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Heineken Regatta is an integral part of St. Maarten’s island culture. .It's so easy to rent a boat or charter a yacht during the race.Book Now with Yachtious!
Heineken Regatta is an integral part of St. Maarten’s island culture. .It's so easy to rent a boat or charter a yacht during the race.Book Now with Yachtious!
ST. MAARTEN HEINEKEN REGATTA
The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta was once known as the St. Maarten Regatta back in 1980, the year it started. Back then, only 12 sailboats participated in the event. Just three short years later, Heineken became the most prevalent sponsor of this regatta, prompting a name change. To sweeten the pot, Heineken passed icy cold Heinekens from their powerboat to all the competitors in the race.
It didn’t take long for the event to blossom after Heineken became involved. A third day was added to the milestone regatta in 1990, and with each passing year, this sailing event grew. In 1995, 187 boats were participating. By 1999, the number was 251. In 2005, they added an additional racing day called the Commodore’s Cup. So far, the record number for participating boats in the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta was 284 in 2008.
Few places could be better than the crystal waters here in the Caribbean Sea. With the cooling trade winds from the northeast and a brilliant race team, this four-day world-class sailing event is one no sailor should miss. To help out, four race committees oversee everything for the thousands of sailors that come from all over the world. These enthusiastic sailors come from a variety of backgrounds too. You’ll find Olympic medalists, world champions, revelers on party boats, and even families on their houseboats cruising along for the sport of it.
There are eight races over the four days. The windward-leeward races are on two of them while the longer coastal races are on the other two. These test the tactics of the sailors and the handling of the boats. This prestigious regatta attracts a large group of competitors with 40-foot and 50-foot cruisers. Non-spinnaker cruisers can join in the various courses as there are less tight maneuvers and more strategies to be employed during this yacht charter event.
Both Maxis and Multihulls are given their racing areas with the emphasis squarely on fewer windward legs for the cruising-style set and more challenging, longer races for the performance set. The regatta thoughtfully provides one medium-length race per days for those live-aboard cruisers and others that want to join in the fun.
As Heineken is the sponsor, you can rest assured that the party is definitely here at this regatta. Parties can be found all over the island, not that the nightlife is ever quiet around this famed party destination. Big-name bands and entertainment all descend upon the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, where UB40, Akon, Shaggy, the Black Eyed Peas, and even The Commodores, to name a few, have all performed in the past. Nothing could be better than relaxing with a cold Heineken after the events of this esteemed regatta while unwinding on the sandy shores to the tunes of your favorite musical artists.