Fifth invitational event set for January 21 – 24
West Indies Events and the St. Maarten-St. Martin Classic Yacht Regatta Organization announced in August the preliminary program for the Fifth Invitational St.Maarten-St.Martin Classic Yacht Regatta. The event will again take place during the third weekend of January, from Thursday the 21st until Sunday the 24th. The regatta will be sanctioned by the new St. Maarten-St. Martin Classic Yacht Club, organizers said.
The regatta organization has teamed up with Holland House Beach Hotel on the boardwalk in Philipsburg where they will have their headquarters.
The first race day starts out of Great Bay to Marigot, the second one is from Marigot to Philipsburg and the final day will see yachts leaving again out of Great Bay to return there in the afternoon.
The event in the new year will feature the battle of two classic yachts, Lone Fox and Charm III, for the perpetual trophy. Each yacht has won the regatta twice already and next year’s winner will take home the trophy. Several yachts have already signed up, and organizers expect another twenty or more yachts to participate.
Preliminary Program
Thursday January 21
Registration: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Skippers’ Briefing: 6:30 p.m. followed by opening ceremony and welcome cocktail party
Location: Holland House Beach Hotel on the Philipsburg Boardwalk (Dutch side)
Yachts can anchor in Great Bay and come by dinghy to the beach.
The regatta organization is working on the possibility to have a floating dinghy dock in front of the hotel; otherwise dinghies can be pulled up on the beach or go to the dinghy dock in Bobby’s Marina.
Friday January 22
First race day with start not before 10 a.m. out of Great Bay Philipsburg (Dutch side) to Marigot St. Martin (French side) with finish in the bay.
Free dockage for participants (subject to availability), courtesy of Fort Louis Marina.
Tall Ships will be on anchor in the bay.
Saturday January 23
Second race day with start not before 9 a.m. in the bay of Marigot and finish in Great Bay Philipsburg.
Free Beach Buffet for all registered Captains, Crew, Owners, and invited guests as from 1 p.m. (invitation only).
Local, traditional and small classic dinghy boat races and entertainment from 3 p.m.
Special "STAR" regatta on board the 12 M America’s Cup Challenge yachts starts in the late afternoon with proceeds going towards the Sint Maarten Diabetes Foundation and the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation.
Tall Ships will come to Great Bay for public visiting in the afternoon and evening and eventual stay until Sunday.
Saturday evening Classic Regatta party and "STAR" regatta prize giving with Live band in front of Holland House Beach Hotel on the Philipsburg Boardwalk (Dutch side).
Sunday January 24
Third race day with start not before 10 a.m., again out of Great Bay and finish again in Great Bay around 4 p.m.
Sunday evening Award giving ceremony from 7 p.m. with live band followed by the prize giving party in Holland House Beach Hotel on the Philipsburg Boardwalk (Dutch side).
Holland House Beach Hotel will have a special Classic Regatta menu available during all days of the event. For additional and updated information: www.ClassicRegatta.com
Article and photo submitted by West Indies Events
