St. Maarten Heineken Regatta 2027: Dates, Racing and Parties

Every March, Simpson Bay fills with sails. The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta 2027, the 47th edition, runs from Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 March 2027, with four days of racing around the island by day and live music at the Regatta Village every night. The organisers sum it up in two words: “Serious Fun”.

You don’t need to own a yacht to enjoy it. Sailors come from more than 35 countries to race, and everyone else can watch from the water, cheer the boats through the Simpson Bay bridge and dance at a Regatta Village that is free and open to the public. Here is what is confirmed so far and how to plan your trip.

See past Heineken Regatta editions & winners →

What happens at the 2027 regatta

The official schedule on heinekenregatta.com sets out the shape of each day. Times can change, so check it again closer to the event.

• Wednesday 3 March, registration: 8:30 am to 6 pm at the Race Village.
• Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 March, race days 1 to 3: first warning signal at 9:40 am off Simpson Bay. Outbound bridge show at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club at 8:30 am, inbound at 3 pm and 5 pm. The Regatta Village opens at 4 pm, with daily prizegiving on the Fountain Stage from 6 to 7 pm and live entertainment from 7 pm.
• Saturday 6 March: Diam 24 Beach Stadium Racing at Grand Case from 11 am.
• Sunday 7 March, race day 4: same racing and bridge times. The Village opens at 4 pm, the final prizegiving runs from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, and the closing party starts at 9 pm.

The racing classes

The regatta is built so that very different boats each get the right kind of racing. According to the official race page:

• Racing monohulls, from all-out racers to 40 ft and 50 ft cruiser-racers, sail eight races over four days: windward-leeward races on two days and two longer coastal races.
• Maxis and performance multihulls have their own race areas and longer, more demanding courses.
• Cruising multihulls sail coastal-style races with fewer windward legs.
• Non-spinnaker cruising boats get more varied courses with less emphasis on tight manoeuvres.
• Island Time is the “more Fun than Serious” class: one medium-length race a day, and no CSA rating needed. Every other class needs one.
• Diam 24 is a strict one-design class, and the Saturday stadium racing off Grand Case brings these fast trimarans close to the beach.

The 2027 entry list hasn’t been published yet. For scale, the 2026 edition had more than 110 boats of all sizes, including the largest multihull fleet yet.

The nightly parties

When the racing ends, the Regatta Village at Port de Plaisance takes over. Each evening brings prizegiving on the Fountain Stage, food and drink, and live music. The 2027 entertainment line-up is to be confirmed; the organisers say to “stay tuned for 2027 entertainment announcements”. For an idea of the level, the 2026 Sunday headliners were reggae legends Inner Circle, with Jeon playing the Saturday and local act Sugar Apple opening.

History: from 12 boats to “Serious Fun”

The event began in 1980 as the St. Maarten Regatta, with 12 sailboats. Heineken came on as title sponsor in 1983, and the official history tells how racers that year were handed cold beers from a passing powerboat mid-race. A third race day was added in 1990, entries passed 250 boats by 1999, and the record of 284 boats was set in 2008.

Today the regatta is run by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club Regatta Foundation, and it is one of the best-known events on the Caribbean racing calendar. What makes it special is the mix. Professional crews on maxis share the water with families on charter cruisers. The whole island turns out at the bridge to watch the fleet squeeze through, and the parties belong to locals and visitors as much as to the sailors.

Watch: past editions

The official St. Maarten Heineken Regatta channel puts out a wrap film after every edition. These two show what the week looks like.

Tips for going

• Getting there: fly into Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the Dutch side, a short drive from Simpson Bay and Port de Plaisance.
• Book early: the regatta is one of the island’s busiest weeks, so reserve flights, rooms and cars as soon as your dates are set.
• See the racing from the water: the official spectator boat runs on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 March from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm. The US$125 ticket includes breakfast, lunch and an open bar. Book it through the official site.
• Watch from land: the bridge shows at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club are free and a great way to see the boats up close. On Saturday, head to Grand Case for the Diam 24 stadium racing.
• Pack for sun and spray: sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a light layer for the boat. Wear comfortable shoes for the Village.
• Want to sail? Registration runs through the official website, and charter companies offer places on boats for the week.

Where to stay and getting around

Simpson Bay is the natural base, close to the bridge, the Yacht Club and the Regatta Village. Browse our St. Maarten hotels directory for places to stay, and our St. Maarten car rentals directory if you plan to drive to Grand Case or explore the French side between race days. For everything else on the island, start at our St. Maarten guide.

FAQ

When is the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta 2027? Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 March 2027, with registration on Wednesday 3 March. It is the 47th edition.

Is the Regatta Village free? Yes. The official schedule says the Regatta Village at Port de Plaisance is free and open to the public.

Who is performing in 2027? To be confirmed. The organisers have not yet announced the 2027 entertainment line-up.

Can I watch the racing without a boat? Yes. Watch the bridge shows at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club, catch the Diam 24 racing at Grand Case on Saturday, or book the official spectator boat for Saturday or Sunday morning.

Do I need a rating to race? Most classes need a CSA rating. The Island Time class doesn’t, which makes it the easiest way in for cruisers.

Sources

• St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, official website
• Official schedule, race classes and party pages
• About the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta (history)

See past Heineken Regatta editions & winners →

Looking for more to plan around? See what else is coming up on our Caribbean Events Calendar.

— Harpy Express Events Desk