February 26, 2013 Update
St.Maarten-St.Martin Classic Yacht Regatta 2013 canceled
“It is with much disappointment that we have to announce the cancellation of the 2013 St.Maarten-St.Martin Classic Yacht Regatta.
During the past weeks we have received information from several ( six up to now ) yachts that they are not able to participate in the regatta if we can not provide a regatta charter.
We are a yachtclub and regatta organization, NOT a charter broker ( although personally I am a broker but that has nothing to do with this regatta )
In the old days, people used to participate in regattas for the fun, now it seems that they want to do a regatta only when they can make money.
This is a heavy decision and I am not happy with it, but I think that it is wise that we don’t want to organize a classic regatta anymore with only a few boats and have the risk that our sponsors are not happy with the return in exposure.
In addition it will cost a lot of money and effort to organize this regatta for just a few boats.
We will of course reimburse the sponsors who have paid already money or have made caps, T-shirts etc. or booked airline tickets for journalists, hotels that made bookings etc.
Thank you all who have worked to set up this regatta and helped out, and thank you to the yachts that really committed to sail the regatta, even with no charter.
We’ll see you hopefully during the Antigua Classics.”
Jan
The St. Maarten Classic Yacht Regatta is open to classic sailboats, vintage yachts, schooners, Caribbean workboats like the Cariacou sloops, spirit of tradition and spirit of classic yachts from the Caribbean Islands, the US, Europe and other places around the world.
The regatta headquarters are located at the Classic Yacht Club in the renewed Pasanggrahan Royal Guest House and Hotel in Frontstreet Philipsburg, the main shopping street with access also on the boardwalk.
The first race day starts out of Great Bay there to the French side capital Marigot, the second one is from Marigot back to Philipsburg and the final day will see the yachts leaving again out of Great Bay towards the Island of Anguilla and return to Great Bay in the afternoon
Tall Ships will race from Marigot to Great Bay on their own Tall Ship’s day, the Saturday, in a separate course.
Several yachts have already signed up for the 2013 event and the organizers expect twenty or more yachts to participate.
The official Opening and Skippers briefing with cocktail party is on Thursday and the closing party with prize giving ceremony is on Sunday afternoon.
A party with live band will be organized on Saturday evening around the Classic Yacht Club in the Pasanggrahan and the traditional Beach Buffet will be on Saturday at lunch time again.
Who can sail?
Classic yachts, vintage yachts, schooners, spirit of tradition and spirit of classic yachts ( no modern yachts allowed )
There is a special class for Caribbean workboats ( like the traditional Cariacou boats or the small Grand Case and Anguilla local sailboats ) and a Tall Ship Class.
Registration can be done on line in the web site www.ClassicRegatta.com trough a secure credit card processing server.
ENTRY FEES:
$6.00 US per foot of the length on deck, payable with a completed entry form, before MARCH 15th 2013.
$10.00 US per foot after MARCH 15th 2013.
Yacht owners that are Members of the St.Maarten-St.Martin Classic Yacht Club will not have to pay an entree fee to participate in the regatta.
The organization provides special reduced hotel rates for visiting owners, crew and tourists.
The regatta will be sanctioned as in previous years by the St.Maarten-St.Martin Classic Yacht Cl