"The Heineken Regatta brings more business and tourists to the island than any other event," Sint Maarten Yacht Club Commodore Jerry Blakeslee said. A recap of the 2000 regatta will have one scrambling to make reservations for next year's competition, March 2-4, 2001.

Even those who weren't much into sailing were hooked! Locals and sailors from around the globe enjoyed food, beverage, music and good company as they prepared for the events that kicked off the next day.

Veteran marine journalist, Capt. Fatty Goodlander said in this year's program, "Don't miss this party, as it sets the stylistic tone for all the future 'jump-ups' of the regatta."

Most of the regatta's participants are from Holland and the United States, but the event also has entrants from France, Canada, Antigua, Germany, Poland, Spain and Switzerland among others," said Mirian Leffers, co-director of the Regatta, in an interview 10 days before the event. At final count, 24 countries were represented in 2000.

The classes of boats that participate are grouped in many ways. Big Boats, longer than 60 feet like the old classic clipper ships, was a special group this year, providing an especially beautiful backdrop for competitors in other classes as the ships sailed around the island.

Cruising boats also have a chance to participate with Open, Beach Cat, and Multihull Cruiser as some of the classes. Bare boats from different charter companies also compete in the three-day competition.

But the racing class is where all the famous names of racing can be found. These are where the competitors who come year after year take away the bragging rites.

The Friday night party on Marigot's waterfront features world-famous French St. Martin food. Capt. Goodlander noted that this is where you hear all of the "couldda, wouldda, shouldda" stories from the first-day racing events.

Founded by Robbie Ferron in 1981, the Heineken Regatta has become one of the top three regattas held in the Caribbean each year. The others are the Antigua Sailing Week, which had 256 entrants in 1999, and the British Virgin Islands Regatta that boasted 170 last year as well. For all practical purposes, the Heineken Regatta with its 250 entrants from 1999 made it the second largest and right on the rudder of the Antigua event.

Planning for the competition is a full time job for Co-Director Mirian Leffers and Director Frank Hilgevoord. One month after the completion of this year's event, scheduling and printing for the 2001 race begins. Water taxis have to be organized to pick up all racing participants; after-hours parties and beverage orders must be done and publicity has to be organized and distributed for the next year.

"Last year we had 250 boats and there are 10 people to a boat, so we have 2,500 participants to manage. In addition, there is the support for the crews and all the people coming to the island," explained Ms. Leffers. Anyone who is interested in participating on a small scale can travel from bar to bar looking for crews that need volunteers as extra weight on the big boats as well. All of the planning comes together the few days before the regatta.

Saturday, March 4 was the biggest day for racing of the event. All 17 classes of big and small catamarans, race boats, big boats and cruisers competed on six different courses. The courses ranged from the big boat class of 22.5 nautical miles to 10.3 nm for the Multihull cruise class.

The evening party took place at the Greenhouse on Saturday night. Locals, regatta participants and happy tourists all enjoyed dancing, music, food and drink while raving about the events of the dramatic day. Scores started to add up as the final day of the regatta approached. Soon the real competitors would be separated from the ones that just came for the fun.

"The Heineken Regatta is a banner event for the marine industry as a whole. Twenty years ago, St. Maarten was quiet, this spiced it up!" said founder Robbie Ferron, the general manager of Budget Marine. He is especially fond of the third and final day of the regatta, because this is the day the race circles the island.

"It is just perfect," he said.

The final day finished with an award ceremony at Indiana and Kim Sha Beach in Simpson Bay. As the final few participants protested some of the final tallies, the rest of the competitors and friends enjoyed themselves after three hard days of racing.

For detailed final results, please see the official website: www.heinekenregatta.com/.