This afternoon, to great acclaim, the traditional Gig Racing and Cream Teas returned to the Admiral’s Inn once again. These events are unique to the Antigua Classics, with its unparalleled historic backdrop of Nelson’s Dockyard, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with the joyful and intimate ambience created from the camaraderie that evolved during the Regatta.
For the racing, classic gigs and dinghies were loaned from participating yachts and the races were directed by old hand, Flip Bamford as usual, a brilliant way to wind down after the main regatta races. The classes were male or female racing as singles, doubles or mixed and families with their children. Each race was cheered on enthusiastically by the the ebullient crowd of spectators lining the dock of the Admiral’s Inn. When a big modern catamaran happened to motor straight through the small boat fleet, it was booed as vigorously as the winning rowers and sailors were applauded!
For those preferring to sit back in the shade and relax with some genteel refreshments, the ladies in their habitual flowery dresses and hats were on hand on the lawn between the pillars next to the Admiral’s Inn serving the popular and traditional Cream Teas, organised as efficiently as usual by Lyn Bardoe. An array of a delicious and very tempting home-made cakes, scones, quiches and other delights were on display and were rapidly consumed. The proceeds from the Cream Teas will be donated to the local hospice charity.
The prize-giving ceremony was held this evening at the Dockyard Museum compared by Tommy Paterson. Barrels of rum sponsored by English Harbour Rum were presented to first, second and third placed winners of each class in the regatta. The full results can be seen here.
The captain of the 72′ Herreshoff ketch, Ticonderoga, Guillaume Touhadian commented “Finally Classics is back, don’t ever miss a single one again”. The dates next year are April 17 to 22 – please come and join us.
