Simpson Bay, St. Maarten – December 7, 2022
The nineteenth edition of La Course De L´Alliance took place last weekend, organized by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. After not being able to race to Anguilla and St. Barths for 2 years due to travel restrictions, this year the fleet was able to return to the original concept of the regatta.
This edition included 2 fleets, 12 boats in total, the CSA 1 fleet and a Diam 24 fleet. In the CSA 1 fleet four Melges 24’s; Team Budget Marine, Team Island Water World, Team FKG and Team Carib Diesel, Melges 32 Kick em Jenny, X34 Maelia, IOR 50 Fujimo and Dauntless, a Beneteau First 47.7 participated. In the Diam 24 fleet Airnest, Cry Baby, Karibuni and Merlin participated for the win.
The Regatta kicked off with registration and the skipper’s briefing at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club on Thursday evening. On Friday morning, the two fleets raced their first leg towards St. Barths, around Ile Pile and Boulanger. A long upwind beat, followed by a nice reach down the coast of St. Barths.
Team FKG and CRY BABY won this first day. After the race, all competitors enjoyed a plate of great paella on the beach at the Saint Barths Yacht Club.
Saturday’s race to Sandy Ground, Anguilla started off with a nice breeze. The competitors had the choice to go north or south around St. Maarten. Most the fleet decided to take the southernly route. The Diam fleet decided all together to take the north route. Both choices were challenged on the way with some big rain squalls.
Once again, team FKG in the CSA 1 fleet took first place after a well fought battle with Team Island Water World. CRY BABY in the Diam 24 fleet won his second race as well.
Roy’s Bay Side Grill hosted the daily prize giving and served dinners to the sailors. A great DJ played music, which made some of the sailor’s dance.
On Sunday, the final day of racing, the racers left Anguilla to race with very light condition back to Sint Maarten. Team Island Water World, from the CSA 1 fleet, took the lead from the start and was able to secure their spot from FKG till the finish. In the Diam 24 fleet, Cry Baby came in first place, Merlin took second place and Airnest ended up in third place of race 3. Back at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club, all sailors came together for final prize giving, with prizes being sponsored by FKG.
Overall; In the CSA 1 class, Christopher Marshall’s FKG team finished the regatta in overall first in the CSA 1 fleet. Team Island Water World with Frits Bus took second place and Team Budget Marine ended up in third place, skippered by Jolyon Ferron.
In the Diam class, Cry Baby took the win with 3 bullets, followed by Merlin. Karibuni came in third place.
The organizers would like to give a special thanks to our main sponsor FKG, Frits Bus for using his catamaran as the committee boat, Saint Barths Yacht Club for hosting the daily prize giving and arranging the great paella, Roy’s Bay Side Grill for hosting the daily prize giving and dinner in Anguilla, Gabi Gumbs and Franki from AXA Yacht Services for helping is with clearance and the Anguilla Sailing Association for working with us.
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