The Sint Maarten Yacht Club is gearing up to host the 19th Annual St. Maarten Optimist Championship from November 28 to December 1, 2024, sponsored for the second year in a row by Budget Marine. The event will bring together around 45 young sailors from across the Caribbean. Confirmed participants include representatives from Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Guadeloupe, St. Barth, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Martin, and Sint Maarten.
“We’re thrilled to see even more participation from other Caribbean islands this year!” said Dolein van de Loo, Event Organizer at SMYC. “It’s wonderful to see the effort teams make to join us for this event.” She continues.
This year’s regatta introduces a new format with an extra day of racing! Previously held on Saturday and Sunday, the competition now starts on Friday, offering even more action. Additionally, a practice race will be held on Thursday afternoon, right after registration and before the official welcome ceremony.
Another update is the addition of a Green Fleet, replacing last year’s SailQube fleet. Designed for newcomers, the Green Fleet provides a simplified course, easier rules, and shorter time on the water to ensure young sailors enjoy their first big regatta without too much pressure.
The other two Optimist fleets (Optimist and Benjamin fleet) will sail the same course and start line but with one key difference: the Benjamin Fleet is exclusively for sailors born in 2013 or later, giving younger participants their own ranking and a chance to shine.
From last year’s winners, Ruben van Hest (Antigua Yacht Club, Green Fleet) and Thomas Magras (Saint Barth Yacht Club, Optimist Fleet), Thomas Magras will return this year to defend his title. Will he succeed, or will new Optimist champions emerge?
On Thursday, November 28, teams can register and pick up their goody bags and shirts, sponsored by Budget Marine, at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club from 9 AM to 2 PM. At 3 PM, there will be a practice race, followed by a welcome ceremony during the 5 PM bridge opening. During the ceremony, teams will pass through the bridge with their country flags and be introduced to the audience. The SMYC bar and restaurant dock will be the ideal spot to watch this event. The ceremony will be followed by a buffet, provided by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club Bar and Restaurant, on the SMYC dock.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be the official race days, with two full days of racing and a half-day on Sunday. All 3 sailing days the sailors will depart the lagoon during the 9 AM special bridge opening, a great spectacle to watch from the SMYC Bar and Restaurant deck. The event concludes with a prizegiving ceremony on Sunday afternoon.
“Team SXM will be proudly represented by ten sailors from the Sint Maarten Yacht Club Racing Team,” said Sam Peeks, Racing Coach at SMYC. “They’ve been training hard to compete at their best, each at their own level. We are really looking forward to a fun and competitive weekend!” he continued.
This year’s championship will be led by Mathieu Maudet, the Race Officer. He will travel from France to oversee the event. Many of the competitors speak French, so having a Race Officer who speaks both French and English will make communication easier.
Organized in collaboration with SIMSAF (Sint Maarten Sailing Federation), the championship will also crown the National Dinghy Champion in the Optimist Class. This prize can only be won by sailors from Sint Maarten.
Would you like more information about the St Maarten Budget Marine Optimist Championship? Contact dolein@smyc.com or visit www.smyc.com/optimist-championship.