A significant highlight in sailing yacht design has been the relatively recent creation of very fast, safe, and comfortable multihull sailing catamarans and trimarans able to achieve unusually high speeds with safety and comfort. Designs are attractive, the yachts are loaded with amenities, performance is excellent and fun. It is with this in mind that the organizers of the Caribbean Multihull Challenge Race and Rally created the event back in 2019. After seven successful years, for its eighth edition, the CMC is taking another giant step on behalf of those skippers who want to race and win based on flat-out speed on a specific course without regard to a handicap rating. We want to create a platform for shipyards and skippers to show off their stuff!
The CMC features four days of red-hot and competitive sailing in the winter winds of the Northeast Caribbean based in Sint Maarten – home of the St Maarten Yacht Club. Three of the four days consist of longer distance racing with one of the days made up of two shorter races; making a total of five for the regatta. A recently improved handicap rating system will be used for 2026 with an award for winners based on the CSA rule; but we are now introducing a prestigious line honors competition with a great prize for the fastest yacht over the four days of racing.
Skippers will see a 60-mile Sprint around St Barth’s, a 52-mile Dash to Saba and back, a 27-mile navigational challenge around the rocks and little islands of Sint Maarten, with one day reserved for sailing mostly on the South shore of SXM, where the winds are strong but the wave action less so. We envision more of the larger production HH, Gunboat, ORC, Catana, and custom wonders with the less dramatic performers still able to enjoy the CMC prize giving podiums with wins based on the CSA rule.
There will be a sponsor for the Line Honors Trophy to be announced at a future date. For now one can enter and register for the CMC at Yacht Scoring or at our site at www.CaribbeanMultihullChallenge.com For even more information contact Stephen Burzon, Mktg Dir. at StephenBurzon@gmail.com.
