A Weekend of Competition and Camaraderie Highlight the 2025 La Course de l' Alliance
by Sint Maarten Yacht Club 17 Dec 06:16 PST
2025 La Course de l' Alliance © Sint Maarten Yacht Club
If exciting racing action and fun shoreside parties are what you're looking for in a sailing event, the 22nd edition of La Course de l' Alliance did not disappoint!
Sponsored by Quantum Finance and run in conjunction with the Sint Maarten Yacht Club, Saint Martin Voile Pour Tous, St. Barth Yacht Club (SBYC), and Anguilla Sailing Association, this year's regatta hosted two classes—CSA and Diam 24s—and once again had boats from the Round the Rocks Regatta join in the fun for three days of tight racing between Sint Maarten, St. Barth, and Anguilla.
Day one kicked off from Simpson Bay in a punchy easterly breeze in the upper teens with gusts in the low to mid twenties. It was an upwind battle to Gustavia for the fleets, and the lumpy sea state between the islands made for tough driving. Fortunately, the skill of the skippers and crews shined through the rough conditions and everyone made it safely to St. Barth with enough time to enjoy the island in the afternoon. Sailors then gathered on the beach at SBYC for sunset, happy hour, and a BBQ dinner while sharing sea stories from the day.
Day two began with heavy squalls passing over the island and gusty easterly winds, causing the race committee to postpone the start an hour. After the bulk of the rain passed and breaks of sunshine poked through the clouds, both classes started downwind in dramatic fashion with spinnakers flying and all crews hiking hard. The call for the day was to send the fleets south of St. Maarten heading towards Anguilla, and in winds firmly in the low twenties, they made quick work of the first leg before getting into the lee of the island. Calmer conditions prevailed in Anguilla Channel and on the north side of Anguilla, making for a relatively drama-free finish in beautiful Road Bay. With two days of excellent racing in the books, the Anguilla Youth Sailing Club hosted dinner and drinks at Jonnos with a DJ and live band to get sailors out of their seats and on the dance floor. A great time was had by all, and everyone looked forward to the final leg of the regatta.
In a drastic change from the day prior, Sunday dawned bright and sunny with slightly less breeze, which still trended from an easterly direction. Day three commenced at 11:00 and 11:05 respectively, and both fleets got under way with clean starts and made it down the northwest side of Anguilla and back across the channel. After rounding the westerly point of St. Maarten, it was a tacking duel to the finish in Simpson Bay with some boats digging in close to Cupecoy and Mullet Bay, and others staying farther outside. The action remained close as the boats neared the finish line and for those spectating it was fun to watch the end of what turned out to be an excellent weekend of racing.
With boats put away, salty sailors gathered at the St. Maarten Yacht Club Restaurant and Bar to hoist a glass and find out the overall results. Podium spots for the CSA Class went to the Melges 24 Caraibes Diesel in third place, the J/105 More Zessin' in second place, and the Melges 24 Team Island Water World in first place.
In the Diam 24 Class, Look Up grabbed third place, K.I.C took second place, and Merlin vaulted into the top spot with three first place finishes.
The St. Maarten Yacht Club would like to once again thank Quantum Finance and all the clubs involved who helped make La Course de l' Alliance 2025 a success. Cheers to Saint Martin Voile Pour Tous, St. Barth Yacht Club, and Anguilla Sailing Association! We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another great event in 2026.