On Saturday the 2^nd of February many enthusiastic children ages 4 – 14 years old and their parents and teachers visited the Sint Maarten Yacht Club in Simpson Bay, because of the prize giving of the 9^th annual Kids art competition organized by the Sint Maarten yacht club and the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. A few weeks before the prize giving all the school children on the Dutch side of the island received the assignment for this competition,whose goal is to involve the local school children in the regatta, and help them to come in touch with sailing and the event. The Thursday before the prize giving the judges Petra Gilders (Sint Maarten Yacht Club), Ruby Bute, Antoine Chapon and Lucia Trifan (all artists), selected the prize winners. There were four different age groups with 1st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place prize winners. The first prize winners of each category are Nadja van den Boogert from the Sister Marie Laurence School (4 – 5 years old), Samantha Heemskerk from the CIA (6 – 8 years old) Steven Cloose from the Sister Regina School (9 – 11 years old), and Sophia and Maike from the Sister Magda Primary School (boat project). The Prins Willem Alexander School won the 1^st prize for their class project, with a huge boat made out of recycled materials, the Hillside Christian Elementary school and the Sundial school won two prizes. The organization would like to thank all the companies on the island who were willing to sponsor such wonderful prizes for the participating children: Ama Jewelers, Aquamania, Bayside Riding Club, the Butterfly Farm, Pizza Galley, Rhino Safari, Sint Maarten Yacht Club Youth Sailing program, St. Maarten Park and van Dorp bookstores. At the end of the prize giving, many children left the yacht club with a big smile on their faces and the organization was completely satisfied with another successful event. For more information or for next years Kids art competition, contact the regatta office at 544-2079.