Antigua Bermuda Race Returns for 2026 - A Premier Caribbean-to-Bermuda Sailing Classic

The biennial event draws seasoned crews and aspiring racers aboard boats ranging from one-hull yachts to two-hull craft, testing endurance, seamanship, and teamwork.

The course starts near Antigua and finishes in Bermuda’s waters, spanning approximately 635 nautical miles under trade winds that typically move fleets at 10–25 knots, with occasional squalls and light spells guiding the variable pace.

Enter by submitting vessel details, crew lists, a safety plan, and insurance through the organizer’s portal, with mandatory checks of safety equipment before confirmation.

Antigua offers pre-race clinics and marina amenities to help teams calibrate gear, while Bermuda hosts a celebratory prize ceremony and a series of social gatherings, making this regatta a highlighted feature of the Atlantic sailing season.

Race 2026 Practicalities for sailors and fans

Register early to secure your slot and preferred marina blocks in Antigua and Bermuda. The 2026 edition welcomes international crews and a worldwide audience, with early-bird promotions that can save costs. Entry fees for boats typically range 2,000–5,000 USD depending on class, with additional charges for crew accommodations and shore services. Verify the final package with the organizers and hereby agree to the terms to lock in pricing.

For sailors, build a real prep plan: verify hull and rigging, ensure valid insurance, and map provisioning for 7–12 days at sea. Schedule a daily weather briefing and assign a flexible crew roster so you can adjust quickly to changing conditions. If you need financing for gear, ask partner sponsors about loan options; many teams use these programs to spread costs while maintaining performance. You should also align with safety officers and local regulations before you depart.

Fans and media can expect worldwide access to official photographs and daily stories from race week. The publishing team will host a premium photo gallery and a growing collection of race narratives, with live tracking and official results posted promptly. Fans receive direct updates via the event app and can purchase digital packages while respecting discretion on private moments.

Logistics and experiences run through two hubs: Antigua and Bermuda. The campus-style briefing hub will host online seminars and on-site briefings, thereafter feeding schedules to boats and shore crews. Hotels and charter services offer blocks for spectators and teams; look for sponsor promotions that bundle accommodation with transport, which helps customers save on travel and hereby simplify planning.

In closing, pack built-in redundancy: extra batteries, spares for critical systems, and a simple provisioning catalog. Travel and race operations rely on premium partners worldwide; the event receives international interest and continues to grow every year. By coordinating with crews, fans, and sponsors, you can enjoy real-time updates, compelling photographs, and engaging stories while supporting the race's ongoing growth and change.

Registration window, eligibility requirements, and required documents

Register within the March 1–May 15, 2026 window using the official race portal to secure your place and streamline the entry process, then have vessel data and crew manifests ready before you begin.

Eligibility requirements include a skipper aged 18 or older with verified sailing experience, current safety certifications, a registered boat that meets class rules, minimum insurance coverage, a valid radio license, and crew members who sign the race rules. Depending on category, you may need additional checks or endorsements; plan for a brief medical clearance if requested by the organizers.

Required documents include: scanned passports for each crew member; proof of sailing qualifications; vessel registration and ownership documents; yacht insurance certificate; up-to-date safety equipment inventory and a recent safety inspection report; a crew manifest with roles and duties; emergency contact details; a signed liability waiver; online entry is supported by andor paper forms; and ensure you provide any regional or federation endorsements as applicable.

Resources and guidelines cover free videos and video tutorials for orientation; subscribe to the newsletter for updates and reminders; the site offers marketing materials and footers with privacy and rights statements; intellectual-property notes explain what you may produce or reuse; the platform also outlines who holds the rights to produced content and how to request additional permissions where needed.

Whichever category you enter, track progress between the intake window and the May 15 deadline; around the calendar, organizers publish reminders via the newsletter and official site; womens crews have dedicated perspectives and courses, including episode-style briefings and other produced content; Hobart benchmarks are referenced to illustrate safety and endurance standards; if you miss the window, consult the stated remedy options in the FAQ and contact the organizers for guidance on next steps.

Crew limits, boat classes, safety inspections, and compliance rules

Set firm crew ceilings by category and require a pre-race safety audit before any entries are accepted. This keeps the field fair and the race safe across every class, and it creates an auditable account of who is on board for each day of racing.

Boat classes follow a clear category framework: category A Pro Offshore (hobart-style), category B Cruiser-Racer, and category C Development. Each category defines a maximum crew, equipment standards, and race-day roles. The lazarus entry and other teams will serve as references for roster structure, with an independent verification step to confirm eligibility before the start sequence takes place.

Safety inspections use a two-tier approach: onshore checks at the campus-approved facility and dockside verifications in the state harbor. Inspectors verify life raft freshness, fire extinguishers, PFDs, EPIRBs, and rigging compliance. If any item fails, the boat cannot start and must break from the line until repairs pass. Crews must maintain an up-to-date account of gear and have a roster ready for subject checks.

Compliance and documentation require transparency across the entire group. Each entry must provide medical certifications, licensing, and a privacy-conscious roster. If a crew member didnt deliver one document, race directors pause that subject and await proper files. The directors coordinate with independent inspectors to verify that every item matches the category rules, and compensation for safe participation respects crew roles. For Indian and worldwide entries, the process mirrors Hobart-style standards as well as local state requirements, ensuring titles and equipment works stay aligned.

The table below summarizes the main limits and steps for crews, boats, and compliance across categories.

Course layout, start/finish protocol, and expected weather conditions

Plan for a direct Atlantic crossing with a clear finish in Hamilton Harbor, Bermuda. The course is designed to accommodate a wide range of entrants, with a total distance around 900–1,000 nautical miles and a single offshore leg that tightens into a controllable harbor approach thereafter. This layout supports both growing, independent crews and larger teams alike, and it remains relevant for Olympic‑level campaigns and world-class fleet participation.

Course layout

• Start area: Nelson's Dockyard, English Harbour, Antigua. The race uses a broad start line with a 10‑minute countdown to prevent bottlenecks and to ensure individuals and crews can establish a stable pace from the outset. The protocol keeps the window limited to prevent delays, with the state patrolled by race officials and independent observers to verify line length and timing.
• Ocean leg: a direct, Atlantic crossing toward Bermuda. The track favors a north‑easterly or easterly wind shift, with routing options that allow a mid‑ocean gate to reduce congestion and to accommodate weather windows. Expect a steady NE breeze of 15–25 knots on average, building toward 25–30 knots in squalls or stronger frontal passages, and currents generally ranging from calm to 2 knots depending on the mid‑Atlantic high pressure position.
• Finish approach: Bermuda western approaches to Hamilton Harbor. Rounding marks near Bermuda consolidate the fleet into a single corridor, then boats enter the harbor through an approved channel. A camera network captures the finish for verification, and there thereafter the official times are produced for the prize decision.

Start/finish protocol

1. Pre‑start briefing: all boats participate in a mandatory safety and rules session, with kit checks and equipment list validation; the briefing state is recorded and logged, and participants agree to comply with the published offense and penalty procedures.
2. Start sequence: warning signal 20 minutes before the start, followed by a 5‑minute preparatory period, then a gun at T=0. A single start applies to all entrants, with flags and VHF confirmation to confirm participation.
3. Finish procedure: boats cross Hamilton Harbor’s finish line under escort from harbor control; GPS timestamps and camera verification confirm the finish time, which is then posted in the session for scoring. The prize decision relies on the official clock rather than subjective observation, ensuring fairness for all competitors around the world.
4. Post‑finish: results produced after a short debrief and final checks; there is a dedicated session to review any protests, with independent judges overseeing the interpretation of the rules.

Expected weather conditions

• General climate: persistent NE trade winds, typical of late spring, with variability driven by the subtropical high. Winds commonly stay in the 15–25 knot range, occasionally touching 30 knots during squalls or frontal passages. Stay vigilant for gusts that can quickly exceed plan, particularly on the Nassau–Bermuda corridor distance across the Atlantic.
• Sea state: near Antigua, seas are usually 2–4 feet, increasing to 5–8 feet offshore in open Atlantic segments; wave systems may combine with the breeze to create short, steep seas in squalls. Plan for a break in wind during the calmer afternoons or in the transition from high to low pressure systems.
• Weather windows and variability: tropical moisture can spawn isolated showers or doubtless squalls; the pre‑dawn hours often offer steadier breeze, while afternoons may see shifting directions as the high pressure moves westward. Contingencies for lighter air at the start are prudent, with a long‑range plan to migrate into more favorable conditions across the legs.
• Harbor approach and safety considerations: expect a harbor entry briefing for Hamilton Harbor, with shallow approaches in the outer channel and a protected inner basin. Communicate with harbor control for entry slots, especially in heavy traffic after a long leg across the world’s oceans.

Operational notes for participants

• Preparation: validate your boat’s radio, navigation tools, and on‑board cameras; ensure you can share live data during the session.
• Participation: whether you sail independently or as part of a larger team, the race remains accessible to a broad range of crews; the organizers encourage participation from a wide cross‑section of sailors, with a clear qualification pathway and safety standards for all.
• Strategy: plan for a practical sail plan in limited wind, with a transition to heavier air gear as conditions permit; keep the crew organized for efficient maneuvers and a steady pace across the miles.
• Prize and recognition: the event retains a high profile with the possibility of prize distribution and media coverage produced for a broad audience across the Caribbean and Atlantic; millions of followers may engage through live streams and post‑race coverage.

Fees, sponsorship opportunities, and prize structure

Recommendation: implement a transparent entry-fee schedule and tiered sponsorship packages to stabilize funding for 2026, with a clear prize framework to reward performance and ethical conduct.

Fees and registration windows

• Early-bird keelboat entry: 1,200 USD; closes 60 days before race day.
• Standard keelboat entry: 1,600 USD; closes 30 days before race day.
• Late entries: 2,000 USD; accepted up to race day if space allows.

Sponsorship opportunities

• Premium Partner: top branding on mainsail cover and event collateral, plus a prominent link on the race site; includes 6 event passes and access to the sponsor lounge.
• Gear Partner: official kit provider; logo on team bags and race gear; 4 passes; product placement during post-race gear show.
• Media Partner: logo in live feed, press releases, and broadcast mentions; 3 passes; access to press briefings.
• Contender Partner: targeted exposure to Australian teams and other challengers; 2 passes; co-branded race-day signage.

Outreach and agreements

• Each sponsor signs a succinct agreement; a link to the contract is included in the deck; we expect working collaboration with agents to smooth onboarding.

Here is the proposed framework to align sponsors, teams, and race operations: recent discussions with dischia and berntsson, plus Australian contenders, show strong appetite for a premium package centered on keelboat gear and ethical sponsorship.

Prize structure and payouts

• Total prize pool: 200,000 USD.
• Keelboat division: 1st 70,000 USD; 2nd 28,000 USD; 3rd 14,000 USD.
• Multihull/other divisions: 1st 28,000 USD; 2nd 12,000 USD; 3rd 6,000 USD.
• Overall winner: 18,000 USD.
• Youth prize (under 25): 8,000 USD.
• Most sportsmanlike prize: 8,000 USD.
• Best design/technical innovation prize: 8,000 USD.

Payment timing and eligibility

• Prize payments occur within 60 days after verification of results and closing ceremonies.
• Eligibility requires compliance with the race agreement and gear checks; all winners receive formal recognition at the prize ceremony.

SailGP Fan Awards: nomination process, voting window, and timeline for results

Publish a clear eligibility policy and a concise nomination guide to empower fans, teams, and partners. The policy should specify who can nominate, what constitutes a valid nomination (titles, achievements, or actions that advance yachting), and how to declare any conflicting interests. The policy represents a clear framework for fans and partners. Provide a master set of guidelines that reference regattas and historic events, with a backstop policy for disqualified entries. The process represents a transparent baseline so votes reflect genuine support and not marketingadvertising spin. Every nomination should include a short rationale, a link to supporting evidence, and notes on who the nominee represents in the SailGP landscape, such as the athlete titles, crew positions, or team brand. The aim is to keep the pool good and diverse, and to ensure that each entry is entitled to be considered on its merits. Fans can participate rain or shine, via the official nomination portal, and the project team will provide deeper updates to maintain visibility across yachting communities like Inverloch.

Nomination process: Fans, team members, media, and organizers can submit nominations during a defined window. Registrants provide the nominee's name, affiliation, and a short justification. Each entry must include at least one supporting link or document (provided in the submission form) and comply with eligibility checks. An internal review panel screens for conflicting content, disqualifying any submission that fails to meet the historic or regatta-specific criteria. The panel uses intelligence tools to verify the nominee's eligibility and to detect multiple votes from the same user, which could lead to disqualification. After review, the master list of eligible nominees is published, and any nominations with missing data are swept out. The process ensures that only those who master the sport and contribute to yachting are considered and that titles or achievements are properly represented. The policy requires that fans in Inverloch and other sailing hubs can participate equally, with all votes tallied anonymously to protect privacy.

Voting window: The voting window opens on June 1 and runs through June 14. Eligible voters can cast up to five votes per person, with the option to allocate among nominees across categories. Votes are collected through a secure portal provided by the SailGP project team; votes are tallied in real time and checked for conflicts like duplicate accounts; disqualified entries are removed from the tally. The sweep of invalid submissions preserves integrity and ensures the broader yachting community has a voice in the results.

Timeline for results: After voting ends, a short review period validates the tallies and confirms eligibility. The final results roll out within 72 hours and are published on the official SailGP site, with category winners and the overall Title for the Fan Favorite announced during a live briefing and recap published across channels. The report includes vote counts, concise rationale for each winner, and notes on any policy change that affects future editions. Archived data provides deeper insight into how the outcome was reached and reinforces historic continuity for regattas enthusiasts.