The Sint Maarten Yacht Club hosted this year’s SMYC Grand Prix on November 10th. The event featured five Diam24 trimarans: AIR NEST, Buzz Race Team The Mule, Cry Baby, Karibuni, and Look Up. The regatta took place in the waters of Great Bay, offering participants and spectators a thrilling sailing experience.
Photo credit: Manu
Four races were completed throughout the day. The first two races were held in Great Bay, where the race committee had to adjust the course several times due to shifting winds. The last two races moved outside Great Bay to find stronger winds.
A highlight of the day was the exciting fleet competition, where boats raced closely, keeping everyone on edge until the finish. A unique aspect of these races was that the boat leading at the start could not hold that first position until the end, making the races unpredictable and exciting. “The wind was not strong today, but it was a beautiful race to spectate! The boats were evenly matched, and it was exciting until the end to see which boat would finish first.” said Elja van der Horst, who was the Race Officer this day.
Photo credit: Manu
The first race started around 11 AM, with AIR NEST finishing first. The second race saw such low wind that the course had to be shortened. Despite trailing for most of the race, Karibuni made a last-minute comeback to claim victory in the second race. In the third race, Buzz Race Team The Mule finished first, while Karibuni won the fourth and final race again.
After four races, Karibuni ended in first place, AIR NEST in second, and Buzz Race Team The Mule in third. The top three were followed by Cry Baby, in fourth and Look Up in fifth place. Karibuni was a special winner this time, featuring a unique crew for the day, including two young sailors, Massimo Lapierre and Axel vanden Eynde, both sailors in the SMYC Sailing School Program and SMYC Racing Team, who contributed to Karibuni’s strong performance.
Photo credit: Manu
Overall, the combination of shifting winds, adaptable courses, and changing race leaders made for an enjoyable and memorable day on the water. Results and pictures can be found on the SMYC website.
Special thanks go out to Ben, who worked around the clock to get the Diam24 safety boat ready in time. Thank you to Manu for making pictures during the races and thank you to all volunteers who made the event possible.
With the first race complete, attention now turns to the upcoming training and racing schedule, including the second Keelboat Race Day on November 24 and the Course de L’ Alliance from December 5 to December 8. The first official race will be the Caribbean Multihull Challenge from January 30 to February 2.