Please select your home edition
Edition
Crewsaver 2021 Safetyline LEADERBOARD

44th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta - The best of the best race, work, and play in St. Maarten

by St. Maarten Heineken Regatta 11 Aug 2023 17:21 BST February 29 - March 3, 2024
St. Maarten is home to five local Melges 24 teams, most of them being raced on behalf of local leaders in the marine industry: FKG, Island Water World, and Budget Marine © Laurens Morel

Summer may be a quiet time in the Caribbean, but St. Maarten's local marine industry is gearing up for a busy season ahead.

Port St. Maarten expects to welcome over 1 million visitors via sea this upcoming season, with a top time for sailing vessels being around February 29 - March 3, 2024 for the 44th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta.

Earlier this year, over 100 boats from around the world gathered in St. Maarten for the 43rd St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, making it the most attended regatta of the Caribbean. The Regatta is scheduled right in peak Caribbean season, when the tradewinds are well established and the rainy season is still a ways away. These picture-perfect racing conditions are a major draw for sailors who travel great lengths to join this legendary event.

While the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is a bucket-list event for most international sailors, for the local sailors it is also an annual must-do. The island's top marine services business are invested in the local racing culture, with all major players having competing boats and crew in the event. Local marine businesses have proudly been involved with the Regatta since the beginning, both on and off the water, with one of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta founding-fathers Robbie Ferron also being the founder of local chandlery Budget Marine.

The legacy continues, as Robbie Ferron's son Jolyon builds upon the Ferron family's performance racing heritage, refurbishing a Melges 24 to add to the island's competitive sportsboat fleet this year. Since summer is considered low season in the Caribbean, Jolyon, who also works at Budget Marine, now has more time to work on his own boat and prepare for the high season ahead. This passion for the sport is something Budget Marine also shares with their clients.

"While any time spent on a boat is time well spent, the excitement of yacht racing is something that has always had Budget Marine's interest. As a marine service provider, we help customers not only maintain their boats but also make improvements, one of which is how to make a boat go faster," shared Jolyon Ferron, Sales Manager at Budget Marine and co-owner of Team Budget Marine, a Melges 24.

Fellow St. Maarten marine business Island Water World also has a Melges 24 - two in fact - with one skippered by Sint Maarten Yacht Club Commodore Frits Bus, which was arguably the most competitive Melges team this year among the five local Melges 24s. Team Island Water World represented the island well, both at home and away, coming in second in CSA 3 at both the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta and Les Voiles de St. Barths.

The friendly competition between local racers keeps the fleet ultra-competitive, but being the 'Friendly Island' after all, St. Maarten marine service businesses are happy to support racers and cruisers alike. "It's all about the Prep! We understand the importance of staying up to date with advancements in racing technology, as these will trickle down to the ever-growing fleet of performance cruisers. We are privileged to race against others with similar businesses here in St Maarten. After all, we all do this because we are passionate about sailing, and St. Maarten is a top-notch place to do that!" said Jolyon Ferron.

St. Maarten is a top choice for both racers and cruisers to spend the season, with credit due to the island's best-in-class marine services, easy logistics on the island, duty-free imports, and fantastic amenities that make it the perfect place to simultaneously get work done and play. Visiting yachts can expect to find all they need to race or cruise, plus over 16 major marinas on the island catering to all sizes and budgets, from sport boats to superyachts.

"We are proud to have such an active marine industry on St. Maarten that not only supports the event, but also our sailors. With overnight sails repair services, quick rigging solutions, numerous provisioning options, diverse marina options and much more, our participants couldn't feel more welcomed and looked after. Of course this is not just for the Regatta, it's during the entire season that these businesses ensure high quality and solution-oriented service. St. Maarten is the hub in the Caribbean offering all marine services and solutions you could wish for, and we welcome you to come stay awhile," said Michele Korteweg, Director of St. Maarten Heineken Regatta and active member of St. Maarten Marine Trade Association (SMMTA).

The large cruising community that calls the island home each season are also a significant part of the Regatta community. Many are among the hundreds of volunteers who help make St. Maarten Heineken Regatta magic, while others give racing a try as part of the "Island Time" class. This class designed for cruisers offers the Regatta experience on Island Time - with one race per day, later starts and family-friendly "Serious Fun!"

All are welcome to the 44th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, scheduled for February 29 - March 3, 2024. Consider arriving earlier or staying longer to take full advantage of all the island has to offer both on and off the water. Follow the Regatta on social media: @stmaartenheinekenregatta for all the latest news and stories from the event, and visit www.heinekenregatta.com for regatta and travel resources.

Related Articles

45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta highlights
This annual Caribbean celebration has brought together locals, visitors, and world-class sailors The official film of the 45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta has just dropped, and it's a vibrant tribute to four and a half decades of sailing, island spirit, and unforgettable "Serious Fun!" Posted on 13 Apr
45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta summary
107 boats have now left the legendary celebration 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. Posted on 12 Mar
45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Overall
Iconic Sights for the Final Day The final day of racing was nothing short of legendary to wrap up an amazing 45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. Fleets made their way to their designated start boats out in Cole Bay and Simpson Bay. Posted on 10 Mar
45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Day 3
Beach Stadium Racing and Surprises Day three of the 45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta had non-stop racing action happening on both Dutch and French sides of the island, with a special Diam 24 beach-stadium race in Grand Case! Posted on 9 Mar
45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Day 2
Contrasting conditions and iconic St. Maarten scenes along the Dutch coastlines Day two of the 45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta brought contrasting conditions and iconic St. Maarten scenes along the Dutch coastlines. The morning started out with blue skies, bright sunshine, and a light breeze. Posted on 8 Mar
45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Day 1
Sun, Squalls, and Serious Fun Around the Island The 45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta started off with a bang as fleets were sent offshore and around the island for day 1 of racing! Posted on 7 Mar
45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta kicks off
Over 100 boats have registered for the special 45th anniversary event Over 100 boats have registered for the special 45th anniversary of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta! The Regatta Village at Port de Plaisance welcomed sailors from all around the world for registration day. Posted on 6 Mar
World Champions and Star Sailors Set to Shine
At the 45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta The 45th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is shaping up to be an unmissable event, showcasing a world-class fleet of boats and sailors. The diversity and caliber of the registered entries are setting the stage for thrilling competition. Posted on 18 Jan
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta 2025 Preview
World-class Race Committee Plots Course for 45th edition The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is proud to soon be celebrating 45 years, and four decades of "Serious Fun!" with long-time event partner Heineken. Posted on 6 Sep 2024
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Reigns
As Largest Regatta in the Caribbean Once again, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is the largest regatta in the region, having welcomed 115 boats from over 20 different countries for the 44th edition February 29 - March 3, 2024. Posted on 15 Jun 2024