Antigua Bermuda Race 2026: The Atlantic Crossing that Connects Two Island Worlds
Antigua Bermuda Race 2026 starts on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, sending a fleet of offshore yachts on a 935-nautical-mile Atlantic crossing from Antigua to Bermuda, with a celebrated finish atmosphere in Bermuda’s harbors. For island travelers, it’s one of the most exciting spring sailing stories in the region: a true bluewater race that links two iconic islands with culture, parties, and ocean-racing drama on both ends.
Some island events are best watched from the shoreline. Others are best felt through the anticipation they create across an entire marina town. The Antigua Bermuda Race is the second kind. It begins in Antigua, right after the energy of Antigua Sailing Week, then pushes north into open ocean before finishing near Bermuda, where the welcome and prizegiving bring the story back to land.
This race is often described as a classic ocean challenge: long miles, shifting weather, and the mental discipline of navigating day after day with only sea and sky. Even if you’re not racing, traveling to either island for start week or finish week puts you close to a community of sailors, supporters, and spectators who treat this crossing as a major achievement.
Key Dates, Distance, and Official Race Window (Confirmed)
Sail-World’s coverage confirms the fifth edition of the Antigua Bermuda Race sets sail from Antigua on April 29, 2026 and states the race distance as 935 nautical miles. Bermuda’s tourism listing also confirms the start date as April 29, 2026 and repeats the 935 nautical miles figure for the Antigua-to-Bermuda passage.
Sail-World also notes the timing is designed to align after Antigua Sailing Week and before SailGP Bermuda (May 9–10), making the period a strong travel window if you want multiple nautical events in one itinerary. If you’re planning for 2026, those linkages help you decide whether to focus on Antigua’s pre-race buzz, Bermuda’s finish celebrations, or both.
Where It Starts and Where It Finishes: Island Geography That Matters
The Antigua Bermuda Race is run by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in partnership with Antigua Sailing Week, which signals a strong Antigua-to-Bermuda organizational bridge. News coverage also highlights a start off Antigua and the finish in Bermuda as part of the “two legendary sailing hubs” identity of the event.
For visitors, this means there are two very different island experiences available:
- Antigua (start-side): dockside preparation, skippers’ briefings, last-night dinners, and the tension of departure day.
- Bermuda (finish-side): arrivals, dock-walk excitement, welcome events, and the satisfaction of seeing crews come in after days offshore.
Why This Race Is Special: A Bluewater Event with Island Culture
Sail-World describes the Antigua Bermuda Race as the western Atlantic’s longest ocean challenge and emphasizes that it’s open to a wide range of yachts and crews. It also highlights the social dimension, noting the race pairs high-seas competition with memorable parties in Antigua and Bermuda.
That “competition plus celebration” mix is why the race works as an island travel experience even for non-sailors. You can spend mornings exploring beaches and heritage sites, then spend late afternoons at the marina watching crews prepare boats, swap stories, and celebrate arrivals.
What Spectators and Travelers Can Do (Even If You’re Not Racing)
You don’t need to be on a boat to enjoy Antigua Bermuda Race week. Here are realistic ways to build a travel itinerary around it:
- Watch the fleet energy in Antigua before the start: marina walks, boat spotting, and start-day atmosphere.
- Follow the race story online while enjoying island time: many offshore races provide updates, and marinas stay engaged with the unfolding narrative.
- Be in Bermuda for finishes: arrivals can happen across multiple days depending on conditions, which creates a “rolling finale” vibe where each finish is its own moment.
- Combine with other island events: Sail-World points out the 2026 timing aligns with Antigua Sailing Week before and SailGP Bermuda after, creating a bigger spring sailing season arc.
Entry Fees and Pricing (Confirmed for Competitors)
If you’re writing for readers who may actually enter (or who want accurate “what it costs” context), the published Notice of Race document includes clear entry-fee tiers based on yacht length and payment date. The Notice of Race excerpt states the entry fee is:
- US $15 per foot of measured overall length if paid in full prior to Nov 30, 2025.
- US $17 per foot if paid in full on or prior to Mar 6, 2026.
- US $20 per foot if paid after Mar 6, 2026.
For spectators, there’s typically no ticket required to enjoy the public atmosphere around marinas and harborfront viewing areas, so your travel budget will mostly go toward flights, accommodation, meals, and optional excursions rather than “race admission.”
Island Travel Tips: Planning Your Antigua or Bermuda Stay
Where to Base in Antigua (Start-Side Feel)
Race coverage references Antigua Yacht Club in Falmouth for registration activity in the lead-up schedule, which signals that English Harbour/Falmouth Harbour is a natural base if you want close access to race-week marina life. Staying in that area also puts you near classic Antigua sightseeing zones and sailing culture landmarks.
Where to Base in Bermuda (Finish-Side Celebrations)
Bermuda’s tourism listing frames the arrival as a major spectacle and positions Bermuda as the “ultimate finish line,” which suggests Hamilton and surrounding harbor areas are convenient for enjoying the finish atmosphere. If you want quieter stays, you can still day-trip into the action.
What to Pack for an Island Race Week
- Light layers: spring evenings can feel breezy near the water.
- Sun protection: you’ll likely spend long hours on docks or waterfront viewpoints.
- Comfortable shoes: marinas and harbor walks add up quickly.
Verified Information At a Glance
Event Name: Antigua Bermuda Race 2026
Event Category: Offshore yacht race / bluewater sailing event
Confirmed Start Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Confirmed Race Distance: 935 nautical miles
Organizer/Partners (Reported): Run by Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in partnership with Antigua Sailing Week (support noted from Bermuda Tourism Authority and others).
Entry Fees (Competitors, Confirmed in NOR Excerpt): US $15/ft (paid before Nov 30, 2025); US $17/ft (paid on/before Mar 6, 2026); US $20/ft (paid after Mar 6, 2026).
Spectator Pricing: No general spectator ticket indicated for enjoying marina/harbor atmosphere; main visitor costs are travel and lodging.
If you’re choosing an island trip in spring 2026 and you want a story bigger than the shoreline, time your travels for late April, follow the fleet energy in Antigua or the finish celebrations in Bermuda, and let the Antigua Bermuda Race show you what the Atlantic looks like when island culture meets true offshore adventure.
