morning on a round robin basis. Spectators can spend the day at the resort and enjoy an all inclusive lunch and drinks or just come to watch the racing from the restaurant or waterfront.

Of the Series Tanner Jones says, 'Having just won the 1st Annual James Dobbs Memorial Regatta in the RS Elites on October 11, I can honestly say that winning the spot held for an Antiguan team in the Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge on Lay Day will be all about bragging rights. We all race together regularly in keelboats but taking it into the one-design RS Elites adds a whole new dimension to our competitive spirits. I really look forward to the competitiveness of the Summer Series Final.'

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