46th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Overall
by St. Maarten Heineken Regatta 9 Mar 04:31 GMT
March 5-8, 2026
46th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Day 4 - The windiest day of the Regatta had teams struggling on downwind legs with choppy seas and powerful gusts © Laurens Morel
The strongest winds arrived for the Grand Finale of the 46th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, delivering powerful winds and dramatic racing. If the fleet thought Day 3 was breezy, Day 4 showed up with something to prove. Gusts over 35 knots were recorded out on the racecourse, giving sailors a true taste of the demanding conditions.
At the start line in Cole Bay, many teams reefed their mainsails in preparation for the conditions, while Cockatoo was even spotted flying a storm jib as waves built offshore. At several windward marks, boats disappeared completely behind the towering swells before reappearing as they powered downwind.
Classes launched from both Cole Bay and Simpson Bay on a mix of coastal and windward-leeward courses that took some fleets as far as Marigot on the French side of the island - delivering a spectacular final day of racing where the overall winners would ultimately be decided.
One of the most competitive divisions throughout the regatta was CSA4, and it all came down to the final day. During the first race, a windward-leeward course quickly turned dramatic on the downwind legs. Belladonna and Apollo were both seen struggling to tame their spinnakers in the powerful breeze. Apollo managed to regain control, but Belladonna fell down the standings after battling their kite. Whistler also found themselves tangled in an hourglass as teams fought the gusts and heavy swell charging toward the leeward gates.
In the end, it was Jackknife that powered across the finish line with a smooth and controlled downwind finish. After entering the day with Jackknife and Dauntless tied behind Belladonna, the final results reshuffled the leaderboard and crowned the class champions after an intense four-day battle.
CSA 1-3 began their day on a coastal course. At the offshore mark, CSA1 was the only fleet confident enough to hoist their spinnakers, while many others held back due to the strong winds. "It's been the wildest and windiest St. Maarten Heineken Regatta that we've ever raced in - and we've raced in a lot," said the crew of Panacea X, who secured first place in CSA5.
"It was absolutely wild out there. Definitely the toughest day of racing I've ever had," said the crew onboard Scylla in CSA3.
The Diam 24 fleet made the challenging sail back from Grand Case to Simpson Bay for their final race of the regatta and encountered heavy breeze and waves along the way. Two boats capsized in the conditions, but all crews were safely assisted and the boats were righted with the help of safety teams and even a media boat.
One of the defining features of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is the diversity of its fleet, and Day 4 showcased that spectacle perfectly. As fleets overlapped along the Dutch coastline, boats of all sizes crossed paths - from Multihulls passing Bareboats at the Mullet Bay mark to big boats passing by Diams capsizing in the midst of the rest of the fleet. It's this unique blend of boats and sailors from around the world that continues to draw competitors back to St. Maarten year after year.
Fittingly, the final key value of the regatta was "celebration." The day also coincided with International Women's Day, providing an opportunity to recognize the many women making an impact across the sport. Several all-female and women-led teams competed in this year's regatta, including the Bareboat team Glad to Be Here, an all-women crew from the Netherlands made up of sorority sisters ranging in age from 27 to 67.
Women were also key members of many top-performing teams across the fleet, including standout bowperson Sarah Ragle aboard Apollo, and Antonia Zipfel of ASV Berlin, the skipper for Walross 4 and coach for her crew of young sailors. A special highlight was 17-year-old skipper Veronica Destin, who took the helm of SMYC Sunfast this year. After winning the Next Generation Race just a few years ago, she returned to the regatta as a skipper, showcasing the future of Caribbean sailing.
"Today we celebrate the women who trim the sails, take the helm, and show the world that the ocean belongs to everyone," said Berit Bus of Team Island Water World who has grown up sailing on the waters of St. Maarten. The regatta itself also reflects strong female leadership, with women making up more than half of the International Race Committee.
As boats returned through the Simpson Bay Bridge one final time, sailors delivered one of the regatta's most beloved traditions - the final "Serious Fun" Bridge Show. Crews passed through the bridge in costumes and performances as spectators gathered at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club and along the lagoon shoreline. From beer-themed outfits on Team Glad to Be Here to country-inspired performances like the "Luck of the Irish" from Team Aegir, the bridge crossing became a floating celebration of the regatta spirit.
After racing concluded, the celebration continued at the Port de Plaisance Regatta Village, where sailors, locals, and visitors packed the venue for the final night of festivities. Prize giving honored the week's champions on the main stage before an incredible lineup of performers kept the party going late into the night. Artists including DJ Outcast, D Kullus, Tanya Michele + Adrien, DJ Big Boss & Maestro, Nolrez, and DJ EM entertained the crowd before reggae legends Inner Circle - the "Bad Boys of Reggae" - closed out the regatta in unforgettable style.
Four days of world-class sailing, unforgettable conditions, and international camaraderie made the 46th edition of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta one for the books. Mark your calendars now for the 47th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, returning March 4-7, 2027.
Until next year - the memories of this year's regatta will stay with us for a "La la la la la Long" time!
Full results can be found here.
Learn more at heinekenregatta.com