The Antigua Bermuda Race makes a welcome return in 2026 after a two-year break.
Set to start from Antigua on April 29, the fifth edition promises pure offshore excitement. Timed between Antigua Sailing Week and SailGP Bermuda, it bridges two of the Caribbean’s biggest sailing spectacles.
This 935-nautical-mile race connects Antigua’s warmth with Bermuda’s Atlantic charm. It’s organised by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club with Antigua Sailing Week, supported by Bermuda Tourism Authority, Goslings Rum, and Fairhaven Shipyard.
A Route Made for True Blue-Water Sailors
Once the fleet leaves Antigua, it passes Barbuda and enters the deep Atlantic.
No land appears until Bermuda. Between the islands lie 1,000 miles of pure adventure. Crews can expect long reaching legs, rolling ocean swells, and bright nights beneath endless stars.
Every mile tests skill, stamina, and seamanship.
For many sailors, this race is more than competition — it’s a voyage into the Atlantic’s wild heart.
Open to Every Class of Offshore Yacht
The race welcomes IRC and CSA Racing Yachts, Cruiser Racers, Superyachts, and Multihulls. Classic yachts and double-handed teams have their own divisions.
A motor sailing handicap within the CSA classes allows limited engine use with time penalties applied.
Governed by World Sailing Offshore Safety Requirements CAT 1, the event also mandates advanced offshore communications.
It’s a serious offshore race — safe, professional, and designed for all levels of experience.
Perfect Timing for Caribbean Sailors
The Antigua Bermuda Race fits perfectly into the Caribbean season’s end.
Many yachts already plan to sail north toward North America or east across the Atlantic. This race offers the ideal passage.
The route’s history runs deep.
Long before its revival as a feeder event for the 2017 America’s Cup, yachts used this passage to move north safely. Today, it remains the most economical and enjoyable way to exit the Caribbean under sail.
Adventure, Variety, and Strategy at Sea
Over four previous editions, conditions have spanned every mood of the Atlantic.
Competitors have surfed fast down trade-wind rollers and drifted through calm, glassy seas. Tactics, strategy, and endurance often decide the winners more than raw speed.
The Antigua Bermuda Race delivers the full transatlantic experience without the time or logistics of a full ocean crossing.
It’s blue-water sailing at its best, linking two of the world’s most vibrant yachting hubs.
The Antigua Bermuda Race 2026 isn’t just a return it’s a revival of ocean racing spirit. With its perfect timing, legendary route, and open-entry format, it invites sailors to test their mettle across the Atlantic’s most beautiful corridor.
From the party atmosphere of Antigua to Bermuda’s polished charm, this race combines adventure, camaraderie, and the timeless call of the sea.