Heineken Regatta
Now in its 33rd year, the Heineken Regatta, one of the most famous regattas in the world, will be transforming the island of St. Maarten into an international sailing venue from 28th February to 3rd March 2013. This is the Caribbean’s biggest sailing event and is again celebrating top-notch sailing with musical events, parties and a lot of fun. The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta organisers and hundreds of volunteers will make the island stand out as a world-class boating destination with excellent facilities and events. “Serious Fun” – the slogan coined in 1982- will be the main draw as crews from across the globe man 200 boats of all shapes and sizes to compete in St. Maarten’s crystal-clear tropical waters.
The 5 days of exciting world-class racing features a variety of daily coastal racecourses, with between 1 and 3 courses each day, returning to a different marina in the small Caribbean island of St Maarten each evening. And when the sun sets and the competition ends, the party on the shore begins. That means four consecutive nights of festivities and great music during which Heineken Regatta sailors, tourists and island residents come together to celebrate.
The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta began in 1980 as a three-day event with just 12 boats. In 2007, a fourth racing day was added for spinnakers to compete on both windward and leeward courses and get an extra day of competing before the actual event; spinnakers now compete in the Gill Commodores Cup. Match-racing series were added in 2009, providing a fierce challenge for skilled sailors. Match racing involves sailing America’s Cup-style where two boats compete at a time. It’s a style of racing that’s catching on like wildfire worldwide and St. Maarten was one of the first regattas in the Caribbean to add it.
The best part about the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is that anyone can join in – on sea or on land. You don’t need to be a super sailor as there are classes for many types of boat. You don’t even need to own a boat. Several bareboat companies on the island rent yachts for the week. In addition, there’s a crew board on the regatta website where sailors can sign up to sail on one of the race boats. The whole of St. Maarten – sailors, visitors and locals alike – are welcome to join in the parties where there are live entertainment and cold Heineken beer. Each year the event definitely lives up to its slogan of Serious Fun!
For information on the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, contact:
St. Maarten Yacht Club
Website: www.heinekenregatta.com
Image Courtesy of sraggio
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