The event, held at Lackford Lake on Sunday, saw members of the St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing Association (SESCA) take to the waters in ‘spectacular conditions’.

Initiated as a fun event to coincide with Antigua Sailing Week in the Caribbean, the regatta caught the attention of the Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority, which then became a sponsor.

The SESCA Antigua Regatta event took place on June 22 (Image: SESCA) The race officer, Martin Davies, set a challenging figure-of-eight course around the lake, which saw several sailors capsize due to the sudden and unpredictable gusts.

Two races were completed before a barbecue lunch, accompanied by the calypso sounds of the Dallaway steel pan band, provided by the tourism authority.

Alan Wright, sailing his Solo, led the fleet home in each of the races, but it was Debs Steele, racing her Topper, who won all three races on handicap.

New club member Razvan Adam, in his Laser, took third place overall.

Young Adam Davies, despite several capsizes, completed all the races in his Topper to take the junior prize.

Debs Steele won all three races (Image: SESCA) The prizes, including several bottles of English Harbour rum, were presented by Shakyrah Davis, marketing communications executive of the Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority.

Ms Davis concluded the presentations by inviting Mike and Debs Steele, who initiated the regatta, to attend next year’s Antigua Sailing Week as guests of the authority.

Mike Steele expressed his gratitude for the tourism authority’s continued support of the event.

He and his wife are said to be ‘delighted’ to accept the invitation.

The Antigua Sailing Day Regatta, supported by the tourism authority, is now a regular part of SESCA’s dinghy racing calendar.