Antigua and Barbuda: The 2024 Antigua Traditional Yacht Regatta is all set to welcome Cassiopeia II, Harold Neel’s 72-foot, and gaff-rigged schooner from April 17 to 22, 2024. The Cassiopeia II will make the go to for the primary time within the regatta, whereas Harold will return to the occasion.
Cassiopeia II was constructed by De Mateo Boat Works and has pine planking on double-sawn oak frames with a cement shoe on her keel. It was initially used as a reside aboard for her builder, Ron De Mateo, who saved the yacht within the Turks and Caicos for years.
The yacht has additionally carried out for eight years with beauty upkeep after which it returned to the true regattas. The 1998 Traditional Regatta has additionally remained memorable for Harold because it managed to safe the “Spirit of the Regatta Award.”
It was additionally accompanied by Layla which was first conceived through the regatta. After the ‘99 Traditional, Harold with different newly constructed yachts, headed for the South Pacific, the place the yacht and the unique Cassiopeia spent a few years.
The yacht has been working the Layla as a day sail enterprise in Vanuatu, however when it was away visiting Australia, the Layla was robbed and completely stripped, together with its batteries. With no batteries to energy the bilge pumps, the boat stuffed as much as the waist, and after making an attempt to put it aside for 2 years, Harold finally needed to scuttle the boat.
Out of tragedy, the Cassiopeia Schooner Undertaking was born. The aim was to construct six schooners utilizing the distinctive design of the unique Cassiopeia and sail them as a fleet for humanitarian and environmental functions.
Whereas selling the dream Harold obtained a name from a shipwright, reminding the yacht that there was a sistership and the proprietor was pondering of promoting. Harold’s buddies noticed it as future and lent him the cash to buy Cassiopeia II.
In want of an intensive refit, Harold has put in new masts and spars, changed the engines, carried out in depth work on the hull because of worm injury, and far more. Layla has now returned to the water headed to Nelson’s Dockyard for the 2024 Antigua Traditional Yacht Regatta.
The Antigua Traditional Yacht Regatta will showcase the true essence of the sailors heritage of the nation, aiming to keep up its historical past.
