Sailing regattas are often fun. There are the battles on the water, the atmosphere on the pontoons and the prize-giving parties. When a regatta is held in translucent, warm waters with a good steady wind, it is a real pleasure for the sailors. This is the case of the Heineken Regatta which takes place every year in March on the island of Saint-Martin in the West Indies.
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta 2023
For this edition 2023, the 43rd, there were 100 sailboats registered in 14 different classes. Indeed, the particularity of this race, which takes place over 4 days, between March 2 and 5, 2023, is to bring together sailboats from all horizons and of all sizes. Thus, there were 3 classes of multihulls with catamarans made for the race like the one of Loïc Escoffier who had just won the Route du Rhum, or a Corsair equipped with beautiful Mylar sails. Other classes include charter yachts, fresh out of the fleets of major charter companies like Sunsail. In the middle of these production boats, some Volvo 65 and 70 are racing, mixing professional crews and paying passengers. Some Diam 24 are also there to make the show.
Animations on the water and on land
If the animation is on the water with 2 different departures to avoid the risk of collisions, it is also on land, because the Heineken Regatta is a regatta which marks the spirits by organizing memorable evenings for the crews, evenings which are moreover opened to the public of the island with known artists who come on stage these evenings. This year, one of the evenings took place in the French part of the island on the beach of Orient Bay.
In spite of the festive and drunken evenings, the crews meet in the morning to cross the bridge at 9 am, a lifting bridge that opens to the sea and allows to leave the lagoon that occupies the center of the island. The coastal courses lead the fleet towards Saint-Barthélemy and along Saint-Martin. The highlight of the week was the tour of the island which was done following the wind in a clockwise direction for this year 2023. This 36 miles course offered all the speeds to the sailboats, in a constant wind of 20 knots under a beautiful sun. Bobsleds and goggles were mandatory for all crews.
An event to have on your calendar
For sailing enthusiasts, the Heineken Regatta is a must for their winter vacations. Indeed, it is possible to rent a unit on the spot to register and participate with the crews in this festive, but always very qualitative gathering.
