Sint Maarten Yacht Club Hosts Second Edition of Sint Maarten National Dinghy Championship Sponsored by Island Water World.
This weekend, June 15 and 16, the Sint Maarten Yacht Club will host the second edition of the Sint Maarten National Dinghy Championship, sponsored by Island Water World. The event is organized on behalf of the Sint Maarten Sailing Federation. In the past, this event was part of the Dinghy Season Championship. However, starting in 2023, it has become a standalone Dinghy Championship.
Registration for the event will take place on Friday, June 14, from 4 PM to 6 PM at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. Competitors will receive a shirt and a goodie bag during registration. Saturday, June 15, will feature a full day of racing, while Sunday will see competitors racing in the morning. Zee Best will provide breakfast and lunch, and Domino’s will ensure there are snacks available on Saturday afternoon.
Sailors will compete across five classes: RS Zest, RS Quest, ILCA, Sun Fast 20, and Optimist, with trophies awarded to the top three competitors in each class. The Optimist fleet will be further divided into Optimist and Optimist Green classes, each with its own set of trophies. Additionally, the prestigious title of ‘Sint Maarten Dinghy Champi on’ will be awarded to winners in the RS Quest, RS Zest, Sun Fast 20, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, and ILCA 7 classes. This title can only be won by Sint Maarten residents. The title for the Optimist class will be decided at the Sint Maarten Optimist Championship hosted by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club in November 2024.
Island Water World is thrilled to sponsor the National Dinghy Championship 2024: “Island Water World is proud to be able to support the Sint Maarten Yacht Club and this important event for the local sailing community,” said Gaby Eman, Managing Director of Island Water World. “The youth sailing programs of the Sint Maarten Yacht Club are essential for fostering the next generation of sailors, instilling vital skills such as teamwork, leadership, and resilience. Supporting these programs not only helps to preserve the rich tradition of sailing but also promotes healthy, active lifestyles among young people.”
In 2023, Sam Peeks, Rio Stomp, and Alex Speetjens were awarded the National Dinghy Champion titles in the Laser 4.7, Radial, and Standard classes, respectively. This year, with Sam Peeks not competing, a new champion will be crowned. It remains to be seen if Rio Stomp and Alex Speetjens can defend their titles.
Last year, Lucca Magnan, along with Joris van den Eynde and his daughter Louisa, participated in the RS Quest class. Hopefully, there will be more RS Quest sign-ups so the Race Committee can
start this class this weekend. Meanwhile, the Sun Fast 20 class saw Jolyon Ferron and his team win the National Champion title last year, but with Jolyon Ferron not competing this year, the
title is up for grabs.
Although the National Dinghy Champion in the Optimist class will not be decided this weekend, many young sailors have signed up. The race committee looks forward to seeing competitive
racing in the Optimist class. “The racing season is almost coming to an end, and this will be the last dinghy race of the season. Let’s make it one to remember!” said Sam Peeks, racing coach and sailing instructor at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. “I am looking forward to this weekend. The kids have one more chance this season to show their great progress. They can sail to become National Champion! What better way is there to close off this sailing season?” he continued.
Thanks in advance to all the volunteers, Zee Best, Domino’s, and of course, Island Water World, for making this a wonderful event. Join us for a weekend of sailing
you can still sign up on the SMYC website!
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