Racing: Heineken Wraps up with a Bang

March 12, 2026

Is it a regatta with a big party or a big party with a regatta.  Either St Maarten is a wonderful way to get some great sailing in March and a staple in the Canadian Boating calendar.

Final Day 4 of the 46th addition arrived on Sunday with huge wins. Gusts over 35 knots were recorded out on the racecourse, giving sailors a true taste of the demanding conditions.

At the start line in Cole Bay, many teams reefed their mainsails in preparation for the conditions, while Cockatoo was even spotted flying a storm jib as waves built offshore. At several windward marks, boats disappeared completely behind the towering swells before reappearing as they powered downwind.

The three Canadian boats registered did well, particularly Panacea X, a Salona 45 registered in West Van that took the flag in the six-boat CSA5 Division with four bullets.  Bella J – the project J133 from Nova Scotia that puts teams of young sailors into international action, placed 7 of 12 in CSA4. In the easy-going family Island Time Division, Déjà Vu III took 8.

After racing concluded, the celebration continued at the Port de Plaisance Regatta Village, where sailors, locals, and visitors packed the venue for the final night of festivities. Prize giving honored the week’s champions on the main stage before an incredible lineup of performers kept the party going late into the night. Artists including DJ Outcast, D Kullus, Tanya Michele + Adrien, DJ Big Boss & Maestro, Nolrez, and DJ EM entertained the crowd before reggae legends Inner Circle – the “Bad Boys of Reggae” – closed out the regatta in unforgettable style.

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