The America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in all sport also boasts the longest winning streak. For 132 years the New York Yacht Club successfully defeated all challenges for this prestigious trophy they won in 1851 in a race around the Isle of Wight held at the request of Queen Victoria. Finally in 1983 it was the Australians. They took the "Auld Mug" "Down Under" and set up, in 1987, the greatest America's Cup of all time. After 354 individual yacht races, it was Dennis Conner with his fabulous Stars & Stripes campaign who won the trophy and brought it home to the U.S.A.
This fantastic boat, welcomed back amid fanfare and a ticker tape parade down Wall St. is neither in the Smithsonian Institute nor is it in the National Museum of Yachting Heritage.
It is in St.Maarten leading the fleet of America’s Cup 12 Metre Race Boats ready to thrill your special group.
Prior to boarding the yachts, your guests are divided into teams, given a brief introduction to the event and are then tendered out to the yachts.
Your guests will “compete” in a boat on boat “match” race around an “AMERICA’S CUP” course (shortened), and under the watchful eyes of the experienced crew, are invited to participate in the thrill of sailing these fabulous “greyhounds of the sea”. Each guest is offered a small task and is given instruction by the crewmembers: - what commands to expect, and what to do. Then it’s practice time on the way down to the start. The team’s timekeeper (another guest) counts down to the start. At the red flag from the committee boat, they’re off.
Two classic thoroughbreds nearly seventy feet long with masts the height of an eight-story building duel in an equal match for a fractional advantage. They round the first mark and head off on the next leg. The excitement builds. The race boats slice through the clear blue waters at speeds the guests will have never sailed before; and suddenly everyone wants to win! But there’s still a long way to go and tactics play a big part. The Skippers and crewmembers explain the strategy for winning the race, and the guests rise to the task! And as if by miracle (!) a photo boat arrives to record for posterity the moment s/he raced a “12” to “victory” in THE ST. MAARTEN 12 METRE “AMERICA’S CUP”REGATTA. For any sailor this is a dream come true.
Every race must have a winner, and only one boat can cross the finish line first. However, after such a uniquely thrilling experience as THE ST. MAARTEN 12 METRE “AMERICA’S CUP” REGATTA, there can be no losers! And so for all the competitors – a victory celebration – rum punch party. This celebration takes place at our dock outside our “America’s Cup” compound.
Every effort is made to accommodate “Guests with special needs”. However the nature of the St.Maarten “America’s Cup” 12 Metre Regatta is very participatory and the motion of the boats may cause problems for some. We therefore request that a guest with special needs be accompanied by a companion who has the capability of assisting the guest onto and off the boats. If the companion feels that the experience is proving to be too much for the guest, our tender will come alongside and transfer the guest to shore.
A complimentary open bar serves premium beer, light beer, sodas and ice water to the guests.
All guests should be asked to wear soft-soled running shoes. T-shirts and shorts over a swimsuit is ideal. There is ample storage space below for beach bags, etc., and a small plastic bag to prevent a camera being splashed is a good idea. Passports are not required and there is no departure tax. The only money guests may require is to buy souvenirs.
Our base location is the ST.MAARTEN "AMERICA'S CUP" REGATTA dock at Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg. The ST.MAARTEN 12 METRE "AMERICA'S CUP" REGATTA starts and finishes at this location. However, subject to distance constraints, we are able to relocate the boats to other venues. We have entertained groups on many occasions in the neighboring islands of Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Barths, Anguilla and French St.Martin.
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We will be pleased to meet your guests at any point on the island; welcome them; introduce them to the ST MAARTEN 12 METRE “AMERICA’S CUP” CHALLENGE and provide transport and escort to our base. For groups staying on other islands, we are able to arrange private charter flights at cost effective prices.
Each regatta takes approximately three hours from the time that our guests arrive to the time they depart. On some days, this is subject to wind and water conditions, but every effort is made to adjust the program to keep to the time frame. As these boats are pure race boats, they have no toilet facilities aboard. Guests should make prior arrangements.
The St Maarten 12 Metre “America’s Cup” Regatta offers four regatta times per day. Each regatta has a capacity of 4 America’s Cup Race boats. To avoid the boats becoming crowded, we limit the number of guests to 18 per boat. This provides a capacity of 72 guests on each departure. Our maximum capacity in any one-day is therefore 288 guests. For large groups staying on the island we can schedule the Regatta over several days, with a number of races culminating in a Grand Final.
The St.Maarten America's Cup 12 Metre Regatta has been entertaining guests since 1989. Over the years, we can claim to have given more people the thrill of racing on America's Cup Race Boats than the America's Cup itself!!
We have been voted the Number One Shore Excursion in the Caribbean for seven years by members of the Cruise Line Industry: which confirms the quality of our program.
The Company comprises approximately thirty young sailors from various parts of the world, who find in our organization the camaraderie of a strong team environment in which initiative, hard work and putting the customer first are encouraged and rewarded.
Contact us by phone 599-542-0045, fax 599-542-6419 or email info@12metre.com