SIMPSON BAY--The big boats may have stole the show but it was the mid-range size boats that are the most competitive.
The bright red Volvo 70 I Love Poland completed the 40th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Around the island Race in 3-hours eight-minutes 16 seconds. Childhood 1 from the Netherlands a Volvo 65 finished 3:16:48 into the race which for the big boats was 39.s nautical miles long.
The fleet was divided into three groups. The larger boats started off Cay Bay, sailed upwind toward Philipsburg, sail offshore and then turned west and started down the coast headed for marigot.
“I think it was a good race,” said Marc van Dongen the race director. “I loved the first leg. I wanted the boats to have to use tactics and decide whether to sail close to shore.”
Caribbean sailing Association (CSA) class 2 was led by Scarlet Oyster, an Oyster 48 from Great Britain. She completed the course in 4:40:04. Just over two minutes later in this gruelling 4-hour sail came Dauntless a Beneteau 47.7 at 4:42:36. Third in class was Jua Kali at 4:49:20.
“The racing was great said Robbie Ferron who was one of the founding members of the regatta 40 years ago. Racing in the 40th edition he continued, “ we didn’t do as good as the first day but I am having a lot of fun.”
Ferron is sailing Bunglebird a Nonsuch 33. He finished the Friday Race, short course 22.3 nautical miles in the Island Time Class in 3:06:14 to take second place behind Maline a Beneteau 21 which finished in 3:02:57.
“I think the real story on the water is the Volvos,” said Ferron. “We are fortunate to attract such a large group of these thoroughbred. I think it is the most in any Regatta outside the actual Around the world race.”
He went on to explain that most of the Volvos are rentals. The sailors pay to race on the boat.
“The regatta was always attracted a large fleet of charter boats,” said Ferron. He attributes the attraction to the mixture of serious racing and fun parties.
“The results are also quit interesting said Ferron “I think CSA 2 or 3 are the most competitive classes in the regatta.
There are 10 boats in CSA 3. The J 122 Liquid from Antigua took line honour Friday completing the race in 4:37:06. Touch 2 Play, flying a Canadian flag, finished with a time of 4:37:33. Spike, a J 111,finished with an elapsed time of 4:41:09.
“The only real problem we had was the wind died out in the afternoon,” said van Dongen. “I feel sorry,” said the race director. “A small number of boats did not get to finish the race. We had a five-o’clock deadline to ensure all the boats could get thru the Simpson bay Bridge.”
The 40th edition of the St. Maarten Heineken featured nearly 150 boats divided into 17 classes.
CSA Ocean racing 2 was won by Palanad. Former St. Maarten Yacht Club Commodore Ian Hope Ross won CSA Sportboat 1 with his Melges 32 Kick ‘em Jenny 2.
CSA Sportboat 2 was won by F.K.G on their Melges 24, followed by Team Island World and Wanna B. CSA 4 was won by Solstice and 2 2 Tango took top honours in Multihull 1. Myxy flying a Great Britain flag won CSA 5.
There were four classes of Bareboats sometimes called charter boats. Bareboat 1 was won by Kadans Heinefish. Ananda took Bareboat 2 while Maguy Baltics 1 won Bareboat 3. Bareboat 4 was won by Girl.
The local Leopard 45, Spellbound, won Multihull 2.
