Together with fleet representative Pierre Altier the Sint Maarten Yacht Club put together a Training Package and a Racing Package for the fleet, that now is a fleet of 9 Diam 24 boats on island. 6 of the boats are privately owned and 3 boats are available for charter. 2 out of 3 boats are already confirmed to be booked for the full season, so lots of spectacular multihull action on the starting line will be guaranteed.
The training package exist of 5 Keelboat Regatta’s, part of SMYC’s Keelboat Season Championship, as well as the annual Course de l’Alliance. A 3 day regatta from St. Maarten to Saint Barths, to Anguilla and back to St. Maarten. 7 Diam 24 teams are expected to participate in this offshore regatta.
But the real excitement comes in looking at the Racing Calendar; Starting off with the SMYC Diam 24 Grand Prix sailed in Great Bay on November 19, 2023, where the boats will be sailing an exciting racing course, known by a reaching start, in stead of an upwind start. A reaching start suits these boats very well, as this point of sail will make them fly over the startline with high speed as where a trimaran is hard to get up to speed in an upwind start. This regatta will be the first one of the season and this is where we will get to know who will be the team to watch. Everyone is welcome on November 19, to watch the opening event from the Walter Plantz square starting at 10 AM. The price giving will happen on the Walter plants pier at 3.30 pm.
Part of the Racing calendar as well; the exciting 4 day Caribbean Multihull Challenge in February, the always well attended 4 day St. Maarten Heineken Regatta in March, the 2 day SMYC – Friars Bay Regatta in April and the season closure; the Karibuni Restaurant Grand Prix in May 2024.
SMYC Manager Saskia Revelman said; “We are excited to present the training and the racing calendar for the Diam 24 fleet. Together with Pierre Altier we are looking into logistics, registration, we are organizing racing documents and looking into safety of the fleet and the sailors. The fleet grew a lot in the last year and they are a great addition to the one design racing fleets we already have on the island. Besides the Diam 24 we have a fleet of 5 Melges 24’s that race competitively and a fleet of 6 Jeannau Sun Fast 20’s that is back up running since summer 2023.
On November 3rd all Diam 24 owners and confirmed charters came together at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club for the ‘Start of the Season Get Together’ to discuss the calendar and the specifics about the fleet for this season.
Pierre Altier, fleet representivie of the Diam 24 on Sint Maarten quoted the following:
“It is with great pleasure to have the World Diam Tour Caribbean hosted by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. The many years of excellent racing organisation will propulse this event to the next level and will anchor the Diam 24 class into SXM sailing history. In the last 2 years, it’s been proven that the Diam 24, as a one design racing multihull, is a perfect fit for the waters of SXM and surrounding islands.
The fleet is working together with the SMYC to develop the class and if you wish to elaborate any company race team project or a school project to join us on the water, I will be happy to help and follow your company progress. The World Diam Tour is a great sports adventure, a perfect choice for team building, company exposure and a very interesting way to compete into a challenge that will lead a team towards success”.
More information about the World Diam Tour can be found on https://smyc.com/world-diam-tour-caribbean/ or contact dolein@smyc.com for more information.