This weekend, June 15 and 16, the Sint Maarten Yacht Club will host the second edition of the Sint Maarten National Dinghy Championship, sponsored by Island Water World. The event is organized on behalf of the Sint Maarten Sailing Federation. In the past, this event was part of the Dinghy Season Championship. However, starting in 2023, it has become a standalone Dinghy Championship.
Registration for the event will take place on Friday, June 14, from 4 PM to 6 PM at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. Competitors will receive a shirt and a goodie bag during registration. Saturday, June 15, will feature a full day of racing, while Sunday will see competitors racing in the morning. Zee Best will provide breakfast and lunch, and Domino’s will ensure there are snacks available on Saturday afternoon.
Sailors will compete across five classes: RS Zest, RS Quest, ILCA, Sun Fast 20, and Optimist, with trophies awarded to the top three competitors in each class. The Optimist fleet will be further divided into Optimist and Optimist Green classes, each with its own set of trophies. Additionally, the prestigious title of ‘Sint Maarten Dinghy Champion’ will be awarded to winners in the RS Quest, RS Zest, Sun Fast 20, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, and ILCA 7 classes. This title can only be won by Sint Maarten residents. The title for the Optimist class will be decided at the Sint Maarten Optimist Championship hosted by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club in November 2024.
Island Water World is thrilled to sponsor the National Dinghy Championship 2024: “Island Water World is proud to be able to support the Sint Maarten Yacht Club and this important event for the local sailing community,” said Gaby Eman, Managing Director of Island Water World. “The youth sailing programs of the Sint Maarten Yacht Club are essential for fostering the next generation of sailors, instilling vital skills such as teamwork, leadership, and resilience. Supporting these programs not only helps to preserve the rich tradition of sailing but also promotes healthy, active lifestyles among young people.”
In 2023, Sam Peeks, Rio Stomp, and Alex Speetjens were awarded the National Dinghy Champion titles in the Laser 4.7, Radial, and Standard classes, respectively. This year, with Sam Peeks not competing, a new champion will be crowned. It remains to be seen if Rio Stomp and Alex Speetjens can defend their titles.
Last year, Lucca Magnan, along with Joris van den Eynde and his daughter Louisa, participated in the RS Quest class. Hopefully, there will be more RS Quest sign-ups so the Race Committee can start this class this weekend. Meanwhile, the Sun Fast 20 class saw Jolyon Ferron and his team win the National Champion title last year, but with Jolyon Ferron not competing this year, the title is up for grabs.