Sint Maarten – Sails are full and spirits are high going into the second month of Sint Maarten Yacht Club’s (SMYC) 2025-2026 sailing season. Starting in early September, we welcomed back our Youth Sailing, Primary School, and Sailability programs. Then, on October 4, the club hosted a successful Open House event, encouraging the community to come by and give sailing a try and to find out what the club has to offer.
Kicking off on September 1, SMYC’s Youth Sailing Program began with a lot of returning students from previous years and some new faces as well. The lessons are Monday–Friday after school from 3:30-6pm, and on Saturday mornings from 9-11:30am. The goal of the Youth Sailing Program is to provide our young sailors with the opportunity to learn and enjoy sailing and racing. Sailing nurtures and builds confidence, team skills, self-reliance, physical strength, critical thinking, and a love for the environment.
The Primary School Program began in mid-September, where 12 children per school were selected from grade six in public schools on St. Maarten. The program is put together by SMYC and is sponsored by the Gustavia Yacht Club. The students learn to swim and sail, creating confidence in and on the water. The program has been very successful at teaching kids who would otherwise not learn how to sail to be enthused about taking charge of their own boat, with the majority of students wanting to continue beyond the school year.
Also in September, we were especially excited to welcome back our Sailability students on Tuesday and Friday mornings. This unique class provides students who are differently abled with a chance to get out on the water and experience what makes sailing so special. SMYC uses a purpose-built sailboat, the RS Venture Connect, to run these classes and we’re pleased to see the smiles on the students’ faces when the wind fills the sails. The program is proudly sponsored by the Gustavia Yacht Club.
Rounding out the first month of activity at SMYC, we hosted our annual Open House on Saturday, October 4 for the community to come together and find out what the club has to offer. Participants were right on time at 10am and the first group of sailors was out enjoying free sailing around Simpson Bay Lagoon on our RS Quests. Along with free sailing, we had an inflatable splash castle on the dock that was a hit with the kids, along with ice cream and bracelet making. For adults, cold beverages were provided to kids and adults to help beat the heat.
It has been a busy start to the season here at SMYC and we’re excited for upcoming events including the Soons Regatta on October 18; Sunday Fun Days on October 19 and 26; and Adult Sailing Classes on October 25 and 26. Find out more by visiting smyc.com.
About the Sint Maarten Yacht Club:
SMYC was established in 1980 with the goal to promote sailing on the island of Sint Maarten. It organizes multiple sailing events throughout the year, with the Sint Maarten Heineken Regatta as its crown jewel. A youth sailing program stimulates local youngsters to become part of the sailing community, teaching them life skills like team work, perseverance and confidence. Always looking to further develop sailing on St. Maarten, the club is active in promoting the sport, as well as our beautiful island destination.