Antigua and Barbuda announce raft of sporting events for 2015

The central Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda have announced an exciting programme of sporting events for 2015, including a sports fishing tournament, prestigious yacht races and the return of the international test cricket series.

From a family-friendly triathlon and international test cricket to sailing regattas and a sports fishing festival, the twin Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda are hosting an exciting collection of sporting events in the first half of 2015.

The family-friendly Antigua Tinman Triathlon (www.antiguatinmantriathlon.com) takes places on 28 March with a wide range of events for both participants and spectators. The largest triathlon event in Antigua, the AUA Tinman Rohr Triathlon features half-iron, sprint and mini distances, along with races for teams and children, plus a 5K walk or run, bringing together athletes and fitness enthusiasts from all over the world.

Scheduled for 24 May, the new Run in Paradise (www.runinparadise.com) event is perfect for travellers looking for a half-marathon with a difference. For cricket fans, test matches return to the birthplace of party cricket and home of renowned cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards in April. The West Indies takes on England from 13 – 17 April, during the first test of the series.

Dubbed the 'Sailing Capital of the Caribbean', Antigua hosts one of the most prestigious sailing regattas in the world, the Antigua Sailing Week (ww.sailingweek.com), from 25 April – 1 May. Attracting more than 100 yachts, the festival includes five days of competitive racing around the rugged south coast of Antigua, plus an optional day of racing around the whole island. Antigua Sailing Week is known for its nightly parties, with thousands of visitors descending on English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour to enjoy the open-air bars, laid-back rum parties and music festivals.

There are also a raft of other yachting events throughout the year, including the Super Yacht Challenge (www.thesuperyachtchallenge.com) from 29 January – 1 February, the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta (www.antiguaclassics.com) from 15 – 16 April, and the Jolly Harbour Regatta.

Sports-fishing enthusiasts and seafood lovers can enjoy the Antigua and Barbuda Sport Fishing Tournament and Seafood Festival (www.antiguabarbudasportsfishing.com) from 23 – 24 May 2015. Crowds of spectators are expected to turn out for the tournament and the accompanying seafood festival hosted in the afternoon, which features sizzling stalls serving up grilled lobster, seafood chowder, crab, carpaccio, sushi, conch water and much more. Held in Nelson's Dockyard – the only remaining Georgian fort in the Caribbean – the historic location and fun atmosphere make the event perfect for a day out.

As well as sporting-themed events, there are some colourful festivals held in the islands throughout the year. On Easter Monday, visitors can see kites of all shapes and sizes gracing the skies at the Antigua and Barbuda International Kite Fly. The event takes place at Devil’s Bridge – a natural limestone arch carved out by the Atlantic on the coast of Indian Town National Park – on 6 April. Summer sees Antigua’s carnival (www.antiguacarnival.com) enlivening the island with music and costumed parades celebrating the country’s culture from 26 July – 5 August.

Set in the heart of the Caribbean Sea, the islands of Antigua and Barbuda have a staggering 365 white and pink sand beaches – one for every day of the year – as well as a packed programme of activities and events taking place all-year round. Antigua’s new V.C. Bird International airport is set to open in 2015 and will welcome direct flights from major International gateways such as New York and London.