The Sint Maarten Yacht Club hosted the SMYC Grand Prix on November 19, featuring six Diam24 trimarans: Cry Baby, Karibuni, Merlin, Anomaly, Air-nest, and AS MDA. This regatta took place on the waters of Great Bay in Philipsburg, creating a spectacle for participants and spectators. This race was the first Diam race of the season and is part of the race schedule of the World Diam Tour Caribbean.
With wind speeds ranging between 18 to 19 knots and gusts reaching 25 knots, the sailors were challenged. The crew of all the Diam 24s had to reef their sails for the entire race. There were big waves because of the unusual wind direction which made the race even more intense.
The day consisted of six races, with two taking place before lunch and an additional four in the afternoon. After the first two races, Cry Baby took an early lead, but the tides turned after lunch when Karibuni secured first place in all four races.
In the final standings, Karibuni claimed the first-place position, followed by Cry Baby in second, and AS MDA in third. Air-nest sailed into fourth place, while Anomaly and Merlin claimed the fifth and sixth positions.
“The SMYC Grand Prix was really exciting! The tough conditions made it even more thrilling. I think everyone, including me, had a great time. A big thank you to all the volunteers who worked hard to make this event happen.” Said Wessel Tangenberg, race officer.
Spectacular pics were taken by Edward Penagos, a professional photographer, during the race, please find all the pictures on: https://smyc.com/photos/ and results can be found on: https://smyc.com/world-diam-tour-caribbean/. We hope to see all the Diam 24’s back for the Course d’Alliance on Dec 1, 2 and 3.