25 years of St Maarten

Heineken regatta celebrates its quarter century in 2005

It's hard to believe, but from its early days of a few local boats racing in the bay, to being the biggest Regatta in the Caribbean has only taken 25 years. In 2005 St. Maarten's Heineken Regatta notches up it's Silver Jubilee.

Next year nothing is being left to chance in the effort to ensure that the 2005 event is the biggest and best ever. Already sponsor Heineken is working to ensure that the beach parties are bigger and better then before, though how they can top last year's prize giving concert featuring Black Eyed Peas is difficult to imagine.

Some of the ideas being considered include inviting some of the event's alumni. People like America's Cup legend Denis Conner, maxi cat guru Steve Fossett and big-boat owners like Mike Slade and Jim Dolan. The event might have started with a few 25 footers, but nowadays, with an average overall length of 44.9ft this year, the trend is onwards and upwards.

Next year the new Sint Maarten Yacht Club building will be fully operational, welcoming you to celebrate the anniversary with its members.

The world's press and hottest sailors will be issued with an invitation to attend and join in with the celebrations - and of course to take part in the racing and report on this milestone in the regatta's history. We hope that you will be here to help us celebrate and to take in a massive dose of: "Serious Fun".

So take out your diary and enter in indelible ink the dates: 4-6 March 2005, St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. Repeat after me: I will attend! I will attend!