SIMPSON BAY--Team Island Water World took first place in all three races as the St. Maraten Yatch Club raised the sails on the first Keelboat race of the season that marks the start of the 2023-2024 Grant Thornton Keelboat Championship.
“Only three Melges 24 managed to come out and race on a day that proved to be ideal to shake of the cobwebs and get the motions and new crew members up to par,” said skipper of Island Water World Frits Bus. Budget Marine finished second and the French side entry Caribdiesel was third. Light winds and very shifty conditions made it a difficult day of racing with patches of no wind and then some gust coming in from different directions.
.Team Island Water World , who managed to go out the day before to practice wher able to make the best of it and won all 3 races in front of Budget Marine followed by the french side entry of Caribdiesel with kids on board from the French side YC. The St. Maarten Yacht Club will host the 20th edition of La Course de Alliance, scheduled for December 1 to 3. The course takes the fleet to St. Barths, Anguilla, and back to St. Maarten. The next Grant Thornton Keelboat Championship race is set for January 7.
