Antigua Sailing Week

April saw a small group from the KRH embark on a long flight to Antigua to compete alongside and against professional, semi-professional and amateur crews. 

Antigua Sailing Week is the last hurrah for the sailing season in the Caribbean and as Zarafa, owned by Maj (ret'd) Schofield, of Royal Hussars fame, had been in the West Indies since January it was fitting that she would compete in the final competition. Upon arrival the crew took advantage of the two days to get some training done before the races began. When they did begin, it was clear that the other boats weren't going to make it easy and races quickly became hard work. 

A huge effort saw the crew take home third place on the Monday and second place on the Tuesday. After one poor and one brilliant race on Thursday Zarafa sat in fourth place and the team took the usual journey from Nelson's Dockyard to the start buoys on the final day eager to make the podium. In the end they were narrowly beaten as they came joint third to the second meaning they missed the podium by half a point.

It was a great end to the season despite the disappointing position but the trip wasn't over when racing finished. As it was her last week, Zarafa needed to be shipped home and the boat to Southampton was leaving from St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. After a long overnight passage the crew stopped off in Tortola, British Virgin Islands before the final leg.

A truly spectacular place to sail and one that made the boys back in camp bitterly jealous not to go on! Here's to the start of the British season in colder waters.