The North Sails Caribbean One Design Keelboat Championships is one of the most competitive one-design regattas in the Caribbean. The regatta takes place in Sint Maarten on June 18th and 19th. This year sponsor North Sails will be providing new jibs just for the regatta.

Amongst the many top sailors that are coming Robby Hirst of Tortola has to be ranked as one of the most likely to appear on a bookmakers favourite. Robby won the regatta in 2003 and will without a doubt be trying to regain the title. Robby has won many BVI Spring Regattas, Rolex regattas and has been the highest scoring Laser sailor in the Olympics from the Caribbean; his fourth place finish in last year’s regatta was atypical.

Fraito Lugo of Puerto Rico also has a strong sailing CV, having won five Rolex regattas, countless Puerto Rico International Regattas and scored high in the Pan Am games. Unfortunately in the 2004 event Lugo arrived at the last minute and did not familiarize himself with the boats and to everybody’s great surprise did not make the gold fleet. This is not likely to be the case again this year.

Chris Rosenberg of St Thomas has also won numerous Rolex regattas as well as scoring very high in the Melges24 class. He has been in the top three of this regatta twice but the win has thus far been elusive.

Olympic sailor Karl James of Antigua will be on the start line again with his regular Antiguan team and will take any opportunity he can get to break into the top three.

Sint Maartens Frits Bus has not sailed this regatta before. For this regatta he has once again teamed up with his very successful navigator Rien Korteknie and stalwart Garth Steyn. They won the Electec Regatta earlier in the year and have practiced together many times.

A team from the Dominican Republic will compete with Tony Torres at the helm. St. Croix is also fielding a team which will include Jack Bishop. A team from St Barths will have Markku Harmala at the helm. Strong teams from Guadeloupe (Claude Thellier) and Martinique (Mattheiu Moures) may put a French bias on this event.

Having sailed well in recent local regattas, the French side of St Martin will be represented by Phillippe Herve.

For two days, racing will take place in two round robin formats in the Simpson Bay lagoon. The boats used will be those of Lagoon Sailboat Rental that are identical Jeanneau 20’s. Races will be short and competitors will switch boats every race to provide the ultimate level playing field. The changing winds of the Simpson Bay lagoon, located in the lee of the St Maarten hills will provide conditions that will make it certain that only the most alert quick witted sailor has any chance of taking the title.

To welcome the sailors to Sint Maarten, a welcome party will be held at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club on Friday 17th June as will the prize giving on the Sunday afternoon the 19th June. Sailing will take place right in front of Uncle Harry’s Bar alongside the runway from where spectators will be able to effectively view the competition. Although teams will switch boats each race they will wear distinct uniforms so that spectators will easily be able to distinguish the team’s positions on the water.

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