2 MARCH 3, 2020 ST. MAARTEN HEINEKEN REGATTA SPECIAL 2020 A PUBLICATION OF THE DAILY HERALD Have a blast! For many, the fi rst weekend of March means only one thing: Th e annual St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, already in its 40th edition. Th at the four-day happening has earned its stripes is an understatement. It’s become an almost irreplaceable fi xture on the calendar that it is anxiously anticipated by not just those interested in boating, but the public at large. Th is no doubt has a lot to do with the accompanying entertainment spread out over four diff erent nights featuring quality and internationally renowned musical acts. One should remember, though, that the sailing competition remains the focus, making the regatta the island’s biggest sporting event that attracts thousands of visitors from abroad. Th ese guests come to take part in and/or witness the races, but also to enjoy the parties. eTh latter are what residents tend to most identify the regatta with, helping to maintain the local support needed to ensure its existence in the long run. Th e event’s positive impact on the tourism economy also in terms of worldwide exposure cannot be denied. As a matter of fact, the local marine industry likely would not have seen the spectacular growth it has experienced without the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. So, hats off once again to the organisers, sponsors and essential volunteers who make it all happen. We wish the yacht crews – without whom it would of course not be possible – favourable winds and friendly seas, hoping they truly have a blast on “Th e Friendly Island”. Th e Publisher The Heineken Regatta in Perspective When Sint Maarten become very much less. “Grand Prix” yachts are Regatta (two particular Heineken Regatta started likely to sail the Voile St boat brands from Finland 40 years ago, there were Sint Maarten Heineken Barths. Th e adventurous and the UK). four other regatta events Regatta maintains its long distance sailors are in the Caribbean; now position as the largest of likely to sail the Caribbean Th e following 40 years are there are many, many these general regattas and 600, a long distance race likely to see regatta events more. its trademark is clearly that circles many islands continue strongly in the the strong music and after including Saba and Sint Caribbean, but there is Th e events 40 years ago racing onshore component. Maarten. likely to be that continued were a mix of boats with a No other regatta off ers the narrowing of the audience greater local participation, onshore attractions that Classic Yachts are likely interest. Diff erent islands generally smaller and take place in this regatta. to sail the Antigua Classic will be wanting to attract much less specialized than Yacht Regatta. Beach cat niches that can ultimately many of the regattas now But other event types sailors are likely to want become great regattas, running in the Caribbean. have developed for to sail the Cata Cup in St. which will not only particular audiences. Th e Barths. Boat owners who create attention for their Th e “general” regatta “superyachts” category is own particular boat types destination, but maybe events still exist, but their likely to sail the St. Barths are likely to sail events some fun, excitement and share of the total regatta bucket or the Antigua designed for their boats like economic value. event participation has Superyacht Regatta. Th e the Swan Cup or the Oyster The Heineken Regatta Special 2019 is a publication of Coordinator Gordon Snow Contributors Tom Burnett Robert Luckock Judy Fitzpatrick Darlene Hodge Graphic Design Chanaz Kokkelmans Front Cover Design Mark Martelly MARCH 3, 2020 ST. MAARTEN HEINEKEN REGATTA SPECIAL 2020 A PUBLICATION OF THE DAILY HERALD 3 Race Director Marc van Dongen: ‘I speak the same language as sailors’ By Robert Luckock Anton van de Koppel (left) with Marc van Dongen. When Sint Maarten championships in the “I was 18 or 19 at the time Yacht Club was looking 29er class in 2014 in the and asked if there was an for a new Race Director Netherlands, an exercise for opportunity to crew on one to take the Heineken the race committee for the of them. I ended up meeting Regatta to the next World Championships two famous Olympic sailor level, one of the people years later. Henk Kraan and he invited consulted for advice me to come on board his was media maestro Th e hugely successful boat for one of the Winter Anton van de Koppel, second Caribbean Multihull Series Regattas. whose association and Challenge, for which he was experience with the Race Director, provided a “Bouwe Bekking was also Heineken go back 30 perfect introduction into one of the up and coming years. how the racing is in St. crew on his boat. We were Maarten. Now the Heineken very competitive and I nton and Marc beckons. learned a lot about team have been friends work and improving skills. Afor 25 years from “When I came here in We always used to fi nish working in the media. November, we were lent fi rst or second. When we Anton recommended a boat by Garth Steyn asked Henk what his secret qualifying races to do. he remembers. test racing, he didn’t feel Marc for the job based and I was amazed at the to winning was, he could Th is was some six to eight the boat was competitive on his extensive racing beauty of the coastline. never explain it. He just had months before the actual It was a coincidence that enough compared to the background and You have fantastic wind, this amazing feel for making Whitbread race started. Bouwe Bekking was also original. organizing experience. sunshine, warm water, and I the boat perform.” After the Fastnet race, Dirk part of the crew on Philips Marc took about a month understand why sailors from formally asked Marc if he Innovator. Bekking will be It’s a coincidence that Marc to think about it before all over the world love this Marc describes that period wanted to join the crew skipper on the Volvo 65 was a chef during the 1985 deciding to accept the regatta,” he enthused. “I was of sailing with Henk as a for the Whitbread race. Childhood for the Heineken Whitbread race as was off er before arriving in sold. I met a lot of volunteers highlight of his career as far Marc happened to also be and no doubt he and Marc Tracy Edwards MBE on St. Maarten in November who were very welcoming. as learning was concerned. a qualifi ed chef and, as the will be pleased to see each Atlantic Privateer in the to get a feel for what lay “We were at the time quite German chef had just lost other again. same race. ahead. “It’s important to have races a professional, serious team, his job, the vacancy came that are interesting and while other crews raced but up. Marc decided not to do the “I think Marc and Tracy Marc (60) is the whole inventive to please amateur also drank a lot of beer.” next Whitbread race with should have a cook-off ,” package. He’s raced sailors, but also challenge “It was the opportunity of a Dirk on the modifi ed boat Anton says as he and Marc diff erent types of boats professional sailors. I do It was at this time that Marc lifetime. I didn’t even have with new sponsor Equity break into laughter. all his life, from dinghies like organization. Th at set eyes on the 69ft Philips to think about my answer,” and Law 2 as after some to Yngling to 29ers to comes from my time on Innovator, the Whitbread Tornado catamarans to committee boats. My around the world race boat the heady heights of the racing background helps; I and was surprised to see his Whitbread around the speak the same language as friend Dirk Nauta on board. world race. sailors.” Th e two had previously been racing together on another He’s been on the media Marc took to sailing from boat. Dirk explained he and television side of a very young age in the was entering the 1985/86 sailing projects – notably Netherlands, following the Whitbread race as skipper. as media producer for traditional route of sailing the 2005 ABN AMRO small dinghies on the lakes “I said to him, ‘Please send campaign – and in recent until his later teenage me a postcard when you years as board member years when he sailed more get to one of the stopovers.’ of class organisations at competitively. For me, it was so exciting to various levels, ranging meet one of the Whitbread from club races to world “I was sailing in the Yngling sailors.” championships. Class on the North Sea coast when I saw big boats Dirk invited Marc to come He was Race Director in the port and that really on board for a delivery for the European interested me,” Marc recalls. and then there were some Marc van Dongen with crew from Philips Innovator. He is seated second from left, while Bouwe Bekking is standing at the rear fourth from left (archive photo Jeff Nadler). 4 MARCH 3, 2020 ST. MAARTEN HEINEKEN REGATTA SPECIAL 2020 A PUBLICATION OF THE DAILY HERALD Marc van Dongen has been named Race Director for St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. One of the goals of Race : JV1 :HV HV` :JR 1V %VR 1J .V ] 8 + `V:CC7 11 .:JR .V7$:1V:C .