SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) - The breeze was switched on and competitors were flying around the island at this weekend’s Friar’s Bay Race on April 18-19. Organized as a collaboration between SMYC and Saint Martin Voile Pour Tous (SMVT), this year’s event saw eight boats come out for two days of excellent racing. The Diam 24 fleet had five boats participating and CSA 1 had three boats; two Melges 24s and a J/105.

After a short postponement, Race Officer (RO) Andy Cross and volunteers got the action kicked off on Simpson Bay at 9:40 for the first race of the event—a beat to the cablemarker near Great Bay and back. In an easterly wind that saw gusts in the low 20s, CSA started first followed by the Diam 24s, who took off like they were shot out of a cannon. The Diams made quick work of the course, and the finish was tight with all boats coming in mere minutes apart.

Race two took competitors from Simpson Bay around the western corner of the island, past Marigot to the finish in Friar’s Bay. This time with a downwind start, CSA again got underway first followed by the Diam 24s, all under spinnakers/reachers. Once past Pointe du Canonnier and then Plum Bay, it was an upwind battle to the finish for this final race of day one. 

When all the sailors were anchored and settled in the beautiful waters of Friar’s Bay, they were met ashore by the team at SMVT who hosted an afternoon beach BBQ at Kali’s Beach Bar. Chicken and ribs were on the menu and the delicious meals were washed down with rum punch and cold beers. Overall, it was a great first day of racing! 

Day two dawned with a nearly identical easterly wind in the upper teens and low 20s. As teams prepared their boats in Friar’s Bay, the vibe was light and everyone was ready to compete. After some trouble getting the committee boat’s anchor to set and a short postponement, CSA and the Diams got off on another downwind start and headed back the way they’d come the day before, sailing fast for the finish in Simpson Bay. 

The Diam fleet continued to show how tight their racing can be as the five contenders sailed past Mullet and Maho bays and into Simpson Bay, once again finishing just minutes apart. The CSA boats followed and it was their final finish of the event. For the Diams, one more race was sailed and it was the same course as Saturday, taking them to the cablemarker near Great Bay and back. 

When the dust had settled in the Diam 24 class, it was team KIC / B.FAMILY in third place, Look Up took second place, and with two first place finishes on Sunday, AS MDA captured the top spot. 

In the CSA 1 class, the Melges 24 Budget Marine finished in third place, the J/105 More Zessin’ grabbed second place, and the Melges 24 Caraibes Diesel was in first place with a clean sweep in all three races. Well sailed, everyone! 

Said RO Andy Cross of the event, “What a fun weekend to be a racing sailor in Saint Martin/Sint Maarten! It was impressive to see everyone tackle the courses and conditions. And a big thanks to SMVT for a great party on the beach in Friar’s Bay.”

Next up on the calendar for the CSA and Diam 24 classes is another distance race, this time to Karibuni on Pinel Island on May 9. For full results visit smyc.com/friars-bay-race

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Ministry of VROMI wishes to inform the public that ministry teams are actively working across the country today to clear debris. 

“Following the recent heavy rainfall, crews are carrying out clean-up of the road network to ensure safe and accessible roadways. 

“Works are being conducted along the main road network, covering areas from Point Blanche, Philipsburg, Dutch Quarter, St. Peters. 

“Motorists are advised to expect minor delays in traffic, exercise caution, and adhere to all traffic signage in work zones. 

“We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we continue to restore road network safety.”

SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) - Twenty-four boats took to the waters of Simpson Bay Lagoon on Saturday, April 11, for the Bus Dinghy Regatta, which was the final installment of Sint Maarten Yacht Club’s annual Dinghy Season Championship. 

With the race course set south of the causeway bridge, competitors were in for a challenge in a 10 to 15 knot easterly breeze that was both shifty in direction and velocity. Sponsored by Grant Thornton, the ILCA, Optimist, Optimist Green, and RS Zest fleets were able to get in four races and the competition was tight throughout the morning.  

As is typical, the priority for racers was to get a solid start and then find clear air on the first upwind leg. Also, it was anyone’s guess as to how the wind would shift—sometimes changing as much as 30 degrees—and if you caught it right, you were going to make some big gains. Catch it wrong, though, and it was a fight to finish. Along with the shifts in direction, sailors had to navigate either big gusts coming down the course or lulls that seemed to put the brakes on. Overall, the conditions made for a fun morning of racing. 

In the hotly contested ILCA Fleet, Oskar Jarrett Versteegden took third place, Clement Le Normand grabbed second place, and taking the overall win was Massimo Lapierre.

The younger sailors in the Optimist Green Fleet delivered their own share of excitement. Magnus Cross came in third place, Ryan Etwaroo held on for second, and J'Amari de Groote took home the top prize in first place.   

In the Optimist Fleet, Axel Le Calvez came in third place, Porter Cross took second place, and Adam Gumbs stood atop the podium in first place. 

Three RS Zests came out for the regatta and it was Adrien and Stefan in third place, Harrison and Hunter Radican in second place, and Achile Le Normand taking first place.  

“Wow, that was a really fun morning on the water. It was great to see everyone competing at such a high level and I’m happy that we were able to get four races finished before noon,” said SMYC Race Officer and sailing coach Andy Cross. 

The 2026 Bus Dinghy Regatta was a success, and we look forward to more events in the future. Next up on the schedule is the Sint Maarten National Dinghy Championship on May 2-3. For more information and full results visit: https://smyc.com/dinghy-season-championship/

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) acknowledges that the current rain will continue to expose vulnerabilities in the island's road infrastructure, resulting in the formation of potholes and deteriorating road surfaces across various areas.

While efforts to improve road infrastructure remain a priority, repair works are weather-dependent and will commence as soon as conditions permit. The Ministry is actively working toward a more comprehensive, long-term road management plan to address these challenges in a sustainable manner.

The Ministry respectfully asks for the patience and cooperation of all road users during this period and assures the public that restoring safe and reliable road conditions remains a top priority.