By Robbie Ferron
The Aruba Regatta, which celebrated its 16th year in July, continues to bring together the island’s sailing community and celebrate Aruba’s strong maritime heritage with an event especially important for local sailors.
The Sunfish class remains the regatta’s most popular fleet, having been well established in Aruba and neighboring Curaçao for many years. These boats are ideally suited to the island’s consistently strong trade winds, which are generally stronger than those found elsewhere in the Caribbean. The Optimist fleet also continues to grow, while the traditional miniature boat class remains a unique feature of the event.
Aruba is also the birthplace of Sarah-Quita Offringa, one of the world’s most accomplished windsurfers. Having recently secured her 29th World Championship title, she has achieved a level of success unmatched by any other Caribbean sailor in a single discipline.
