Heineken Regatta 2009: Sunday afternoon

More of what's happening from my perspective in Simpson Bay, St. Maarten for the 2009 Heineken Regatta...


This Formula 40 didn't go out today... not sure why, but we'll give them the "most raked mast currently at anchor" award.


With nine fenders out on his starboard side (can't see the port side), this catamaran won the "boat with the most fenders out" prize for today.

Well, everyone is coming back from their final race of the Sint Maarten Heineken Regatta 2009.


Obviously these folks had a bit of a mainsail problem. As soon as they anchored a crewman zipped up to the top of the mast and retrieved the scrap of sail up there.


The Gunboat catamaran Cream coming back in...


and also the Gunboat Safari a bit farther out.

For the Gunboats:

• 1st place: Cream
• 2nd place: Sugar Daddy
• 3rd place: Safari

Team GoldenDog coming in to anchor close to the beach. Team GoldenDog won first place in their class. Congratulations. Great birthday present for Jeffrey. Happy Birthday, Soc from a fellow Pisces.

Photos by Paradise Connections ©2009 - Please do not use without permission.

Heineken Regatta 2009: Gunboat sightings

Here's a couple of photos of Gunboat catamarans heading into the Lagoon.
March 5, 2009 - Simpson Bay, St Maarten - Heineken Regatta


Gunboat catamaran, Sugar Daddy - Photo by Paradise Connections ©2009


Gunboat catamaran, Safari - Photo by Paradise Connections ©2009

Remember, Safari is a charter yacht. If you are interested in chartering Safari, contact us for more info.

Gunboat Catamarans in St Maarten just prior to Heineken Regatta 2009

There are a few Gunboat catamarans currently in St. Maarten and we expect to see a few more in the lead up to the Heineken Regatta, March 5-8, 2009.

Here's a bit from the local St. Maarten newspaper The Daily Herald, January 22, 2009:

SIMPSON BAY--Gunboats have returned to St. Maarten. This year the fleet is bigger and includes the newly launched 66 series. A new breed of racing cruiser catamaran, the Gunboat was designed to hold provisions for up to six months of cruising and still able to race with all carbon spars and Kevlar shrouds. The Gunboat, named for the fact they win or take the gun at so many finish lines, consists of composite construction of vacuumbagged, epoxy foam sandwich and Aramid Honeycomb Nomex with carbon fiber inner skins & Kevlar outer skins for impact resistance. The fast 48 foot version, capable of speeds in the mid 20’s, will be sailing the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta the first weekend of March. “Gunboat is excited to have one, and maybe two of our latest series, the Gunboat 66, at the regatta,” said Chandler Collins from Gunboat. “This new 66 embodies luxury, comfort, and SPEED! The 66 was launched this winter in Cape Town, and she has just completed her maiden voyage across the Atlantic to Saint Maarten.” Also expected to race Heineken, like last year, are Gunboat 48s and 62s.

We went and took a few photos of the Gunboat catamarans that are currently in Simpson Bay and in the Lagoon in St. Maarten: Looking for Elvis (Gunboat 62), Kanaloa (Gunboat 66), and Safari (Gunboat 62).


Looking For Elvis - Feb. 25, 2009 - Simpson Bay, SXM
(Photo by ParadiseConnections.com ©2009)


Looking For Elvis - Feb. 25, 2009 - Simpson Bay, SXM
(Photo by ParadiseConnections.com ©2009)


Kanaloa - Feb. 25, 2009 - Simpson Bay Lagoon, SXM
(Photo by ParadiseConnections.com ©2009)


Safari - Feb. 25, 2009 - Simpson Bay, SXM
(Photo by ParadiseConnections.com ©2009)


Safari - Feb. 25, 2009 - Simpson Bay, SXM
(Photo by ParadiseConnections.com ©2009)

Safari is available for crewed yacht charters. Contact Paradise Connections for more info.

We looked at the entries listed on the Heineken web site and for the Catamaran Class it shows the Gunboats Cream, Safari, and Sugar Daddy. They only show a total of 175 entries but in a recent newspaper article they said that had 200-some, so their website probably hasn't been updated yet.

Looking For Elvis - Gunboats in St. Maarten

This morning we went looking for Looking For Elvis, a 62-foot Gunboat. They've changed the graphic for their boat name since the time I showed it here on the All About Boats blog in 2006.


Then (2006)


Now (2009)

I like both.

The home port on the transom is LAS VEGAS :)

Today in Simpson Bay, St Maarten 2x3 masts

This morning we have two 3-masters in Simpson Bay, St. Maarten.



We expect the anchorage to be filling up soon with boats for the Heineken Regatta.

I'll have to remember to take the camera with us when we run some errands (must buy kitter litter!). We saw the Gunboat "Looking for Elvis" dinghy yesterday. Visitors to this blog seem to like photos of the Gunboats so we'll see what we can do.

More soon come, mon!

Gunboat Looking for Elvis in St. Martin

When we went to the Island Water World gas dock in the Simpson Bay Lagoon in Sint Maarten this morning, we noticed this 62-foot Gunboat catamaran with the wonderful name of "Looking for Elvis". Earlier this year, there was another interesting boat name... "Elvis the Gecko". I love it!
We were told that Looking For Elvis is a private yacht and not a charter boat.

If you are interested in chartering a Gunboat though, you may wish to look at SAFARI, a 62-foot Gunboat available for charter in the Western Mediterranean this summer 2006. They will be chartering in the Caribbean this coming winter.

Click here to view Safari's electronic brochure.

Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters (click here) for more information.