39th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta - Documentary
by Rachele Vitello 3 Apr 2019 19:16 BST
26 February - 3 March 2019
39th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta © Icarus Sports
39th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta have been four days of awesome sailing, leaving competitors with unforgettable memories of sparkling azure blue seas, sandy white beaches and windswept ragged rocks. The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta delivered on its promise of four days of serious sailing, with upwind legs dousing the crews hiking on the rails with warm water from the waves breaking over them. Spectacular champagne sailing with roller coaster downwind legs, with a myriad of colorful spinnaker kites flying in the trade winds.
For the sailors, the adrenaline of achieving the perfect start, the tension of getting the tactics right, the physical challenges of racing to the max, and the relief and jubilation as the boat crosses the famous Heineken finish line are all part of the serious sailing experience.
It was the combined mass of all these elements that made the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta a unique event attracting more than 1500 sailors from 22 countries. But it was the individuals that really count. While many boats really had rock stars on board from Olympic champions, Paralympians, world champion sailors, to renowned boat designers and yacht builders, to those who have battled the elements in the most gruelling round the world races, and those who have won their battle spurs in the boardroom - in this event, everyone was a rock star!