More Zessin’ and Anomaly are among the first entries for the March 4–7, 2027 event
SIMPSON BAY, ST. MAARTEN — Registration is officially open for the 47th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, with defending champions, multigenerational sailing families, and returning one-design teams already setting the tone for the 2027 edition.
The Notice of Race is now available through Yacht Scoring, inviting sailors from across the Caribbean and around the world to secure their place in one of the region’s largest and most celebrated sailing events.
The first team to register was the defending 2026 overall champion, More Zessin’. The St. Maarten-based J/105 returns to defend its title following an impressive victory against a fleet of more than 100 boats, with sailors representing over 35 countries.
The result was a source of considerable local pride, proving that a committed St. Maarten keelboat team could rise to the top of a highly competitive international fleet.
The victory also represented a passing of the torch. Owner and tactician Ryan Hope Ross led the campaign alongside his father and helmsman, Ian Hope Ross, continuing a family sailing tradition deeply rooted in St. Maarten.
As Ryan takes on a greater role in the team’s next chapter, More Zessin’ returns not only as defending champion, but also as an example for a new generation of local sailors.
“Having a local team win the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is always special,” said Regatta Chair Cary Byerley. “Our island has a deep sailing heritage, and seeing that legacy continue through the next generation of sailors is exactly what makes this event so meaningful.”
Generations Meet on the Racecourse
The second team to register, Anomaly, brings another multigenerational story to the 2027 regatta.
Anomaly is one of the high-performance Diam 24 trimarans that produced some of the most closely contested racing at the 2026 event. Eleven Diam 24s lined up last year, creating a competitive one-design fleet and delivering fast-paced action throughout the regatta.
One of the class’s most memorable storylines involved a friendly family rivalry between Anomaly crew member Joris Vanden Eynde and his 11-year-old son, Axel, who raced aboard the Buzz Race Team.
The father-and-son contest intensified during Saturday’s Grand Case Beach Stadium Race Day. In the penultimate race, Anomaly finished second, with Axel and the Buzz Race Team close behind in third.
In the final race, however, the younger team secured another podium finish while Anomaly slipped back through the fleet.
The result confirmed that Axel and the Buzz Race Team were far more than a novelty entry. With both teams expected to return, the stage could be set for another family rematch in 2027.
Anomaly was helmed by Jolyon Ferron, son of St. Maarten Heineken Regatta founder Robbie Ferron and Regatta Chair Cary Byerley.
A member of one of the Caribbean’s best-known sailing families, Jolyon has already built a strong racing record of his own, including a successful Melges 24 campaign and, more recently, competition in the Diam 24 class.
Serious Racing and Serious Fun
The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta has long been a meeting place for generations of sailors.
Junior competitors regularly share the racecourse with experienced Caribbean sailors, international professionals, charter crews, and liveaboard families. Ashore, families and friends travel together to enjoy the event’s social program and its familiar promise of “Serious Fun.”
The Regatta Village at Princess Port de Plaisance will once again welcome competitors, visitors, and the wider St. Maarten community each evening.
Open to the public with free admission, the village will feature family-friendly programming beginning at 4 p.m., live entertainment, and a food court showcasing the varied flavors of both St. Maarten and Saint-Martin. Evening concerts will follow the daytime activities.
Registration Opens for 2027
The 47th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta will take place March 4–7, 2027.
The Notice of Race is now available, and registration is open through Yacht Scoring.
Sailors can expect four days of racing in the waters surrounding St. Maarten, with classes traditionally welcoming everything from professional Maxi, monohull, and performance multihull teams to charter bareboats and cruising families.
The combination of steady northeast trade winds, warm Caribbean waters, international competition, and a lively shoreside program has helped make the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta a fixture on the Caribbean racing calendar for nearly five decades.
For registration, event information, results, photographs, videos, entertainment announcements, and other updates, visit www.heinekenregatta.com.
