45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Overall: That's a Wrap
by St. Maarten Heineken Regatta 12 Mar 07:46 GMT
March 6-9, 2025
The mixed fleet of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is one of its defining features © Laurens Morel /
www.saltycolours.com
That's a wrap on the 45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta! The Regatta Village has been broken down, visitors have checked out to fly home, and boats have casted off through Simpson Bay bridge one final time to head to their next destination.
Over 100 boats - 107 to be exact - from 30 different countries and thousands of tourists and locals gathered in St. Maarten to take part in a legendary celebration for the 45th anniversary of the Regatta. The bucket-list event delivered "Serious Fun!" on all fronts for both participants and spectators. It was a weekend of close match-ups on the water and iconic celebrations onshore.
Day 1: Starting Strong to Anguilla and Around the Island
The kick off to the Regatta had fleets embarking on offshore courses around the island. Race Committee selected routes based on challenging and variable wind forecasts looking ahead to the next 4 days of racing. It was a choppy downwind start for all fleets with 12-knot southern winds. The Dutchside coastline was treated to a colorful scene with a sea of spinnakers as teams made their way to their first turning mark, where they then split to go off on their respective ways. CSA Multihull 2 and Bareboat classes raced to Blowing Rock off Anguilla and back, while the rest of the classes undertook the iconic Around the Island Race.
In CSA 1, Sailing Poland initially led, but was overtaken by Leaps and Bounds 2 who secured victory. It was Selma Racing - Sisi that earned the fastest time around the island for monohull with a spinnaker with a time of 2:37:32. In CSA 2, the XP 50 yacht DNR emerged as the leader, setting the tone for what would be an incredible close match-up in the class. As fleets converged near Creole Rock, one after one, boats abruptly came to a halt in the same wind hole, creating a closer competition as gaps between the fleets lessened. Zeebest, a Diam 24-ft trimaran, was the fastest multihull around the island with a time of 2:29:16 - very impressive!! A fierce squall on the east side of the island welcomed the fleets before an upwind leg to the finish. Sailors embraced the day's "Serious Fun," setting a dynamic tone for the rest of the Regatta.
Day 2: Light Winds, Dynamic Scenes
The sun welcomed sailors for the second day of the Regatta as fleets gathered near Cole Bay and Simpson Bay for a mix of around the marks/rocks, and windward leeward courses. Race Committee designed a number of course options to accommodate the light and fluctuating winds, which varied between 4 and 12 knots. Each fleet completed 2-3 races with upwind starts, which set the scene for an entire event of close match-ups.
It was a hyper-competitive battle of the locals in the Melges 24 fleet, as Puerto Rican team Exodus dropped out of the competition due to a de-masting. Each race saw a different winner, with photo finishes as boats were within seconds - and inches! - of each other coming across the finish line. Apollo gained a strong lead in CSA4 along with El Ocaso in CSA5 and zeebest in the Diam 24 fleet, all taking first honors for each race. "The core of our team has raced together for 25 years. Our first ever Regatta was here in 2018. It was a brand new boat so naturally we hit a mark. It was during the Around the Island race — but we managed to come first! And we wanted to do it again this year," said Donald Nicholson of Apollo, who led the CSA4 fleet the entire Regatta. "We love the racing here. All of the teams push each other to be our best. You don't always get that in the Caribbean regattas."
It was a diverse scene out on the water as courses collided and fleets merged together. Volvo's, Melges, Multihulls, Bareboats, and more, could be seen cutting through each other and competing for first mark roundings, showcasing the diversity in the fleet. Despite the light winds, sailors adapted and embraced the hot and sunny conditions, maintaining the "Serious Fun" atmosphere out on the water.
Day 3: Beach Stadium Racing
Dynamic racing was seen across both the Frenchside and the Dutchside of the island on Day 3. For the first time ever, a special Diam 24 beach-stadium race took place in Grand Case Beach, sponsored by Saint Martin Tourism Department. A fleet of ten 24-foot trimarans competed on a dynamic course with the finish line just meters away from shore, right in front of Saint Martin's iconic beach clubs. Crowds were treated to an amazing show, which was accompanied with live play-by-play commentary at Tropics Beach Bar. In the first race, zeebest secured a commanding lead, while Karibuni and As MDA had a photo finish. The second race saw the BVI-based Buzz Race Team recover from an early start penalty to finish eighth. The third race was dominated by Opteamwork.dev, who dethroned the leaders in the fleet, zeebest.
Meanwhile, in Cole Bay and Simpson Bay, a warm 10-12 knot breeze sustained after the Race Committee performed a ceremonial wind dance. Fleets raced on similar courses from Day 2, engaging in intense competitions especially seen - and heard! - at mark roundings. Maëlia dominated CSA6 in every race, coming from behind chasing the pack at each turning mark. Beneteau First 210 Maline, the smallest boat in Island Time, secured 1st. It was a battle between DNR and GEM for 1st and 2nd every race, and JOYI and CARA in the Bareboat classes maintained their class lead taking 1st in each race.
Day 4: Iconic Scenes for the Grand Finale
The Regatta concluded with an exhilarating final day of racing. The courses set by Race Committee along the southern Dutchside coastline were exemplary, accompanying ideal weather conditions with consistent winds - creating a picture-perfect day and iconic sights. As fleets sailed past Maho and Mullet Bay Beaches, planes soared overhead, landing and taking off from Princess Juliana International Airport as the sun intensified the crystal-clear bright-blue water.
A sea of spectator boats were treated to thrilling starts and dramatic competition at mark roundings across the course, as the close match-ups were settled among fleets. Pata Negra in CSA3 and El Ocaso in CSA5 finished the event undefeated. El Ocaso went on to win the entire Regatta, earning them the Most Worth Performance Overall special trophy. DNR claimed first in the closely matched CSA2 class after a tough competition against GEM and Kinship. The Leopard 50 La Novia successfully defended their title of reigning champions in Multihull 2, and the spirited Italians onboard Leaps and Bounds 2 defeated the Volvos in CSA1.
The day's schedule was planned to maximize both competition and celebration. Teams put on their finest performances and costumes for the final Bridge Show at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. The Regatta Village at Port de Plaisance then opened its doors for sailors, locals, and tourists, setting the stage for the grand prize-giving ceremony. The final night culminated with legendary reggae band The Wailers creating an unforgettable night of music and celebration, leaving crowds with a "Positive Vibration" as the 45th anniversary of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta came to a close.
Women in the Lead
Saturday, March 8 was International Women's Day. Every year, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta witnesses more and more female leadership both on the water and onshore. There were several all-female teams this year including Bareboat DREAMBOAT. The returning Salish Sisters from Vancouver, Canada were awarded the trophy for Women in Sailing, who continued to climb up in the standings and up their game each day of racing. The Regatta wouldn't be the same without the many women in the lead behind the scenes like Regatta Chair Cary Byerley, Marketing Chair Meg Reilly, Onshore Chair Zoila Sanchez, and many more.
Generations of Sailing & Celebrating Inclusivity
There were an incredible number of family ties and generational scenes on the water. Team Caraibes Diesel won the SXM Youth Challenge special trophy. Two young brothers showed outstanding performance onboard their Melges 24, all with leading roles as the helm and main trimmer. Father Erwan Le Normand commented that "this year is the closest the Melges fleet has ever been - and I've been sailing and competing in this class for over 10 years." Onboard Kinship was a three-generation crew - a grandfather, father, and son combination, including a 96-year-old crew member out racing every day of the event who proudly accepted their 3rd place award in their class on stage at the final prize-giving ceremony.
The Next Generation Race was hosted over the weekend for junior sailors of the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. The "Sailability" race for young adults with disabilities was also hosted on Friday. The Regatta embraces sailors of all ages and capabilities and celebrates the spirit of inclusivity and diversity.
A Massive Moment for Multihulls
This year was the largest total multihull class for the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, including eight CSA Multihull boats and eleven Diam 24 trimarans racing in the 2025 event. The Diam 24 class has doubled since its debut at the 2023 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, and the well-received beach stadium race event in Grand Case is sure to keep the class going strong, bringing even more interest into the class and Regatta for sailors and spectators alike. Meanwhile, the CSA multihull classes were extremely diverse - from the eight countries represented to the types of boats such as an ocean racing trimaran to a 72-ft catamaran, Leopard cruising cats to a G4 race boat!
High Quality Entertainment and Serious Fun!
This year's Regatta Village at Port de Plaisance was a massive hit, with its dynamic marina-side setup creating the perfect mix of high-energy Regatta vibes and relaxed island charm. The well-loved layout featured a bustling Sailors Bar right by the daily prize-giving podium, allowing crews and fans to celebrate each day's victories in style. An expansive food court, packed with both local and international flavors, kept everyone fueled for the festivities, offering everything from Caribbean delicacies to globally-inspired gourmet bites.
The entertainment lineup ensured that the party lasted long after the last boat docked, welcoming in 12,973 guests in total over the 4-day event. Every night, the Regatta Village came alive with free live performances, showcasing St. Maarten's incredible local talent, including Tamillia, Kenyo Baly, and King James. The weekend brought even more excitement with high-energy sets from calypso king Trilla G, soca queen Alison Hinds, and reggae legends The Wailers, who had the crowd singing along in true "One Love" spirit. The mix of genres and the diverse audience—from sailors to music lovers, locals to international visitors—created one massive island celebration, embodying the true essence of the Regatta: world-class sailing by day and world-class partying by night.
Reflecting Back and Looking Ahead
As the 45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta comes to a close, the organizers, sponsors, and volunteers can take pride in a successful milestone event continuing the international legacy of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. This year's Regatta not only showcased world-class racing, but also emphasized the celebration of the event and its rich history, and the impact it has had on the island of St. Maarten/Saint Martin.
The magic of the regatta would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of our hundreds of volunteers. From building the Regatta Village, Race Committee, Volunteer Care, Hospitality, and much, much more, the volunteers are the heart of the Regatta. A huge thank you to all of the event sponsors who help create such an incredible bucket-list event: Heineken, Veuve Clicquot, Port de Plaisance Resorts and Yacht Club, SEIKO as the official Regatta timekeeper, St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, St. Martin Tourism, Shipwreck Shops, Gill, Real Auto, Vie L'Ven, Sint Maarten Yacht Club, Windward Islands Bank, Divico, Avis, Exofor, Sol, Sunsail, Flow, Port St. Maarten, Seahawk, Windward Roads and Island 92 Radio.
Preparations have already begun for next year. Mark your calendars! The 46th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta takes place March 5-8, 2026.
More information at www.heinekenregatta.com