A Visiting Sailor's Guide to SMSC's Racing Calendar
You don't need to live in Saint Martin to race here — but it helps to know what you're walking into before you show up wanting a spot on a startline.
SMSC's racing calendar covers two different things, and knowing which one you're aiming for changes how you should plan your visit.
Two Different Kinds of Racing on One Calendar
The Caribbean Championship Regatta stops are the higher-stakes end of the calendar — one-design racing against identical boats, with results that count toward the season standings. In addition, there are plenty of other races on the calendar throughout the season: lower-key, more regular, and a much easier place for a visiting sailor to get real racing reps.
If you're already racing competitively elsewhere, the Caribbean Championship events are where the level — and the stakes — match what you're used to.
When the Season Actually Runs
Racing runs roughly from late October to early June, with the Caribbean Championship stops from November through May. That's not a coincidence — race organizers build a calendar around reliable wind, the same trade winds that make this period the island's high season for training too.
What a Visiting Sailor Needs
Let SMSC know your experience level and your dates, and whether you're interested in the regular races or aiming for a Caribbean Championship event. That tells us whether you can join an existing boat, should start with the 4-Day Intensive to get comfortable on a multihull, or are ready for a Race Prep clinic before a championship event.
The Regatta That Puts the Island on the Map
If your visit lines up with March, you'll be sailing into the middle of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, one of the best-known regattas in the Caribbean. It is run by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club and its Diam 24 class racing counts toward the Caribbean Championship. We run a Race Prep clinic in the days before it.
Even if you're not racing, it's an excellent reason to time a trip: the level of sailing on the water and the energy on shore are hard to match anywhere else on the calendar.
Ready to Find Your Spot on a Startline?
Tell us your dates and your experience level, and we'll point you toward the right start: regular races, the Caribbean Championship, the 4-Day Intensive if you're new to multihulls, or a Race Prep clinic before your event.