St. Maarten Heineken Regatta champions Sustainability on and off the water

February 19, 2026 [Simpson Bay, St. Maarten] – Sustainability continues to take center stage at the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, as the internationally renowned sailing event deepens its commitment to protecting the island’s natural environment and driving industry-wide change.

In November, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta co-hosted the Marine Impact Lab at Metstrade Amsterdam, the world’s largest marine tradeshow, in collaboration with 11th Hour Racing, The Toolbox, MarineShift360, NLcomp, ICOMIA and World Sailing. The workshop brought together 60 leaders from across the global marine industry to tackle sustainability challenges head-on, foster open dialogue, practical solutions, and shared accountability across events, boatbuilders, suppliers, and governing bodies.

“It was incredible to sit alongside events, organizations, boatbuilders and fellow leaders in the marine industry to work through these challenges together,” said Cary Byerley, Regatta Chair of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. “The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta has had a core value of sustainability. On our small island that is a big challenge, but it is great to see we are not alone in these challenges nor the drive to find solutions.” By engaging at the highest levels of the marine sector, the Regatta reinforces its role not only as a world-class sporting event, but also as a catalyst for meaningful environmental progress.

On the island, tangible action continues. This year, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is expanding its water filtration initiative in partnership with local water solutions company EXOWATER. What began as a single filtration station at the Regatta Village has now grown to two accessible refill locations, making it easier than ever for sailors, staff, and village-goers to reduce single-use plastic consumption.

Joining this impactful program is Windward Islands Bank (WIB), which is providing each team and staff member with a reusable water bottle to further amplify the initiative’s reach. During the previous edition, the effort is estimated to have prevented more than 5,000 single-use plastic bottles from entering the island’s waste stream and fragile marine ecosystem. By actively reducing single-use plastics, promoting circular practices, and partnering with organizations committed to environmental stewardship, WIB strengthens its contribution to broader sustainability objectives. All participants and visitors are encouraged to bring their own reusable bottles to help minimize plastic waste both within the Regatta Village and out on the water.

Beyond race week, the Regatta’s legacy sustainability programs continue to build awareness and community pride. The annual Regatta Art Competition engaged local students, who used their creativity to express themes of environmental stewardship, island culture, and the heritage of this iconic sailing event. Winning artwork will be proudly displayed at the Regatta Village, showcasing the talent of Sint Maarten’s youth while reinforcing the importance of protecting the environment they call home.
Earlier this month, the Regatta also hosted its Lagoon Clean-Up event on Sunday, February 8. Volunteers paddled through the Simpson Bay Lagoon by kayak, removing more than 420 kilograms of waste from the lagoon’s ecosystem. The effort not only improved the health of critical mangrove habitats, but also highlighted the collective responsibility shared by residents and visitors alike.

Photo: Andre Knol

On the water during race week, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is partnering with the Marine Mammal Advisory Group (MMAG) and JASCO Applied Sciences to launch the region’s first marine mammal acoustic monitoring solution at a race event. Resident humpback whales, including a mother and calf pair, have been spotted numerous times in the waters surrounding St. Maarten over the past month, so the Regatta, MMAG and JASCO are working together to monitor whale activity and alert the racing fleet of their presence to reduce strike risk between vessels and local marine mammals.

The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta encourages all visitors and locals to respect the ocean environment that makes Sint Maarten such a vibrant and beautiful place for people, wildlife, and diverse habitats. From industry collaboration to on-the-ground action and youth engagement, sustainability remains embedded in the event’s core values. Even more initiatives are planned for this year’s edition, and all Regatta-goers are encouraged to join the cause.

Follow the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta on social media to stay informed, get involved, and be inspired to take action on and off the water.

Film courtesy of Volano Media, with additional footage from Digital Island, Souleyman Productions, and Orange Grove.

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St. Maarten Heineken Regatta

Celebrating 46 years, this Regatta just keeps getting better, four days of world-class racing with some of the world’s most seasoned sailors, hailing from over 35 countries. This is genuinely a Regatta for everyone, including professional teams sailing Maxis, Monohulls, and Performance Multihulls to holiday-makers on chartered Bareboats to live-aboard families cruising the Caribbean. Crystal clear waters and cooling northeast trade winds give the pristine conditions for spectacular racing just off the coast of St. Maarten. This event is your bucket list must-do! Come and enjoy life in the Caribbean; come for some Serious Fun from March 5-8, 2026!

For complete information on the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, including results, photos, videos, party and band information, and much, much more, visit: www.heinekenregatta.com.