The 38th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Scheduled For March

Heineken Regatta 1

 

Jan 25, 2018

KHS&S Contractors racing in the 2017 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Photo Credit: Laurens Morel

Scheduled for March 1-4, 2018 and staged out of the St. Maarten Yacht Club in Simpson Bay, the regatta is a staple on the Caribbean racing calendar each year, attracting seasoned sailors from around the world with its perfect blend of top-tier racing and lively shore side entertainment.

Heineken Regatta 2

 

 

 

 

Solstice racing in the 2017 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Photo Credit: Laurens Morel

The Heineken Regatta no doubt has a strong turnout of bareboat teams. The appeal of bareboat charter racing is that the boat and all associated services are provided on-site. All a team has to do is show up and sail, and plenty of boats are available to reserve for charter through companies such as The Moorings, Sunsail and Dream Yacht Charter.

“The thing that St. Martin offers most is great sailing,” says David Pritchard, President of Gill North America and longtime Heineken Regatta competitor. “The wind is still there, the island is still there, the ocean is still there, and that’s what the regatta is all about. A lot has happened since Hurricane Irma, and the island is coming back. In three more months when the Heineken Regatta comes around, there will be even more recovery. The sailing will always be great, and the parties have always been beyond anything you ever see at any other regatta.”

The four-day event kicks off on Thursday, March 1, 2018 with the Gill Commodore’s Cup. The optional event is separately scored and followed by an evening prize giving where winners are awarded Gill gear. On Friday the fleet embarks on the event’s 26 nautical mile Around the Island Race before taking on a series of windward leeward races on Saturday and a single coastal race on Sunday. Each day of racing is rounded out with serious shore-side entertainment, including concerts and parties.

For free concierge service, contact regatta@heinekenregatta.com, +1 721 544 2079
For up-to-date information regarding lodging, marinas, charter options and beyond, visit http://heinekenregatta.com/
To Register for the 2018 event, visit http://regattaguru.com/heineken/100237

Related Articles

  • Sailing Shorts, January 2026 

    Sailing Shorts, January 2026 

    January 8, 2026 Irene McNeil named to the Order of Canada We all know Irene as an enthusiastic promoter of sailing especially encouraging women to participate. Particularly notable has been her advancement of women in Race Management. She is a tireless volunteer, teacher, and administrator of so many of the components of sailing and race… Read More…

  • Book Locker: An Atalaya for Gerry Roufs, Memory Notebook

    Book Locker: An Atalaya for Gerry Roufs, Memory Notebook

    January 8, 2026 by Michèle Cartier, updated edition eBook, Bookelis, 2025. “An Atalaya for Gerry Roufs,” by Michèle Cartier, the companion of the sailor who disappeared at sea in 1997, during the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race recounts the key moments of the long and arduous search for Gerry’s body following his tragic and widely… Read More…