Antigua Sailing Week (ASW) is expanding its reach beyond the racecourse with the launch of a new beachside lifestyle event called Heineken Riddim & Tides, scheduled for April 25, 2026, at Ffryes Beach on the island's west coast. According to Antigua News Room, the event was created in partnership with Anjo Wholesale Distributors, the official Heineken distributor in Antigua and Barbuda.
Organisers say the new event is designed to bridge the excitement of the regatta with the broader community, bringing sailors, locals, and regional visitors together in a celebration of Caribbean culture, music, and the sea. For more than half a century, Antigua Sailing Week has drawn thousands of international sailors to the island, but organisers note that residents and visitors have increasingly expressed a desire for more opportunities to engage with the event outside of the racecourse itself.
"Antigua Sailing Week has always been about more than just the racing — it's about the opportunity for cultural exchange that the regatta brings to the island," said Rana-Jamila Lewis, Marketing Manager at ASW. "Over the years we've observed a desire from residents and visitors to feel more connected and welcomed to the event. Riddim & Tides is our way of opening that experience up, creating a space on the schedule where the wider community can celebrate the finale of the sailing season together, right on the beach."
The event will feature live performances by 3 Cylinder, top regional DJs, and special guest entertainers, alongside curated hospitality and local and international food vendors. A dynamic on-water component will also welcome regatta participants, chase boat patrons, and local boaters to join a lively tie-up just off the shoreline, with power craft invited to participate in the offshore gathering.
"Riddim & Tides captures the energy of the Caribbean lifestyle," said Germaine Serieux, Commercial and Marketing Manager at Anjo Wholesale Distributors. "Antigua Sailing Week already attracts an incredible international audience of sailors and water sport enthusiasts. With Riddim & Tides, we are helping extend that experience ashore, bringing together music, culture, and the boating lifestyle in a way that feels authentically Antiguan."
Strategically scheduled during Antigua Sailing Week, the event is also expected to draw visitors from neighbouring islands including St. Kitts and Nevis, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, and St. Maarten — destinations with strong boating and leisure travel connections to Antigua during the Caribbean sailing season.
Organisers hope the fusion of music, boating culture, and beachside celebration will help cement Antigua and Barbuda's reputation not only as a world-class sailing destination, but also as a vibrant cultural hub within the Caribbean region.
Visitors travelling to Antigua during Sailing Week, which runs April 22 to 26, are encouraged to include Ffryes Beach on their itinerary for the event's debut on April 25. The full schedule of activities, including spectator opportunities during Antigua Sailing Week, is available at www.sailingweek.com.
