St. Maarten Yacht Club Regatta Foundation raises $1804 for Sea Rescue
by St. Maarten Heineken Regatta 3 Apr 2016 15:47 BST
3 April 2016
St. Maarten Yacht Club Regatta Foundation raises 1804 dollars for Sea Rescue © Sint Maarten Yacht Club
The St. Maarten Yacht Club Regatta Foundation (SMYCRF) has raised 1804 dollars for the St. Maarten Sea Rescue Foundation (SSRF) during the 36th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. The SSRF offers assistance to sailors and mariners in need of help. With two vessels and a well-trained group of volunteers, they ensure safety on the waters of St. Maarten. They are also responsible for the inspections of private vessels on St. Maarten. Before a vessel can be registered, it needs to be inspected by the SSRF. The non-profit organization is fully ran by volunteers and solely relies on donations.
"Without the support of organizations like the St. Maarten Sea Rescue Foundation, we wouldn't be able to organize this event." States Michelle van der Werff, Regatta Director. "Maintaining safety with 200 boats out racing every day, is key for the event. We are very thankful that organizations like Sea Rescue, the Coast Guard, the French SNSM and the Dutch Marines are present on the water and ensure that competitors can have a safe and pleasant time on our Caribbean waters."
This year, the Regatta volunteers got very creative, by organizing a competition around the favourite drink of the average sailor; the famous Bloody Mary of the St. Maarten Yacht Club. The question was how many Bloody Marys would be ordered on the Friday of the regatta at the St. Maarten Yacht Club. All proceeds went directly to Sea Rescue. Other initiatives to raise money were sailors that donated their bow number deposits and selling event posters.
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta
For 36 years, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta has showcased the top boats and sailing-and has become equally famous for its world-class slate of parties and musical entertainment-in the Caribbean. Now recognized by sailors around the planet as one of the sailing world's best regattas, each year the event lives up to its worthy motto: Serious Fun.
For full information on the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, including results, photos, videos, party and band information, and much, much more, visit www.heinekenregatta.com.