Continuing the four day format

An update about this year's St Maarten Heineken Regatta

The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta has it all: outstanding sailing in blue Caribbean seas, world-class parties and entertainment, and an island venue that can’t be beat. If you asked the event’s most competitive sailors what, if anything, was missing, there really could be only one answer.

More racing.

Race organizers listened, and last year they added a fourth day of competition—the Budget Marine Commodore’s Cup - to the traditional three-day event. It isn’t for everyone, noted race chairman Robbie Ferron. “It’s for the flat-out racers in the spinnaker classes,” he said. “The rest of the fleet can enjoy the regatta over the usual three-day schedule.”

Still, according to Ferron, the first running of the Commodore’s Cup was an instant, unqualified success. “It was just one of the greatest days,” he said. “We had spectacular 15-17 knot tradewind conditions, a very competitive fleet, and three windward/leeward races in one day. Everyone enjoyed it immensely.”

So, not surprisingly, they’re doing it again. The second annual Commodore’s Cup will kick off the 28th edition of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta on Thursday, March 6th. Last year’s Cup attracted 58 entries racing in seven dedicated spinnaker classes. In the Bigboat 1 class, the big winner was the Volvo 70, ABN AMRO One. Antigua’s Carlo Valcone did well, winning the Spinnaker 3 division on his 44ft Caccia alla Volpe. Another well-known Caribbean campaigner who scored a spot in the winner’s circle was Puerto Rico’s Sergio Sargramoso, who topped the Spinnaker 5 class aboard his Beneteau 40.7, Lazy Dog.

Other winners in 2007 included Clay Deutsch’s Swan 68, Chippewa, from the USA, in Bigboat 2, and St. Maarten sailor Ian Hope-Ross’s Beneteau First 36.7, Kick ‘em Jenny, in Spinnaker 7. Both boats are among the early entrants for 2008 and will be looking to defend the titles they earned last year.

“It looks like it’s going to be an interesting field,” said Ferron. “We’ve already received some interesting entries, particularly some European ones. Otherwise, we’re not planning on changing anything. Windward/leeward courses are what people want. That’s what the competitors told us and that’s what we’re giving them. We’re going to do it again and keep telling people how great an event it was. Then they can come and see for themselves.”

Following the Budget Marine Commodore’s Cup racing on the 6th, which is scored separately from the main event, the 28th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta will commence on Friday, March 7th, with an around-the-island race from Simpson Bay to Great Bay. Saturday’s action will feature a point-to-point contest from Simpson Bay to Marigot. After some round-the-buoys competition for the spinnaker classes, the regatta will wrap up on Sunday with a return race for the entire fleet from Marigot to Simpson Bay.

The ever-evolving Heineken Regatta last year attracted over 250 entries, all attracted by the “serious fun” for which the annual festival of sail earned its reputation. Entry forms, as well as a list of current entries and other regatta information, can be found on the race website, www.heinekenregatta.com. With the first race scheduled in just six weeks’ time, it’s not too early to make your plans to be there.