The second weekend of December brought an unforgettable sailing spectacle to the waters of Sint Maarten, St. Barth, and Anguilla, as the Sint Maarten Yacht Club and co-host Saint Martin Voile Pour Tous welcomed sailors to the 21st edition of the highly anticipated Course de l’Alliance, proudly sponsored by FKG.
The event kicked off on Thursday, December 5, with registration and a skipper’s briefing at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. Participating teams received shirts and a goodie bag. Race Officer Elja van der Horst led the skipper’s briefing, ensuring everyone was prepared for the exciting days ahead.
This year, 21 boats competed across four fleets: CSA 1, CSA 2, CSA Multihull, and the Diam fleet.
The first race took place on Friday, December 6, with boats starting at 11:00 a.m. from Simpson Bay and heading toward St. Barth. Ideal sailing conditions created a spectacular race, with the Diam fleet completing the course in just two hours. The Saint Barth Yacht Club welcomed participants with a happy hour, a delicious paella dinner, and the day’s prize-giving ceremony led by Elja van der Horst.
On Saturday, competitors embarked on a challenging journey from St. Barth to Anguilla. The race committee started the downwind race early, at 9:00 a.m., ensuring all fleets had ample time for the longer sail. The finish times of the teams varied significantly, with some finishing after five hours of sailing. The Anguilla Yacht Club greeted the sailors at the finish line, followed by a dinner and prize-giving ceremony at ROY’s.
The final leg on Sunday brought added excitement, especially for the Diam fleet, where the outcome of the last race would determine the overall winner. The Anguilla Yacht Club handled the start, allowing the committee boat to prepare the finish line in Simpson Bay.
After the final finish, sailors gathered at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club for the closing ceremony and prize-giving at 4:00 p.m. FKG provided trophies for the first-place winners in all fleets, while second and third places received fine bottles of wine.
In the CSA 1 Class, competition was fierce among eight boats. Maelia secured first place, followed by Dauntless in second and More Zessin’ in third.
The CSA 2 Class featured four Melges boats with closely matched performances. Budget Marine Rodeo finished fourth, Team IWW secured third, and Caraibes Diesel claimed second. The overall winner was the event sponsor, FKG.
In the CSA Multihull Class, two boats competed against each other, with Seaduction triumphing over Oceans Tribute.
The Diam Fleet showcased seven boats in this thrilling category. Karibuni placed third, while Cry Baby and Ty Male tied on points. Ty Male ultimately claimed first place after a thrilling final race.
The Course de l’Alliance was a resounding success thanks to the dedication of many. Special thanks were extended to Saint-Martin Voile Pour Tous, FKG, the Anguilla Yacht Club, and the St. Barth Yacht Club for their contributions to this cherished regatta. Also, a big shout out to AXA Yacht Services Ltd for helping the whole fleet with Anguilla clearance.
As sailors head home with unforgettable memories, the organizers expressed their appreciation to everyone who made this event possible, especially all competitors. We hope to see everyone back for next year’s edition.