January 13, 2026 – Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten — It was a sunny day on Simpson Bay for Sint Maarten Yacht Club’s (SMYC) Keelboat Race Day 2 on Sunday, January 11. Part of the Keelboat Season Championship sponsored by Grant Thornton, boats in three fleets — CSA, Diam 24, and Sun Fast 20 — competed against one another and it came down to the last race to decide the winners.
Race Officer Paul Henriquez got the first start of the day off promptly at 9:36 am, and the battle was on. Sailing a windward-leeward, up-down-up-down-finish course, the breeze was lighter than is typical this time of year, but there was enough to get everyone around. The easterly wind shifted in both velocity and direction all morning, which put a premium on boat speed and made decision-making a top priority.
In total, four races were completed and it came down to the final contest to determine the winner in the Diam 24 and CSA classes. In the Diam 24s, Buzz Race Team took third place with 8 points, Anomaly came in second with 4 points, and Merlin captured first with 4 points — winning the tiebreak by getting a first in the final race.
Similarly, in the CSA Class, the J/105 More Zessin’ took fourth place with 12 points, Melges 24 Budget Marine grabbed third with 9 points, Melges 24 Caribes Diesel got second with 4 points, and Team Island Water World stood atop the podium with 4 points — also winning the tiebreak with a first in the final race.
In the Sun Fast 20 Class, FKG came in second place, and Green Mamba took first place.
What a great day it was to be on the waters of Simpson Bay for some sailboat racing!
Next up on the Keelboat Championship Series calendar is the Heineken Regatta Warm Up (Race Day 3) on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
The Sint Maarten Yacht Club would like to thank Grant Thornton for sponsoring this exciting keelboat season.
For results visit www.smyc.com.
