THE 30th ANTIGUA CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA .

COSWORTH THE STUFFED BULLDOG .
THE CAPTAIN FOUND HIM IN SOME SHOP AND PURCHASED HIM AS THE BOAT'S MASCOT .
HE EVEN BARKS AT PEOPLE PASSING BY .

J CLASS SHAMROCK V J/K3 .
THE ORIGINAL J BUILT IN 1930 FOR SIR THOMAS LIPTON . SHE IS THE SMALLEST AND ONLY J CLASS BOAT BUILT OUT OF WOOD .
ADMIRING HER BRONZE WINCHES AND DECK GEAR .

J CLASS J/H2 RAINBOW .
ONE OF THE MODERN J's built in 2012 . LOA - 131ft  DISP - 167 tons .
HER CURRENT OWNER CRUISES IN HER WITH NO INTEREST FOR NOW IN RACING HIS BOAT .

THESE CLASSICS ARE IN PRISTINE CONDITION DOWN TO THE FINEST DETAIL .

THIS IS ERICA AN INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL BOAT .

ERICA'S BOW VIEW WITH TWO HIGHLY POLISHED ANCHORS READY TO DROP .

SHE EVEN HAS A MASTLIFT FOR TWO PEOPLE FOR WHEN WORK NEEDS TO BE CARRIED OUT UP IN THE CLOUDS ON TOP OF HER RIG .

THE CARPENTRY AND VARNISHWORK IS OF THE HIGHEST STANDARD .
ONLY PROFESSIONAL BRIGHTWORK SPECIALISTS ARE USED .

ADELA'S IMPRESSIVE BOWSPRIT AND DOLPHIN STRIKER .

ONE OF THE BIGGER CLASSICS , THIS SPECTACULAR SCHOONER DISPLACES 250 tons AND HAS AN OVERALL LENGTH OF 182ft .

SHAMROCK V's BOW .
THESE J CLASS BOATS ARE IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN .

J CLASS VELSHEDA J/K7 .
LAUNCHED IN 1933 , SHE SAILED INTO BEQUIA WHILE WE WERE THERE AND RAFTED UP TO BYSTANDER  HER OWNER'S MOTOR YACHT WHERE WE COULD VIEW HER IN ALL HER GLORY . 

ONE OF THE CLASSIC CLASSES ABOUT TO START THEIR RACE .

THE MAGNIFICENT COLUMBIA .

ADIX , SPIRIT OF BERMUDA AND COLUMBIA READY TO DO BATTLE .

SPIRIT OF BERMUDA .
EACH CLASSIC YACHT HAS UNIQUE FEATURES OF THEIR OWN WHICH MAKES IDENTIFYING THEM AT SEA QUITE EASY .

MARIETTE'S BEAUTIFUL TENDER IN THE FOREGROUND .

MARIETTE AND ADIX .
TWO OF THE STARS OF THE SHOW .

EVEN THE SMALLER CLASSIC YACHTS WERE BEAUTIFUL .

THERE WAS A GREAT VIBE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK WITH PARTIES AND EVENTS NON-STOP .
IT TOOK A FOREST OF TREES TO BUILD THESE WOODEN MASTS .

THE TRADITIONAL CARRIACOU SLOOPS .
WE VISITED THE OLD BOATYARD IN WINDWARD , CARRIACOU WHERE THEY ARE STILL BUILT USING THE SAME OLD DESIGNS AND METHODS OF YESTERYEAR .
THEY CARRY A LOT OF SAIL AND NOTHING COULD TOUCH THEM IN THEIR CLASS .

SHAMROCK'S OLD STYLE ALUMINIUM MAST AND NITRONIC ROD RIGGING .
THE NEW J CLASS BOATS ALL SPORT MODERN CARBON RIGS .
UNFORTUNATELY THIS PIC DOES LITTLE TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW TALL THESE RIGS ARE.
ALL ARE FITTED WITH RED LIGHTS ON TOP TO WARN LOW FLYING AIRCRAFT OF THEIR PRESENCE .

BYSTANDER BELONGS TO VELSHEDA'S OWNER WHO FOLLOWS HER TO EACH EVENT IN HIS WATER HOME . THE TWO BOATS ARE INSEPARABLE .

JAMBALAYA , A TRADITIONAL CARRIACOU SCHOONER .

ADIX TAKING PART IN THE SAIL PAST PARADE .
WATCHING THIS CLASSIC BEAUTY CLOCKING 17kn CLOSE-HAULED TO THE WINDWARD MARK WAS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD .

SHAMROCK V STEERING QUADRANT .
SEAN THOMPSON , THE SHIP'S BOSUN INVITED US ONBOARD TO INSPECT OUR FAVOURITE J CLASS BOAT FROM STEM TO STERN .

INSPECTING SHAMROCK'S LAZARETTE .
NOTE THE SIZE OF HER WINCHES WHICH CAN BE SUBJECTED TO PHENOMENAL LOADS OF UP TO 13 TONS .

BEHIND SHAMROCK'S WHEEL IS A LOT OF HISTORY INCLUDING SIR THOMAS LIPTON'S FIVE FAILED ATTEMPTS TO WIN THE AMERICA'S CUP .
SEAN GIVING ME THE RUN-DOWN ON HER STEERING GEAR .

HER ORIGINAL RUDDER ANGLE INDICATOR .
NOTE HOW PORT & STARBOARD ARE REVERSED .

ALL HER DECKGEAR IS IN BRONZE INCLUDING THE PROTECTION BARS ON THE SKYLIGHT .
HER BRIGHTWORK HAS A MIRROR FINISH .

UP IN SHAMROCK'S BOW SECTION .
BEING THE ONLY WOODEN J CLASS BOAT IN THE FLEET , HER HULL IS REGULARLY INSPECTED FOR ISSUES ONLY WOODEN BOATS HAVE TO DEAL WITH . 

SHAMROCK'S CREW QUARTERS .
NOTE THE TACKLE ON HER BUNKS SO THAT HER CREW CAN ADJUST AND LEVEL THEM WHEN SHE IS HEELED OVER .
THE FIRST MATE STARTING TO APPRECIATE OUR HUGE FOREPEAK CABIN .

PART OF HER SALOON .
ALL THE FURNISHINGS AND FLOORS ARE COVERED WHILE THE OWNER AND HIS GUESTS ARE ABSENT . THE LOOK-A-LIKE ENCYCLOPEDIAS IN THE BOOKCASE ARE IN FACT THE SHIP'S MANUALS IN DUMMY FILE COVERS . 

THE OWNER'S BATH AND SHOWER .
I DOUBT THAT THE BATH WOULD BE USED AT SEA .

THE OWNER'S OLD STYLE VANITY IN HIS PRIVATE HEADS .

DOWN IN THE BOWELS OF SHAMROCK V's ENGINE ROOM .
SHE IS THE ONLY TWIN-SCREW J CLASS BOAT WITH TWO 205hp CAT ENGINES .
THIS BOAT WAS ENGINE-LESS AT BIRTH SO HER ENGINE ROOM IS TIGHT TO SAY THE LEAST .
I HAD A LONG DISCUSSION WITH HER AUSSIE ENGINEER AND COMMISERATED WITH HIM ABOUT HAVING TO WORK DOWN HERE IN THE SAUNA WHILE SHE IS UNDERWAY UNDER POWER .  

SEAN THOMPSON , THE SHIP'S BOSUN AND A VITAL MEMBER OF SHAMROCK'S CREW .
A LOVELY GUY WHO GAVE US A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ICONIC BOATS IN DETAIL AND TO MEET HER CAPTAIN AND CREW .
SHE IS MOST DEFINITELY OUR FAVOURITE J CLASS YACHT .
SEAN IS PLANNING ON BRINGING HIS OWN BOAT TO THE CARIBBEAN NEXT SEASON SO I WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE HIM WITH ALL THE INFORMATION HE NEEDS ABOUT THESE CRUISING GROUNDS .