For those with their eyes on the prizes – and with Galateia raising the bar having just been crowned first in class in the 2023 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup – the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is also one of three Caribbean qualifying events for the International Maxi Association Caribbean Maxi Challenge Trophy, alongside the Caribbean 600 and Les Voiles de St. Barths.

Andrew McIrvine, Secretary General of the International Maxi Association says, “The Caribbean is one of the greatest places in the world to race and is on the bucket list for many of our members who haven’t already experienced it. We’re delighted that St Maarten Heineken Regatta will once again be one of the three events that comprises the IMA’s Caribbean Maxi Challenge in 2024. Of course, among the Caribbean regattas, St. Maarten with its excellent race area and race management is not to be missed.”

Maxi yachts are classed as racing group CSA1, making a change from the usual ORC/IRC rating. Bastien Pouthier, CSA Rating Officer says this regional rating system is easy to implement with full technical support offered by the Race Management Team at St Maarten Heineken Regatta. He explains: “With entrants including Volvo Ocean Race boats amongst the world’s top Maxi yachts, the Caribbean Sailing Association’s CSA rating is consistently optimized and modernized for all of the yachts that race annually in the Caribbean.  It caters for the conditions most typical for the region. During peak racing season, the well-established tradewinds that grace the leeward islands provide perfect racing conditions of around 15 knots consistently, which allows the Maxi racers to go full sail and full send!” 

Alongside the island’s geography, which offers the perfect playing ground for the big boat fleet – from the iconic 30+ NM Around The Island Race to long courses around neighboring islands and soaring volcanic rocks used as marks between St. Maarten, Anguilla and St. Barths – the highest standards of race management and organization are key to the event’s success in attracting world class competition.

“Each year we try to balance representatives on our Race Committee and Jury with top race officials from Europe, the US and Caribbean. It always feels great when you have that spread of approach and background getting together, which keeps us all up-to-date on school of thought for a more global, modern approach to race officiating,” said Cary Byerley, Race Committee Chair. The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta race committee and jury have both been led by many top women in the sport; including Ana Sánchez Del Campo Ferrer, who was the first female appointed as Chair of the International Jury for the 2024 Olympic Games.  

Understanding the needs of Maxi yachts is also key. Larger vessels can enjoy protected berthing conditions inside the protected Simpson Bay Lagoon with its deep-water dockage (up to 6m), with several marinas that can accommodate Maxis including Port de Plaisance Yacht Club, La Palapa Marina, and IGY Isle del Sol. Regatta partner hotels and RE/MAX offer concierge services for sourcing high-end accommodations around the island, while local yacht service agents and island-favorite restaurants offer catering and provisioning right to the boat.

With the island divided between the Netherlands (Sint Maarten) and France (Saint Martin), the island is part of Europe, making access to products and services easy and cost-effective.  Many yachts choose St. Maarten as their Caribbean port of call due to the island’s advanced marine services sector, offering the highest quality of technical repairs and servicing, including hydraulics and advanced systems technicians, equipment supplies and provisioning. The island’s local sail lofts are official service agents for top international brands North Sails and Ullman Sails, offering world-class service and sail repair. For any logistical support, such as shipping in boat parts duty-free, yacht service agents BWA Yachting are conveniently located at IGY and available for any further assistance required by visiting Maxi yachts. 

For the Volvo 65s, the additional racing and training time in the Caribbean undoubtedly paid off in the recent edition of The Ocean Race. Top performing VO65 teams at the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, WindWhisper Racing Team and Team JAJO, ultimately took first and second place in The Ocean Race, respectively. In 2024, the Volvo 65 fleet will return, with Team JAJO and Team Austrian Ocean Racing already making plans to race, while most of the fleet is expected to again base out of St. Maarten for another winter season. 

“From my experience, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is the best big boat race in the Caribbean for teams that want to have challenging races around the cans and a good time on the shore. I have competed 3 times with the V65 in this race and we have been able to race every day,” says Jelmer van Beek, Skipper of Team JAJO Volvo 65.

Registration is now open for the 44th Edition of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta – FEB 29 – MAR 3, 2024. New and returning Maxi teams interested in making St. Maarten their base for the season, or exploring options for 5-star marinas, accommodation, and island amenities during their stay are welcome to get in touch with the Regatta team for support. Start planning your stay and register today: www.heinekenregatta.com

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St. Maarten Heineken Regatta

Celebrating 44 years, this Regatta just keeps getting better, four days of world-class racing with some of the world’s most seasoned sailors, hailing from over 35 countries. This is genuinely a Regatta for everyone, including professional teams sailing Maxis, Monohulls, and Performance Multihulls to holiday-makers on chartered Bareboats to live-aboard families cruising the Caribbean. Crystal clear waters and cooling northeast trade winds give the pristine conditions for spectacular racing just off the coast of St. Maarten. This event is your bucket list must-do! Come and enjoy life in the Caribbean; come for some Serious Fun from February 29 until March 3, 2024!

For complete information on the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, including results, photos, videos, party and band information, and much, much more, visit: www.heinekenregatta.com.