Youth Sailors Shine at Caribbean Dinghy Championship
Sint Maarten’s next generation of sailors delivered a standout performance at the 2025 Caribbean Dinghy Championship, earning second place overall in the Nations Cup and podiums in every fleet they entered. The event was hosted by Antigua Yacht Club from October 24–26.
Six sailors represented the Sint Maarten Yacht Club across Optimist, Topper Fusion, and ILCA fleets, and their consistency put the team just behind host nation Antigua and ahead of other regional programs.
Results
- 1st Optimist: Nathan Sheppard
- 1st Topper Fusion (Double-Handed): Oskar Jarrett Versteegden and Adilyn Treadwell, with Paola Lapierre crewing on Day 1
- 3rd ILCA 4: Harper Treadwell
- 3rd ILCA 6: Massimo Lapierre
“This year’s results show how hard our young sailors have worked,” said SMYC Racing Coach Sam Peeks. “We are so proud of how they represented Sint Maarten not just through their results, but also through their great attitude and sportsmanship.”
In true island-sailor style, the team made an offshore passage to the regatta as well, sailing from Sint Maarten to Antigua aboard a monohull. The trip served as both training and team bonding ahead of the three-day competition.
The Caribbean Dinghy Championship is organized by the Caribbean Sailing Association and brings youth competitors together from across the region for a mix of national pride and top-level dinghy racing.
For more on the Sint Maarten Yacht Club’s programs, visit smyc.com.
Building the Next Wave of Caribbean Sailors
Youth sailing programs across the Caribbean continue to grow, with island clubs investing in coaching, fleet development, and regional racing opportunities. The Sint Maarten Yacht Club, founded in 1980, runs an active junior program aimed at building seamanship, teamwork, and confidence on the water.
From Optimists to ILCA dinghies, young sailors across the region are gaining offshore experience as well, often through inter-island passages to major events. With regional regattas like the CDC and iconic events such as the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta in their backyard, Caribbean sailors are finding a clear pathway from junior fleets to international racing.
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