2023 Antigua to Bermuda Race - Starts
The Antigua to Bermuda Race has a length of just under 1000NM and this year there were 6 starters. I joined Race officers Les Crane and Richard Freeborn at the ruins of Fort Charlotte overlooking the entrance to English Harbour and above the Pillars of Hercules to witness the starts. Armed with my tripod and a 200mm lens, I took photos of the racers. The wind and distance made it impossible to get clear photographs. Hopefully some of these will find favor. The race starts were easy with just one class and 6 boats, and none of them were close to going over early.
I’ve broken this down into a category for each starting boat and one miscellaneous one with other pictures. Images with multiple yachts are duplicated in multiple categories.
Willoughy Bay
Les looking down the line
Richard preparing for the drop
Waves hitting Isaac's Hill
Looking down from the Blockhouse
Rocks off Indian Bay
White Eagle approaching the zone
Les controlling the start line
Miss Marion with Photographer
White Eagle streaming the mark
Isaac's Hill cliffside
A new "Fort" on the hill
Richard on the line
Les and Richard discussions
Les pointing out the correct angle
Fatjax coming upwind
Les and Richard preparing the start
Fatjax coming towards English Harbour
English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard
Eleanor B Cornish Lugger
Yacht leaving English Harbour
Cliffs around English Harbour
Les and Richard at the flags
Ketch leaving English Harbour
Fort Berkeley protecting English Harbour
Nemo checking the start line
Nemo and the mark boat
Nemo zipping around the Start
Nemo pausing before the start
Nemo off Fort Charlotte
Nemo off English Harbour
Mark has just been set
Last seconds before the start
The race has started
Black Pearl starts second
Life of Reilly crosses first
And they are off to Bermuda
Two have crossed the start line so far
Black Pearl takes the lead
Nemo flying along at the start
And they are off to Bermuda
Nemo taking the lead
Nemo and Black Pearl heading to Green Island
Nemo flying a hull
Nemo flying a hull
Bella J practicing a start
Black Pearl passing Fort Charlotte
Downwind run while setting the mark
Mark has just been set
Circling before the start
Coming up to start time
Last seconds before the start
The race is starting
The race has started
Black Pearl starts second
Life of Reilly crosses first
And they are off to Bermuda
Two have crossed the start line so far
Starters approaching the line
Final starters to the race
And they are off to Bermuda
Nemo taking the lead
Everyone has started
Beating upwind after the start
Bella J and Life of Reilly fighting upwind
Bella J and Life of Reilly fighting upwind
Bella J and Life of Reilly fighting upwind
Distant racers heading to Green Island
Black Pearl testing the line
Black Pearl coming from Falmouth
Black Pearl before the start
Black Pearl passing Fort Charlotte
Black Pearl and Life of Reilly
Black Pearl's color coordinated crew
Circling before the start
Last seconds before the start
The race is starting
The race has started
Black Pearl starts second
Life of Reilly crosses first
And they are off to Bermuda
Two have crossed the start line so far
Black Pearl takes the lead
Nemo flying along at the start
And they are off to Bermuda
Nemo taking the lead
Nemo and Black Pearl heading to Green Island
Black Pearl beating upwind
Black Pearl beating upwind
Black Pearl beating upwind
Distant racers heading to Green Island
El Oro in the wind shadow of Fort Charlotte
El Oro in the distance
El Oro coming to the start area
Before the start
El Oro at the start
El Oro testing the start line
El Oro and the start line
Circling before the start
Coming up to start time
Black Pearl starts second
Life of Reilly crosses first
And they are off to Bermuda
Two have crossed the start line so far
Nemo flying along at the start
Starters approaching the line
Final starters to the race
And they are off to Bermuda
Nemo taking the lead
Everyone has started
El Oro and Rye started
Life of Reilly motoring to the start
Life of Reilly setting sail
Reefed mainsail on Life of Reilly
Black Pearl and Life of Reilly
Black Pearl's color coordinated crew
Before the start
Circling before the start
The race is starting
The race has started
Life of Reilly crosses first
And they are off to Bermuda
Two have crossed the start line so far
Black Pearl takes the lead
And they are off to Bermuda
Nemo taking the lead
Everyone has started
Beating upwind after the start
Bella J and Life of Reilly fighting upwind
Bella J and Life of Reilly fighting upwind
Bella J and Life of Reilly fighting upwind
Upwind to Green Island
Southernmost point of Antigua
Life of Reilly passing Isaac's Hill
Distant racers heading to Green Island
Life of Reilly passing Isaac's Hill
The race has started
Last seconds before the start
Circling before the start
Black Pearl starts second
Life of Reilly crosses first
And they are off to Bermuda
Two have crossed the start line so far
Starters approaching the line
Nemo flying along at the start
Final starters to the race
And they are off to Bermuda
Nemo taking the lead
Everyone has started
El Oro and Rye started
Beating upwind after the start
Rye off to Green Island
Rye going upwind to Green Island
Rye beating upwind
Rye in the waves
Distant racers heading to Green Island