June
Both qualifying tournaments take place this month.
This month, Caribbean waters surrounding Antigua & Barbuda offer two ways to win an entry, or two, to the “Super Bowl of Sportfishing,” the Offshore World Championship (OWC), April 19-23, 2026, in Costa Rica. The Mikie Pigott Jr. Memorial Classic, a one-day, billfish-only tournament set for June 5th, and the 57th Annual Antigua & Barbuda Sports Fishing (ASF) Tournament, June 7-8, with bill fish and game fish divisions are official OWC qualifying tournaments. “Two tournaments, two chances to win an OWC invitation,” says Robert Hall, tournament director. “Also important to note is that the marina where the tournament is held, the Falmouth Harbour Marina, has recently installed a new gasoline fuel tank and pump, so the teams no longer need to go around to English Harbour to buy fuel. This is a huge plus for the marina and the tournament, and we hope it will encourage new and old teams to enter this year.”
Blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish are the only species that count for prizes in the Pigott Memorial Classic and the marlin division in the ASF Tournament. Those in the ASF’s sporting division will fish for the largest and most wahoo, kingfish, tuna, and dolphin (mahi-mahi). No sharks or barracuda allowed.
“We have extended the tournament by one day this year, which will now become our lay day to offer the teams a chance to relax between the two tournaments,” says Hall. “Each day, we will have entertainment, food, and a well-stocked bar ready for when the teams return and those who did not fish but want to stop by and see what has been caught, what fresh fish there is to buy, and to try out some fresh food while drinking a cold brew.”
Teams can register their boats for the tournaments online at antiguabarbudasportsfishing.com. Local boats are available for charter. The public is welcome to watch the weigh-ins, buy food and drink, visit sponsor booths, and enjoy music and entertainment at the Falmouth Harbour Marina.
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Caribbean’s Biggest Little Annual Regatta
The largest and longest-running annual Optimist dinghy regatta in the Caribbean occurs this month at the St. Thomas Yacht Club in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The International Optimist Regatta (IOR), now in its fourth decade, will host more than 100 junior sailors from the Caribbean, U.S., and Europe from June 8-15. This event is especially worthwhile because it kicks off with a three-day clinic, June 9-11, for both championship and beginner fleet sailors, led by some of the world’s best Optimist coaches. Then, there’s a day-long team race on June 12th, followed by the three-day regatta. “The beauty of the IOR week is that it offers a fantastic opportunity for experienced national team sailors to tune up for the Optimist World Championships in Slovenia, June 26-July 6, while at the same time providing an incredible chance for beginner sailors to compete in their own fleet, all in the U.S. Virgin Islands world-class sailing conditions,” says Lori Vaughan, IOR co-director. stthomasyachtclub.org/sailing/regattas/international-optimist-regatta
By: Carol Bareuther
