The Heinkeken Regatta is a fixture on St. Maarten's event calendar. The famous sailing race will take over St. Maarten/St-Martin. The first regatta took place in 1980, making this year it’s 39th anniversary. With only twelve boats in the initial regatta, in some years over 250 boats participated in the annual event.
St. Maarten is proud to be host of the four-day extravaganza of world class racing in heavenly conditions. More than thirty-five countries will participate this year ranging from Olympic medalists to families that live aboard while cruising the Caribbean waters.
Now for 40 years, every March, St. Martins' waters become the ultimate Caribbean playground for sailors and 'landlubbers' alike! Being a magnet for the nautical scene year round, it's the Annual Heineken Regatta that turns the eyes of the sailing world on this little island.
The highlight of the regatta is the Big Boat Class with its amazing beauties and high-tech racers, though it's not only the race that makes the event so notorious. Keeping to its motto 'Serious Fun' the regatta includes nightly feasts in Philipsburg and Cole Bay. Supporters or crews, winners or losers, residents or visitors; after the race, everybody joins a whirlwind of music, Heineken and happiness to enjoy the spirit of friendly competition that is the Heineken Regatta. The 40th event will be held at the central and convenient location: Princess Port de Plaisance Resort, Casino and Yacht Club.
This grand sailing celebration brings sailors from Europe and North America to challenge their Caribbean brothers in a friendly, high-level competition. More than 100 yachts assemble to compete in the St. Maarten trade winds making it the largest regatta in the Caribbean.
While the sailing races occur during the day, the nights turn into fun pop-up parties around the island; culminating in a concert on the final evening that has had performers like Shaggy, Black Eyed Peas, UB40 and Akon. Of course, party goers will be sipping on ice cold Heinekens on all night long. This year, Asher Otto and her band Itchy Feet will perform at the Regatta Village.
The Heineken Regatta Village will also be at the Port de Plaisance resort. This is the ultimate destination for entertainment, food, shopping, art vendors, beer tents and live music during the five-day spectacular. The central location for all things Regatta will be highlighting ArtPark and EcoPark, giving a presence at the event for local art vendors and raising awareness about the environment.
“The goal of these parks is to provide visitors and residents of the island with an informative experience during the Regatta while at the same time providing a location for local artists to showcase their work. Whether you’re a painter, sculpter, soap maker, recycler, water cleaner, or similar we will help you get your products and message out to the many visitors and locals to our event”, said General Manager Michele Korteweg.
The village will be open Tuesday through Sunday.
Looking for a souvenir to commemorate the occasion? The Sint Maarten Yacht Club Regatta Foundation, ILTT and Heineken have produced a St. Maarten Heineken Regatta limited edition bottle. The new packaging is designed especially for the friendly island of Sint Maarten.
