Members in the spotlight

The Man Behind the Bridge: Sam Peterson

When entering Simpson Bay Lagoon, you’ve likely depended on the smooth, timely opening of the Simpson Bay Bridge. If you’ve passed through the Simpson Bay Bridge in the last two decades, chances are you’ve met, or at least waved to Sam Michael Benjamin Peterson, the man who keeps it running smoothly. Known for his quick wit, deep maritime roots, and decades of experience on the water, Sam is as much a fixture of the bridge as the steel and gears themselves.

Whether during daily passages or the bustle of the Heineken Regatta, he ensures every vessel gets through safely and on time. His support for the Sint Maarten Yacht Club and the sailing community has made him a quiet hero, lifting not just the bridge, but the spirit of Simpson Bay.

When he’s not guiding boats through the bridge, he has a lifetime of stories to share. We spoke with him about his roots, his passion for boat building, and how he became a trusted figure in Simpson Bay.

Here’s what he shared:

A Life on the Water

Sam’s maritime career started early. When asked how young he was, Sam responded with a grin, “I fell out of my mom and I was in a boat. Ever since then, I’ve never been out of one.” Raised in a family of generations of boat builders, Sam learned the craft from his father, who learned it from his father before him. Over the years, Sam has hand-built six wooden boats, four of them sailboats, using techniques influenced by traditional Northern European designs.

At the Helm of the Bridge

Sam began operating the Simpson Bay Bridge in the early 2000s, before the causeway was built. He’s not exactly sure how long it’s been (“Too long,” he jokes), but estimates around 12–13 years. Before that, he worked on the water and was brought on as operations and maintenance man when the bridge needed someone who knew the rhythms of the lagoon.

A “typical” day for Sam isn’t so typical. “It’s sunny and hot, that’s about the only thing that’s the same,” he laughs. But there is a rhythm: morning espresso at the St. Maarten Yacht Club, keeping the bridge moving, and making sure boats and their captains get where they need to go.

Regatta Days

For many, the Heineken Regatta is the busiest, most chaotic time on the bridge. For Sam, it’s the most efficient. “On a normal day, we do three mega yachts in 20 minutes. During Regatta, we do 160 in 15 minutes.” He says the energy is high, the pace is fast, and “people have places to go.”

Memorable Moments

Bridge crashes? Yes, they’ve happened. “About 20 major ones in my time here, plus a bunch of rubs,” Sam says with a grin. But the ones he remembers most are the unusual sights like the time someone reversed through the bridge in a baby-doll dress!

For the Love of the Community

Sam has supported the St. Maarten Yacht Club and its races for years, especially the youth sailing events. “That’s the most important. Grownups can pay for whatever they want. Kids can’t. So you make sure they get what they need.”

When asked what he’s most proud of, Sam doesn’t mention the boats or the bridge.

“The people I’ve touched. That’s my most precious thing.”

Reflections

Sam worries that traditional skills like wooden boatbuilding are fading, and that young locals have fewer opportunities in maritime trades. His advice? Give them a start, even if it’s small, and let them prove themselves.

For Sam, community is about connection and resilience; the kind you see after a hurricane, when neighbors help each other rebuild. And if you ask the many locals and visitors who know him, they’ll tell you Sam isn’t just part of the community, he is one of its anchors.

A Pleasure to Talk With

Interviewing Sam was as lively as watching the bridge on its busiest day. His quick wit, easy humor, and candid stories made the conversation fly by. Beneath the jokes is a man deeply proud of his craft, his community, and the people he’s helped along the way. Spending time with Sam is a reminder that the heart of St. Maarten isn’t just in its beaches and boats, but in the characters like him who keep the island alive, one bridge lift at a time. We tip our hats to Sam, whose work keeps both our bridge and community running strong.

Mike and Delphaine Smith

Active members of the Sint Maarten Yacht Club since 2007, the spotlight this month is on Mike and Delphaine Smith. Both have been contributors to the many activities that have created a growing and vibrant community of like-minded members focused on sailing in the Caribbean.

They were happily living in California when Mike suggested “let’s sell it all, buy a boat and head to the Caribbean.” He sounded like he was a bit surprised at Del’s reaction to the idea, but soon after, that is exactly what they did in 2004. They enjoyed the lifestyle of living onboard, sailing and experiencing the many islands, finding each had their own unique culture. During the time spent in St. Maarten they found the club to be a great hang out and most Friday nights you could find them there. Ultimately, they decided to make the island their home, ready to settle down again and sold their boat. They now live in Beacon Hill most of the year, and split time between Ashville, N.C and various travel destinations.  

Marty and Barry Felan

The first words Marty spoke when we met for the Spotlight interview over a really nice breakfast at the SMYC Bar and Restaurant recently, were about the St. Maarten Yacht Club. “You don’t have to be a sailor to enjoy the Yacht Club, though many have been. The Club is about community.”

As Barrie and Marty shared their story since meeting just over a decade ago in Skipjack’s, participating in the SMYC is a key part of the community they have developed as a couple here on St. Maarten. Barrie is originally from England and joined the Otis Elevator company early in his career. During his internship, he was posted to South Carolina and from there spent the next 19 years traveling the US on behalf of Otis Elevator and living in many cities there, gaining a very broad exposure to many parts of that country. He ultimately found his way to SXM and bought a boat, getting into the sailing scene.

He developed a circle of friends and was known as Barrie the Elevator Man. Enter into his world, Marty Felan, an outgoing Texan who had visited over the years, staying in her timeshare at Flamingo. She was at the stage of wanting to relocate permanently to SXM and had many questions about life on the island. As Barrie tells it, he was trying to enjoy a steak dinner at Skipjack’s Bar. and Marty was undaunted in pursuing the answers with an experienced transplant and charming guy.

In the natural course of things, Barrie encouraged her to take the leap and by 2014 she took early retirement from AT&T and moved to the island. Upon arriving she was known in social circles as “Elevator Barrie’s girlfriend.” She soon found a way to change that label and became very involved in the SMYC, joining the Social Committee and ultimately chairing that group for many years. She introduced many new activities and was responsible for expanding the raffle to an annual public event and growing the revenue contribution to the club’s youth sailing program. By that time, she had grown her own circle of friends, and certainly her own identity.

Now, Barrie teaches at the vocational school in St. Maarten, known as NIPA, or National Institute of Professional Advancement. He gets great satisfaction from helping the young local students find a solid path to employment, especially in the maritime industry. Marty recently retired from her position at Electec and is enjoying the opportunity to have no commitments.

As they look forward, they shared some ideas for the future of the SMYC. They would like to see a renewed focus on membership development. Barrie would like to see an ongoing internship position for students in either the technical or hospitality areas of

NIPA.

Member in the spotlight

This month, we are shining the spotlight on each and every one of our incredible SMYC members. We want to take a moment to express our gratitude to all of you. Thanks for your support, energy, and contributions, we’ve had a truly remarkable year. Your involvement is the foundation of everything we do at SMYC, and we are very grateful!

As we look ahead to the new year, we’re filled with excitement for the adventures, opportunities, and memories that await.

Here’s to an unforgettable year ahead, one that will be full of new experiences both on and off the water!

Thank you for your continued support. Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

Jane & Tony Parisi

This month we shine the spotlight on long time members Jane and Tony Parisi. Their volunteerism over the long membership with the club stands out during the interview for this article.

Tony has been a member of SMYC since he began coming to St. Maarten, he estimates to be about 20 – 30 years ago. He is also a member of the Riverside Yacht Club in Greenwich CT and has owned several sailing yachts over the years. His first volunteer opportunity with the SMYC was on the finish boat for the Heineken Regatta, and he did that for many years. He then organized the water taxi service for the HR, at the time when most participating boats were anchored in Simpson Bay. He loved that assignment because you had the chance to meet the sailors and chat with them over the course of the regatta. Water taxi drivers say they developed a real connection to the race. In addition to the Regattas, Tony can always be counted on when the call for volunteers goes out, no matter what the task to be done.

There are a few themes that formed the man that Tony is now. First, when he was very young, his family spent summers on the South Shore of Long Island. He and his buddies used to entertain themselves by building small boats and “sailing them around” in the protected waters of Long Island. As a young man, he spent time in the US Navy, serving aboard a destroyer. One

of his assignments involved being on the ship for a round-the- world goodwill tour. What an experience! In his professional life Tony was Design Director for General Foods, headquartered in White Plains, NY. His professional creativity carried over into his personal life. He is a prolific artist as well, and many of his paintings reflect his love of the sea and sailing. Being around water and enjoying it through sports has been an enduring theme of his life.

Jane has been a member since early in her relationship with Tony, about 8 years ago. Before that she had been coming to St. Maarten, staying with friends at the Royal Palms. This became a regular annual vacation, with the time on island growing steadily over the years. While “happy hour” at the SMYC was a daily event, she did not know much about the mission of the SMYC until she met Tony. As the relationship developed, she also began volunteering on the

water taxi team for the Heineken Regatta. Later, she was asked to assist Carol Ward with the “volunteer care” work, and the next year headed the volunteer care operation. She did that for many years, taking a break in 2024 for Tony’s health. She brings energy, organizational expertise, openness and “Southern hospitality” for this aspect of the Regatta.

Both Tony and Jane love to see the progress the club has made towards the youth sailing in the Caribbean. They love watching the small boat sailing in Simpson Bay from their terrace. As they look to the future, they hope the club will continue this effort and that in coming years we will see many of the current young sailors taking career steps into the yachting industry in St. Maarten or beyond. There are many career avenues to pursue and hopefully this experience will instill a love for the sport and industry.

They shared other wishes as well. Jane mentioned she would love to see a dedicated “clubhouse” for the young sailors, where they can continue to build relationships and find additional avenues to “give back” to the local community. Both agreed they would love to see the club focus on a membership drive, and suggested eliminating the initiation fee during the drive, to encourage new and younger members.

Thank you, Tony and Jane, for your ongoing contributions to the SMYC!

Chris Meekhof

Hello, my name is Chris Meekhof. I am 12 years old, and I started sailing in 2022. I began with fun sailing once a month, and that was the best way to become introduced to sailing, swimming, boats, sails, water and fun!! Last year I took two lessons a week. I got excited about sailing and wanted to get more experience, so that is why I wanted to race. I am currently racing in an optimist with sail number 52.

My first race was in a Zest together with Oscar Versteegden at the Heineken Regatta Next Generation Race 2024. I was a little bit nervous since I was racing against other experienced children, but it was a great experience and made me want to race more. Also, this was my favorite race that I raced so far because we ended up winning first place!

While sailing a race in a Zest, I noticed that it requires some good teamwork, I will help my teammate by telling where the wind is coming from, where the other sailors are sailing and making sure we hike in time.

The coolest part about sailing is learning how to handle different situations. When the wind is soft and the current is strong, I need to pay attention to my position in the boat and keep focus on how to put the boat in the right direction, so the wind is good in my sail. This is sometimes difficult because of the wind shifts, but I like the challenge.

My favorite part of the race is a rolling start with a lot of speed. Being focused and always having a plan B ready are skills that I believe are needed for a successful sailboat racer.

My racing role models would be my instructors Sam and Elja. My goal for future sailboat racing is to become world champion in Laser and teach children about race sailing. If you want to help to reach my goal, I am still looking for a contributor for my race sailing career at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club.

Steve Burzon

This month we shine the spotlight on member Steve Burzon, who has most recently been busy marketing the Caribbean Multihull Challenge (CMC) to the yachting community at the Cannes Yachting Festival in France. In mid-October he will go to the Annapolis Boat Show in Maryland.

Steve, along with CMC steering committee members Petro Jonker and Robbie Ferron, launched the CMC in 2019. “The concept was Robbie’s in response to the growth of multihull sailboats in the Caribbean and throughout the world. Robbie recognized that current racing course designs, especially the windward/leeward ones commonly used, did not favor multihull performance.

He believed that multihulls warranted courses to meet their unique sailing characteristics. Hence, the CMC was born. It remains the only all multihull regatta event in the Caribbean.”

The event has grown from its start of 12 entries in 2019 to 37 in 2024; and is expected to be above 40 in 2025. It now includes both traditional racing as well as a diverse cruising rally for those who do not wish to race competitively. The CMC is a successful attempt to build a second strong regatta for St. Maarten. Steve serves as the volunteer Marketing and Operations Director. “The reasons I am so passionate about working on the CMC is it is a creative challenge and fun, I get to meet interesting people from all over, and the financial result is that the SMYC Sailing School is the beneficiary of the ample margin dollars it creates.”

Steve has been a member of the SMYC since moving to the island in 2016 from the USA. He served on the club Board for a few years. He is retired and a self-described “serial entrepreneur.” His extensive background in event marketing and publishing is a strong fit for the necessary skills needed to launch and operate the CMC in all its varied aspects.

Steve Burzon ( On the Left) 

Natatia Gefferie

Hello everyone, my name is Natatia Gefferie, born in Suriname, raised in The Netherlands, and now living on this beautiful island Sint Maarten for two years. Courtesy has always been a passion of mine, making others feel comfortable and at home. Because of this passion I studied Hotel Management, Hospitality and Etiquette in Maastricht and in New York. With more than 15 year’s experience in the hospitality industry, as a manager and as a licensed trainer and teacher I started my hospitality and etiquette consultancy and training business.

As an interim manager during the maternity leave of the manager Saskia Revelman, I am honored to be a part of the wonderful and driven team of the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. The Yacht Club fits perfectly in my passion for serving others; making colleagues, members and guests feel valued and well taken care of while helping to maintain the good reputation and success of the Yacht Club. My regular working days are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08.30 A.M. till 05.00 P.M., at the office upstairs. You are welcome to visit.

May you need any assistance with gathering information concerning sailing classes, regattas or programs like Sailability or Primary School Sailing, please feel free to make this known to us.

We are here to serve you!

The torch is being passed again to a new generation of leaders at the St. Maarten Yacht Club!

Following up on the AGM meeting in April, Nancy Burzon recently met with the incoming Chairman, Delphine Even, of the newly formed Social Committee. It was a first meeting to begin the transition that will be effective in the upcoming season.

Delphine has been in SXM full time for about 10 years. She related that she met her husband, Joris, at the airport during a tropical storm Dean. They felt an immediate spark and while both were working young professionals in Europe, they soon began planning how to relocate to the same city for their work. They ended up on Brussels and were there for about 6 years before relocating to St. Maarten and raising their family here. Currently, Delphine is the manager at Martijn Trading in St. Maarten. Martijn Trading is a dedicated distribution & marketing organization of branded consumer products with locations on Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten. Joris is a civil engineer by profession, and one of two  Managing Directors of Independent Consulting Engineers (ICE).

Delphine mentioned that sailing is a major family topic of discussion and has become a passion for the children also. Competitive sports of all types are family favorites as well, and they love planning adventures.
As she looks forward to the year ahead for the Social Committee, she expects to add activities to the calendar that will be oriented towards children and families. This is a natural extension of the growth of the SMYC sailing school. There are many more children participating in sailing programs now, and that brings their parents to the club.

Also, the summer camp has become the most popular summer camp on the island. All this is perfectly in alignment with the club’s vision and makes it a logical next step to create social activities that can engage the whole family. There will also be some carry over activities, such as the raffle and silent auction fundraiser. We will also continue with the Ladies Lunches, and they will be organized by the former Social Committee.

This time we are Spotlighting our new Heineken Regatta Director, Krispijn Teunissen.
Those of you who are active in competitive running, triathlons and biking will no doubt recognize Krispijn. 
He has been involved in the organization of these events in the past several years, helping to grow the sports on the island and in the region.

He finished college in 1998 in the Netherlands, majoring in event management. Following graduation, he became involved in an outdoor event management group which created and managed various types of activities for groups of on average 100- 500 people. He also became involved in team building events and learned the value of using outdoor activities and sports as an approach to get people engaged and able to more easily open up with others. 

During these years, he met his wife, Islaya Streefkerk, who was born and raised in St. Maarten. From her, he learned much about the Caribbean and became fascinated with the potential of returning with her to St. Maarten to live.

It would take a few years before that could become a reality. During that time in the Netherlands, they started a family. They now have four children, three boys and a girl, the oldest who just graduated from high school.  

Just before the Covid pandemic, the family came to the island and Krispijn began working with Trisport, helping with event planning, sponsorships and execution. The family relocated during the pandemic, and he has been working actively since that time, with sports event planning. His wife, Islaya, opened a private practice in psychotherapy and counseling, Your Care.

Family and volunteering both play important roles in his life. When it comes to work, Krispijn appreciates an organization that feels like family, that works together towards shared goals, and does not stop until the job gets done. Volunteering to make a difference on the island is also an important value. To that end, his family is very involved with supporting the Perpetual Plastics initiative, associated with Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC).  

Former Commodore Garth Steyn has been in the news recently, awarded the prestigious Royal Decoration as Member of Orange Nassau, in recognition of his outstanding dedication to community development and maritime education.
For some background, he came to the Caribbean from South Africa with his parents in 1990. From there, he captained a 30’ boat at the age of 19 to Venezuela, Antigua and ultimately St. Maarten. He found his first job on the island working at Aquamania, where he remains involved from a business management perspective.

He co-founded the Kidz at Sea Foundation in 2012. The aim is to help reduce the shortage of Scuba Diving Masters, Boat Masters, and quality boat repair and technicians within the local labor pool. The projects and programs are geared toward teaching the students’ life skills to help them succeed both on and off the water, developing skills such as teamwork, communication, accountability, and self-reliance.

Garth Steyn

Ian began his career with DryWall Systems in 1983. The company specializes in commercial construction. A recently completed project was the renovation of the Westin resort on Dawn Beach, which is now the J. W. Marriott. When asked about what he enjoys about SXM, Ian said, “I have gotten used to it. It was the old SXM he was drawn to. You get entranced. If you had the patience, it was a good place to start a business in construction.

After Hurricane Louis in 1995, a lot of people left the island. It changed a lot but being involved in construction it gave us a lot of opportunity to shape the future and be a part of it.” He joined yacht club shortly after it was founded by Robbie Ferron and Frits Bus. “The early Heineken was sponsored by Island Water World. Budget Marine just getting starting. At the time the yacht club location was split between Chesterfields and Bobby’s Marina. All our events were there in Phillipsburg. It was different. When the club moved to current location, we operated from two containers and a tent for a few years.” As Ian was recalling the early days of the SMYC, it seemed that it was a history worth digging into it. Hmm, wonder who could take that on?

Ian is certainly no stranger to leading the club. He served for 6 years as the Commodore until about 2016. Also he has been in and out of the board for 30 years. He was motivated to stand again as he has a bit more time available now that his son has taken over day-to-day management of this company. He is also a man with a mission, but more on that later.

Ian Hope-Ross

The St. Maarten Yacht Club is blessed with many willing and able volunteers, and it is true that we could not effectively manage all the sailing events that we undertake without their help.

But go to any event we host, and you will find the friendly and smiling face of Donna Blakely.
She always goes above and beyond, always a part of the team on the ground.

Donna and her family first arrived in St. Maarten in the early 1990’s, on their family yacht,
a Newporter 40. Their journey started in Toronto, Canada. She noted that one of the key attributes of the Newporter 40 was its storage space. Traveling with 3 young students, home schooling (before internet) at a time when that meant bringing textbooks and lots of supplies, mailing lessons and so forth, added quite a challenge to a trip that is a journey of a lifetime for many sailors. Her children were 10, 11 and 16 at that time.

Their initial stay on the island lasted for 4.5 years. During that time, while living aboard, Donna managed Blue Beard Charters and was one who helped open Mailbox. So, her inclination to get involved was evident early on. Unfortunately, Hurricane Louis, in 1995, took their yacht/home and life took another turn.
 They returned to Canada to continue the educational path for their children. While life returned to “normal”, St. Maarten continued to beckon. 
They found themselves returning over the years for vacations. When she retired in 2016, Donna moved to the “friendly island”, now dividing her year into summer/fall months spent at her lake home North of Toronto, and SXM for winter/spring of the year. She became a member of the SMYC at that time and has been an active member of the SMYC Social Committee since then.

 “St. Maarten sucks you in, Donna says, it is a friendly island, and I have made such great friends here. It is so easy to get involved here, unlike many other islands.” She is definitely busy and active.
 
 One thing that brings her particular joy is the development of the Youth Sailing Program at the club. “It has really taken off in the last couple of years, and I am so happy to see the involvement of the local school children. That is so important for the island and the marine trades.” If there is anything that concerns her it is the rapid development of the island and the declining open space of beaches and mountains. “People come back for many years here because of the friendliness and the access to our resources. What will it look like in years ahead? How will the island manage traffic congestion created by the new development?”