The first annual Rescuers Regatta, organized in December by the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta office, was deemed a complete success. Teams competed from the Coast Guard, the St. Maarten Port Authority, Sea Rescue St. Maarten and the Regatta Steering Committee. Teams raced a triangle course in the lagoon close to Nettle Bay St. Martin. Team Sunsail Sea Rescue 2, skippered by Willem Bliek, took the honor of first place with a total of 11 points. Team Lambordinghy of the Steering Committee, skippered by Rien Korteknie, took second place with a total of 15 points.
The event itself was born out the desire for the St. Maarten Yacht Club to have more contact socially with the members of the Coast Guard, Sea Rescues French and Dutch as well as the Port Authority, as they play such an important role in the St.Maarten Heineken Regatta.
Team Heineken Fun Sailing, comprised of Steering committee members, took fifth place, while Team Friends of Old Sailor Eddy Johnson, a combination team of The Port Authority and the Coast Guard, took a solid fourth place with 27 points. Third place was taken by team Sunsail Sea Rescue 1, skippered by Jan Drost of Sea Rescue. Teams were also given prizes for best dressed, most consistent, most time spent on the race course and best crew with the slowest boat.
This fun event achieved its goal by bringing these organizations together in a fun and enthusiastic way and the camaraderie could be seen on the water, as trash talk was thrown around liberally while out on the race course. All those who participated enthusiastically want a repeat, as for many this was the first time they had sailed a race, and for some the first time in a sailboat!
The first place trophy, a large orange life ring, will be held in the Sea Rescue office until the next Rescuers Regatta, when it will be returned to the yacht Club until the new winner is crowned.
Report submitted by St. Maarten Heineken Regatta
