By Mark Stevens
“Over the past few years, the growth of multihulls in sailing fleets here in the Caribbean has been exponential,” says yachting luminary Robbie Ferron during a late January 2025 dockside briefing at Sint Maarten Yacht Club.
He’s explaining the rationale for one of the region’s newest yachting celebrations, kicking off the Caribbean Multihull Challenge, a mini-regatta with a split personality. For the next four days SMYC hosts a rally of multihulls replete with evening social events along with a full slate of serious races.
Doing a four-day “ride-along” on the rally committee boat, occasionally serving as crew, I’ve been part of the fun from beginning to end, witnessing the enthusiasm of participants and the behind-the-scenes efforts that characterize most successful events.
Everything I’m seeing on the ground (and in the water) attests to the vision of co-founders Robbie Ferron, Stephen Burzon and Petro Jonker, who have created a stellar sailing event, a proactive response to an evolving Caribbean yachting environment.
And everything I’m seeing on the ground (and on the water) further convinces me that volunteers have made the Multihull Challenge happen.
According to rally coordinator and marketing assistant Heather Court, 20 or more volunteers form an integral part of the team along with SMYC staffers who, according to Court, “have gone above and beyond right from the beginning.”
Some volunteers have signed up for parts of the four-day extravaganza; others have been hands-on for the whole thing. Many have been working hard since long before opening day’s starting horn.
For the time I’m aboard the rally committee boat, volunteers manage the time trials each day, faithfully recording boat stats, start and finish times, communicating with the fleet.
Hans Huele, skipper of the rally committee boat, a 46-foot powercat provided by The Moorings, a CMC partner, is just one more volunteer, forgoing the paella beach party at St. Barts to guard the boat while the rest of us party, steering us through imposing seas on the passage from Anse Marcel on St. Martin down to St. Barts.
Huele first came to Sint Maarten from the Netherlands 20 years ago and couldn’t bring himself to leave. He’s been involved with the Multihull Challenge for the past two or three years and skippered a variety of committee boats for 10 different Heineken Regatta events.
His reasons for volunteering are partly pragmatic.
“I love being on a boat,” he says. “But Stephen’s enthusiasm also inspires me. He’s got such a great vision to grow this event.”
Huele pauses. “And it’s almost impossible to say ‘no’ to him.”
Other volunteers’ reasons for participating are as varied as the roles they play. Two women welcome registrants at the yacht club, handing out event shirts to participants. Two other women distribute goodie bags full of complimentary “bling.” Other volunteers do the paperwork and organize the payments.
“Volunteering at something like this is a chance to immerse myself in the whole island experience,” says former Chicago resident Terri Dawson, who hands out the shirts along with Kimberley Gunn of Ottawa, Canada.
Dawson herself, now a permanent Sint Maarten resident, has filled various roles over the years. She’s quick to share some advice. “If you’re just visiting for the winter or making this your new home,” says Dawson, “getting involved is a fabulous way to become part of the local community.”
Fellow desk jockey Gunn, who winters here, nods enthusiastically. This is her first year of working with the Multihull Challenge.
“I find this so rewarding,” she says, “I’m also doing the Heineken Regatta this year.”
Marty Felan, originally from Texas, and Donna Blakely, who also spends half the year here to escape the Canadian winter, staff the adjacent table.
Along with this event they too volunteer for the annual Heineken Regatta. Blakely has volunteered for the Challenge since it began in 2019.
“This is a natural for me,” says Felan. “I love meeting people — and now with the Challenge it feels like I’m meeting old friends again.”
Today Felan and Blakely are handing out the gift bags. “I helped pack those bags yesterday,” says Felan.
Before the first race day I watch a couple of young guys — volunteers — organizing bright orange triangular markers on the dock.
“Volunteers drive the events boats for the races and rally,” says Burzon. “They prep the markers, they set them on the water, they form the race committees, they help with the awards, the prizes. Without the volunteers there wouldn’t be an event at all. Even I’m a volunteer.”
But he’s more than a volunteer: Along with Robbie Ferron and Petro Jonkers he’s an event founder. And on top of it all, he’s the volunteer coordinator.
From the opening press briefing and registration to the four days of rallying and racing, from the beach party on St. Barts to the awards ceremony, I watch those volunteers in action. Burzon’s assessment of their impact is spot-on. And he himself demonstrates dramatically the importance — and commitment — of Challenge volunteers.
Early on the morning after the awards presentation, I notice a man hard at work removing sponsor banners, rolling them up to store them for next year’s celebration. He’s not alone. Burzon works right beside him, proof positive that it’s volunteers who have made the Caribbean Multihull Challenge a success.
