Sales Director Kay Heemskerk had the pleasure of competing in the prestigious Sint Maarten Heineken Regatta aboard the great Saffier Se 33 Life – Sweet Calypso.
Reflecting on the event, Kay shared his experience:
“The regatta kicked off with the famous Round the Island Race. With a perfect downwind start, the Saffier Se 33 Life rounded the first mark in second place. We then embarked on a long jib reach in gusty 15-knot winds along the north side of the island. As the wind shifted unfavorably for the course, we tackled some challenging upwind legs before finally enjoying a spectacular Code Zero run to the finish. It was an exhilarating mix of conditions around the island.
Day two brought much lighter winds, with two races in 6-8 knots leading us to Pelican Rock on the island’s east side. The boat performed exceptionally upwind, and with the big gennaker deployed, we had the power needed for a solid downwind performance.
On day three, the fleet faced a series of short, intense upwind and downwind courses, demanding precision and quick maneuvers.
The final day featured a 21-mile race to Mullet Bay, highlighted by an exciting gennaker reach and a long, rewarding downwind leg where the Saffier Se 33 Life truly excelled.
At the end of this fantastic regatta, we proudly secured a third-place finish among fierce competition. A heartfelt thank you to the owner of the Saffier Se 33 Life for the opportunity to participate in this incredible Caribbean event.”
