Page 16 - ARUBA TODAY

A16 LOCAL
Thursday 8 March 2018

St. Maarten Strong:

Premier Caribbean Regatta Satisfies Hundreds of Competitors

economy, the event was really proud of it, and I re-
a success and although ally appreciate all of the
the conditions were un- international support we
expected – from the wind got,” said Chris Marshall,
direction (mostly westerly), Commodore of the regat-
its strength (uncustom- ta host Sint Maarten Yacht
ary light), and the swells Club who raced his Melges
(challenging) – that didn’t 24 Gill Race Team in the
change the fact that we event.
put on some great racing. “We went through a dev-
On Sunday, I realized that astating storm, and what
we hadn’t run a great re- I can remember most was
gatta by overcoming ad- two days after the storm
versity; we had simply run a few of the committee
a great regatta. It’s not a members sat together and
matter that we did it de- had a meeting to figure out
spite Irma; we just did it.” what to do next. We had to
The turnout of teams was rebuild this, and we need-
impressive. ed to make this event hap-
They represented some 25 pen again. The rest just fell
countries and participated into place.”
in four days of stellar com- Already many teams have
petition. Every day, racing committed to competing
Competitors racing in the 38th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta (Photo by Laurens Morel)
ST. MAARTEN (March 7, an Sea. With another epic
2018) – The 38th St. Maarten event in the history books,
Heineken Regatta wrapped organizers announced that
up on Sunday, March 4 with the St. Maarten Heineken
hundreds of sailors gather- Regatta’s 39th edition has
ing at the event’s “Regatta been scheduled for Febru-
Village” at Princess Port de ary 28 – March 3, 2019.
Plaisance in St. Maarten
to celebrate victors in the “This regatta is massive for
event’s 16 classes. Ever the island of St. Maarten,
since Hurricane Irma hit and it shows that the yacht-
the Caribbean island of St. ing world is leading the re-
Maarten this past Septem- covery by holding these
ber, the support from the events,” said Race Director
yachting community has Paul Miller.
poured in, and the regatta “One hundred boats
welcomed an international brings in close to 4,000
fleet of 100 boats for four people, and that’s 2,000
days of spectacular racing hotel rooms, 16,000 din-
on the crystal-clear waters ners. It all adds up and is a
of the Northeast Caribbe- huge boom to the island’s

Shaggy performs at the Regatta Village at Princess Port de
Plaisance after the final day of racing
(Photo by Souleyman T. Photography)

concluded off Simpson Bay again in 2019, including all
and boats were greeted three of the Volvo Ocean
with cheers and cham- Racers and the eleven
pagne spray from fans boats racing in the regat-
at the St. Maarten Yacht ta’s highly competitive fleet
Club as they paraded to of 40-foot racer cruisers.
Simpson Bay Lagoon by “This is the first regatta that
way of the famed Simpson we do each year, and it’s
Bay Bridge opening. From a great opportunity to get
there, the sailors headed our season started,” said
shoreside to top off their Pawel Gorski, founder of
“Serious Racing” with some Yacht Club Sopot, which
“Serious Fun” that included raced the VOR 70 Monster
a series of concerts and Project.
performances culminating “We love the event, the
on Sunday with a perfor- regatta, the weather, the
mance by Grammy Award food. It’s just a great plea-
winning musician Shaggy. sure to come every year.
VOR 70 Monster Project 38th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta “Six months later, to be We look forward to racing
(Photo by Laurens Morel) where we are today…I’m again next year.” q