The Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge

01 April 2015

Steel Pulse Lit up Nelson's Dockyard and the Italian Stallions ruled in the Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge.

Tuesday April 28
Thousands of people packed out Nelson's Dockyard Marina for the massive live music night at Antigua Sailing Week. Locals and sailors were in a party mood for a memorable evening and the main act, reggae sensation Steel Pulse delivered a high energy set that lit up the stage. Jamaican Ed Robinson and Antigua's own, famous Soca artist, Tian Winter as well as Asher Otto and Itchy Feet charged up the atmosphere before Steel Pulse took to the stage, reeling off a number of top hits including Roller Skate and Life Without Music. With Lay Day to follow, the party went well on into the night, the bars and grills in the village were open for business and Abracadabra's was swinging until dawn.
Wednesday April 29
The Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge started at 1pm with eight international teams vying for the winner takes-all-prize of a one-week bed and breakfast stay at the outstanding award winning Nonsuch Bay Resort. Hundreds of people watched the racing from the beach and enjoyed a sumptuous barbecue prepared by 2011 Caribbean Chef of the Year, Mitchell Husbands. Sailing Anarchy's Mr. Clean, Smile and Wave's Jaime Torres and Antigua Sailing Week's Louay Habib provided race commentary and the occasional competition for a cold Presidente Beer. In the first flight defending champion Peter Holmberg, racing with his brother John and nephew Kai on Team CSA, showed their intent breezing into the final. Marc Fitzgerald's Team Sojana also made the final after a great battle with Team Phaedo skippered by Brian Thompson and St. Martin's own, Kick 'em Jenny. In the second flight, the Italian Team At Last... skippered by Pietro Corbucci showed their amazing skills. The Italian stallions won all three flights. Lucy Jones' Team Performance Yacht Charter won an intense battle for second place, deposing Nicole Lameter, a long-time Antigua Sailing Week bareboat participant with KH+P yachtcharter from Germany and also Nonsuch Bay resident, Martin Beck's all Antiguan team, Sheer Madness. The final was thrilling right from the start. An eager defending champion, Peter Holmberg was called over the line and despite returning to start correctly, the Olympic and America's Cup helmsman was never going to catch the others. Pietro Corbucci's Team At Last... won the final with a race to spare beating Team CSA into second with Lucy Jones' Team Performance Yacht Charter completing the podium. Mark Whinney, Sales & Marketing Director at Nonsuch Bay Resort was happy to see so many people turning out to watch this popular Lay Day event, now in its third year: "We at Nonsuch Bay are passionate about sailing and love holding events, so the RS Elite Challenge works well for us. We were looking for a way of getting the Elites involved in Antigua Sailing Week and this stadium event was the perfect fit. It's great to see so many international sailors taking part this year and congratulations to Pietro Corbucci from Team At Last...for such a decisive win. They will be able to enjoy their week at Nonsuch Bay, which includes use of all the water sports equipment and we have seven types of sailboats including other watersports: kayaks, SUPs and kitesurfing. "We look forward to welcoming the Italians back and certainly they've already expressed interest in coming to race in some of our other regattas at Nonsuch next year," concluded Whinney after another successful and popular Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge. The Lay Day Party went on long into the evening with Team Pocket Rocket winning the tug of war and it was a beauty and beast show in the bikini competition with some of the male sailors strutting their stuff with some of Antigua Sailing Week's gorgeous beauties. Racing at Antigua Sailing Week continues today with two races scheduled.

Big Boat Skipper Wins The RS Elite Challenge Summer Series At Nonsuch Bay.

Nine skippers were finally on the line to compete for two places in the 2015 
Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge yesterday at Nonsuch Bay Resort. Starting from 10am each team took part in six races to determine who would move forward to the finals. Racing took place on the 24ft RS Elite keelboats located at the resort, which provided close competition, and by 3pm the winner was determined to be Marc Fitzgerald. No stranger to Antigua Sailing Week, Marc is better known as the skipper of Peter Harrisons Farr 115
 Sojana, which is currently undergoing refurbishment, and many time participant and winner of the Lord Nelson's Trophy in Antigua Sailing Week, and has a home year round in Antigua. In second place was Martin Beck, a homeowner from Nonsuch Bay and owner of
an RS Elite and third place was won by Robbie Ferron, owner of Budget
Marine. There was much rivalry and ribaldry throughout the day and all of the teams came off the water smiling, tired and delighted with an excellent day of sportsmanship. The first two teams automatically go forward to represent Antigua on Lay Day and also won a brand new 2015 Antigua Sailing Week Gill branded hat and a
long sleeve UV technical shirt from the 2015 merchandise range while off the water a full house in the Bay@Nonsuch Restaurant enjoyed spectating the event and relaxing pool and beachside as well as a full buffet and drinks throughout the day. Nonsuch Bay Managing Director, Cameron Fraser, comments, 'The day was about
getting residents and Antiguans on the water for some good, clean
competition.  The winds were perfect and the crews had a great time. We are
already looking forward to the 2015 edition. So if you want to compete register your interest for the Nonsuch Bay Summer Series starting in May next year.' Now the Antigua representatives for the Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge which
will take place on Lay Day, April 29th, 2015, have been established, Nonsuch
Bay Resort are inviting applications for skippers who would like to take the
much coveted remaining six places. Last year's winner was ex-America's Cup
skipper Peter Holmberg, who is also invited back to defend his title. Skippers who plan to attend Antigua Sailing Week 2015 and are interested in 
making the short list are invited to e- mail 
[email protected] or [email protected] to register their interest.

Antiguan Skippers Compete for Bragging Rights and the First ASW 2015 Gill Clothing

Nonsuch Bay Resort has again signed on to sponsor Antigua Sailing Week 2015 and the Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge which takes place on Lay Day at Pigeon Beach. Nonsuch Bay will be hosting the End of Summer Series Final in conjunction with Antigua Sailing Week at the Resort on Sunday 14th December to decide the two local teams that will participate in the Challenge on Lay Day. Eight Antiguan and Antiguan-based skippers will go head to head on the superb race course in Nonsuch Bay. Pitching their skills against each other will be the likes of Patmore Watson, Bernie Evan-Wong, Martin Beck and former Olympic sailor Karl James, among others. Aside from major bragging rights, each of the two winning teams will be the lucky winners of three brand new Antigua Sailing Week 2015 Gill-branded tops from the new range which has arrived on island today. The range includes branded UV technical shirts and hats. For the Caribbean's warm water, warm air, wet conditions these quick-dry fabrics are fabulous - very breathable fabrics that manage the high air temperatures well. Marketing director of Nonsuch Bay Mark Whinney comments: 'The beauty of this event is that it's racing at its best with one-design boats that are all fitted out equally. It really tests the true mettle of each skipper and his crew. We look forward to seeing who will win and go on to represent Antigua against the international skippers in the Nonsuch Bay RS Elite Challenge on Antigua Sailing Week's Lay Day Challenge next April for the chance to win a seven-night stay for two people at Nonsuch Bay Resort.' Spectators are welcome to come and watch the battle unfold from the deck or from the dock starting at 10am with the option of enjoying a barbecue lunch in the Bay Restaurant at the Resort which is available all afternoon from midday. Or bring your boat around and watch from the water and then come ashore for a few drinks and optional lunch. The new Antigua Sailing Week Gill range is on sale from tonight at the Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort Dock Party from 6 - 8 pm,  for anyone who wants to snap up an early piece or  on line with a select number of items available for crew customisation. Check out the store at http://www.sailingweek.com/v4/all-products/. Lunch reservations for Nonsuch Bay Resort can be made by calling +1 268 562-8000 or emailing [email protected]

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