SIMPSON BAY--The Sint Maarten Yacht Club will host the Grant Thornton Multiclass Regatta January 18 to 19.
This two-day event is open to sailors in six classes: Optimist, Optimist Green, RS Zest, ILCA, RS Quest, and Sunfast 20.
Alongside local sailors from the Sint Maarten Yacht Club, participants from the Saint Barth Yacht Club and Saint Martin Voile pour Tous have already signed up.
Now in its sixth year with Grant Thornton as the title sponsor, the regatta has become a tradition for sailors of all ages and skill levels. Registration is open and runs through Friday, January 17, during office hours at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club.
Participants can collect their goodie bags during this period, including a regatta shirt. Racing begins each day with a 9:30 AM start in Simpson Bay.
Saturday will feature a full day of competition, while Sunday will include morning races followed by a prize-giving ceremony for the top three finishers in each fleet at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club.
Last year’s Optimist champion, Lourenço Rolo Couto Jorge, is returning to defend his title. The Optimist class continues to shine as the most popular category in this regatta, with 21 participants already registered across the Green Optimist and Optimist fleets.
The Sunfast fleet had five boats racing in 2024, and there’s hope for a similar turnout this year. The ILCA class will crown a new champion since Frits Bus, last year’s winner, isn’t competing. After taking a break last year, the RS Zest and RS Quest fleets are expected to return for this year’s edition. The green fleet is new to this regatta, where young sailors will compete.
“We are excited to welcome as many participants as possible to this year’s Multiclass Regatta. It is always a joy to see sailors of different ages and skill levels come together to race,” said Elja van der Horst, Race Office for this weekend’s Grant Thornton Multiclass Regatta. “I am looking forward to an exciting weekend of competition on the water!”
