Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten – Sailors were treated to another sunny day on the water for the final three races of the 2025 Sint Maarten Budget Marine Optimist Championship on Sunday morning November, 30. If you took a close look at the standings going into the day, multiple positions in the Championship and Green fleets were tied or nearly tied in the points standings, which meant each race of the day was significant.
Having this amount of parity throughout the fleets is what helps to push sailors to get better, as they battle closely on every start and each leg of the course. To the excitement of those who were able to be on the water to watch the action, that’s exactly what played out on Simpson Bay for the 34 competitors from Antigua, Curaçao, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, Saint Barths, and St Kitts & Nevis.
In the Green Fleet, third and sixth place racers were only separated by three points going into the day, giving four sailors a chance to make the podium. In the Championship Fleet, first and second were tied at 16 points, and third and fourth were tied at 26. There was a lot to gain by sailing well.
After going through the 9:00 a.m. bridge opening, competitors made their way out to the course for the first start just after 9:30. What initially appeared to be a steady easterly breeze in the 15-18 knot range soon gave way to winds that at times dropped down to 5 knots before picking back up again. This sort of variation was also accompanied by big shifts in wind direction.
Similar to Saturday, the sailors would need to connect the best shifts to find success. It was very apparent that if you sailed right into the anchored mega yachts, you were all but guaranteed a loss. And if you went left all the way to the beach, the wind nearly evaporated on shore. Again, it was a game of who could take advantage of the best shifts.
As always, Race Officer Mathieu Maudet put together some competitive courses for the sailors; two of which were longer than the previous day, and one shorter course that made for an easier beat back to the bridge. Keeping a close eye on the fleets, onlookers were not disappointed when several races came to the final reaching leg or windward leg to decide who would make the podium. This is how the last day of any good regatta should be—it was a spectacle to watch.
When racing was completed for the day, exhausted participants gathered at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club Restaurant & Bar to share stories and laughs from a great weekend, and for prize giving at 2:00 p.m.
With much anticipation, the results were: In the Optimist Green Fleet, Ryan Etwaroo from SMYC came in third place, Emijah Maynard from St. Kitts & Nevis Sailing Association (SKNSA) took second, and Clijae Christmas-Mulley from SKNSA captured first place.
In the Optimist Benjamin Fleet, Natanael Blanchet from St. Barth Yacht Club (SBYC) came in third, Léo Favreau from SBYC took second, and Stanley Haes from SBYC was in first place.
In the Optimist Championship Fleet, Lewis Maxor from SBYC took third place in a tie-breaker, Tao Carmona Bouvrais from SBYC came in second place, and Lourenço Couto Jorge from SBYC grabbed the overall win and captured the Sint Maarten Budget Marine Optimist Championship perpetual trophy.
Over the past two decades, the Optimist Championship has grown into one of the premier youth sailing events in the Caribbean, consistently attracting talented young sailors from across the region and beyond. Organized annually by SMYC and proudly sponsored by Budget Marine, the regatta provides an exciting platform for youth sailors to compete internationally, sharpen their skills, and build lasting friendships.
Congratulations to all of the sailors for an incredible weekend of racing on Simpson Bay! The Sint Maarten Yacht club was thrilled to host the event and we would like to thank our title sponsor, Budget Marine, along with the volunteers, coaches, assistant coaches, club staff, judges, and race officers. We’re excited to see everyone back for an even bigger and better event next year!
Full event details and results can be found at www.smyc.com/optimist-championship.
Photo credit to Laurens Morel (www.saltycolours.com)
