The 18th St. Barth Cata Cup is scheduled for November 18 to 22, bringing 42 teams to the island for four days of F18 catamaran racing. The international fleet includes defending champions, world and European titleholders, experienced returning crews and sailors looking to improve their results.
Henri Demesmaeker of Belgium and Rasmus Rosengren of Sweden return as defending champions after winning last year’s event. The pair arrives after claiming the F18 European Championship in Italy this summer. Demesmaeker has said they plan to focus on consistency and enjoy the racing, an approach that served them well in their previous Cata Cup campaign.
They will face a strong field of challengers. Patrick Demesmaeker, Henri’s father, is entered with longtime crew Olivier Caglini, while the fleet also includes American teams and French sailors Victorien Erussard and Fred Moreau. The Boulogne brothers will compete in a Cirrus 3 catamaran, and Gurvan Bontemps and Arnaud Jerlegan are also among the teams expected to contend.
Argentina will send six teams, including Federico Reim and Pablo Völker, the 2024 F18 World Champions. It will be Reim’s first visit to St. Barth, and the pair hopes to break into the top 10, with a top-five finish as an added goal.
The regatta will also welcome Mathilde Lovadina, who is campaigning for the Los Angeles Olympic Games in the 49erFX class. The Cata Cup will be her third appearance in St. Barth and a change of pace from her winter training. Four women are expected to compete in this year’s edition.
Not every team is focused on the podium. Dutch sailor Karel Van der Poel, who finished 31st last year, is returning with the goal of improving as a team and putting together more consistent results. Organizers describe the event as a chance for sailors at every level to compete, learn and share the experience on St. Barth’s waters.
