The overall winner of the Cruising fleet at the 43rd edition of Antigua Sailing Week (24 – 30 April 2010) will be going home with a solid gold Leinfelder watch. This limited edition wristwatch, specially developed for Sailing Week, was the result of an idea put forward to Leinfelder by Dr Ulrich Rohde – the overall winner of Cruising 1 class last year (sailing his Swan 53 Dragon Fly Plus).

Managing Director of Leinfelder Goldschmiede, Titus Wolf, said: “we’ve designed and produced a watch especially for sailors in mind and specifically for Antigua Sailing Week 2010. It’s a top of the range, gold, hi-tech, dynamic and extremely functional watch for the racing sailor. We are only producing 63 which makes the winner’s watch even more special.”

There is plenty of competition expected on the racecourse, especially in the big boat racing classes. Niklas Zennstrom’s JV72 Ran, Austin Fragomen’s JV TP52 Interlodge, and Tom and Dotty Hill’s custom Reichel/Pugh 75 Titan 15 will be among those vying for top honours. America’s Cup match racing legend Peter Isler, on board Hill’s new, ultra lightweight racing machine Titan, are hoping to repeat their performance at the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta where they took an overall class win.

Ron O’Hanley’s Farr/Cookson 50 Privateer is also one to watch out for, as is her sistership Lee Overlay Partners owned by Adrian Lee. Lee and his race winning team from Ireland will not only be looking to defend their Antigua Ocean Series winning title from last year (a three-race series within the overall series, incorporating Guadeloupe Race – 23 April, Yachting World Round the Island Race – 25 April, and the Redonda Island Race – 28 April/lay day) but will also be hoping to keep the well ranked Privateer on her toes throughout the week.

British round the world yachtsman – Brian Thompson – will be racing. Thompson has teamed up with Safe Passage Sailing (SPS) aboard one of Ondeck charter company’s Farr 65s. Thompson is one of the world’s most successful offshore racers having notched up 25 sailing records to date as either skipper or watch captain, including breaking the non-stop world speed sailing record in 58 days, 9 hours, 32 minutes, 45 seconds aboard Cheyenne (ex-PlayStation) in 2004.

Thompson said: “I am really looking forward to my 5th Antigua Race Week; it’s always a great regatta, with fabulous sailing conditions, plenty of fast boats and a superb atmosphere on and off the water. Antigua feels a little like a second home to me, as I have lots of great memories of the island and so I cannot wait to get back there in April.”

The schedule for Antigua Sailing Week starts with Race 1 of the Ocean Series – the Guadeloupe to Antigua Race (Friday 23 April), with racing for ASW series kicking off on Saturday afternoon following an early morning breakfast briefing at Antigua Yacht Club. The Yachting World Around the Island Race (Race 2 of the Ocean Series) is on Sunday 25 April, and the Round Redonda Race (Race 3 of the Ocean Series) takes place on Wednesday 28 April (lay day).

For more, visit www.sailingweek.com