User:Remis Velisque/sandbox/Sint Maarten Yacht Club

Sint Maarten Yacht Club is a yacht club located on the island of Sint Maarten. Its address is 1011 Anchorage Lane, San Diego, CA 92106. It is located in Point Loma across from a spit of land known as Shelter Island.

History
On the beach in Great Bay a group of sailors came together to form the “Sint Maarten Sailing Club Foundation” and at the same time to organize a regatta nowadays known as the Sint Maarten Heineken Regatta. It's intention was on getting something to happen for the local sailing enthusiasts who lived on the then quiet island of Sint Maarten. The regatta organized by the foundation transformed itself into one of the most dynamic regatta's of the Caribbean.

Fleets
At the very outset of the SMYC (1980 to 1985) there were a small group of keel boats that sailed out of Great Bay. In 1986 the first group of Lasers were purchased in a single lot of 8 boats.

The sailing activity shot up and soon a second container of another 8 boats was purchased. Soon after an annual Laser regatta was started which at its peak boasted over 50 participants. This was a great period for Sint Maarten sailing and sailors.

The fleet was largely wiped out in the 1995 Hurricane Luis which resulted in keel boat sailing being much more limited for a number of years after that the fleet was rebuilt. More recently (2017) Hurricane Irma hit the island. Again, the fleet was largely wiped out. But SMYC’s sponsors helped rebuild the entire fleet.

Events

 * Bart's Bash -
 * Caribbean Multihull Challenge - Open only to multihulls, Gunboats, Trimarans, Lagoons, Leopards, Fontaine Pajot and Spronk boats.
 * Grant Thornton Multiclass Regatta - The biggest annual dinghy regatta organized by the SMYC.
 * St. Maarten Heineken Regatta -
 * Sol St. Maarten Optimist Championship -

Past commodores
1980-1986: Robbie Ferron 1986-1987: Tom Pas 1987-1988: Jack Beentjes 1989-1990: Gail Rapley 1990-1993: Jan van den Eynde 1993-1995: Paul Virgo 1995-1996: Gail Rapley 1996-1997: Andre v.d. Akker 1998-1999: Jerry Blakeslee 1999-2000: Heather Judd 2000-2002: Cees Schoonbeek 2002-2004: Jerry Blakeslee 2004-2005: David Schuttleworth 2005-2009: Frank Hoedemaker 2009-2010: Robbie Ferron 2010-2016: Ian Hope Ross 2016-2018: Christopher Marshall 2018-present: Michel Soons