TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Heineken Race Spectator Boat Recommendations

We will be on island during the regatta this year and we are thinking of going on a spectator boat to catch the action up close. We would appreciate any info from those who have done this. I see the official Heineken site offers a 5 hour cruise, Aqua Marine ( Tango & Lambada ) 2 1/2 hour cruise, and No. 1 SXM an 8 hour cruise. I think I'm leaning towards the official Heineken spectator boat for the 5 hour cruise.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank You

We have done both the Tango and Lambada, basically identical boats but we always preferred the crew on The Tango. We have done back to back on both also to make for basically a full day on the water. These boats are usually packed to capacity, maybe 60-75 people. No 1 SXM is a great option if you want to be out all day and with a small group. The owners do a great job and the food/snacks are a nice option.

I am not sure what the "official" Heineken cruise is. I see it goes out of Bobby's Marina where the other boats go out of Simpson Bay, which is much more convenient for you.

We have been out with basically no wind and little racing and too much wind with rough seas, broken sails and some sick people.

Personally, I would go with No. 1 SXM as I like the boat and people and my second choice would be getting on The Tango.

Good luck!

Whale Tail--I have no experience with NO1SXM, so can't speak to it. Others here really love it, although I think it is a sailboat? I wonder if that would present a problem, if the winds are either too strong or nonexistent? I don't know. However, our group always went on TANGO, and it was great. Haresh is a great captain and made sure everyone had a great time. Haresh also seemed to know where to be, to get close to the action. I got some great shots from Tango over the years. Tango would have a lot more people onboard, so that's a factor to some. Regatta is a wonderful experience from the water. Enjoy!!

Whale Tail--here's some miscellaneous pics from 2010. From the looks of these pics, the wind wasn't that strong that year? As JD says, sometimes the wind is howling and sometimes there's barely a puff of wind.











And our buddy, Haresh



Whale Tail--I know you can do a lot better than these!!

Carol I would be happy if they are as good as yours.

Whale Tail--basically, the biggest thing is to get close enough to the racing and it's hard not to take good pictures. I know I have some better ones, when the wind was really kicking up, other years, but just picked these at random. I really look forward to seeing yours!! You also need to get to the Yacht Club or Royal Palm to watch the bridge parade. Good stuff!

Oh we already know about the yacht club!!! We've dodged water balloons on the patio before. Good times.

I have never been on the island during Regatta, much less on a spectator boat, so know nothing about being on a spectator boat. However, I have sailed on No1SXM MANY times and have gotten to know Mirian and Pieter. Pieter is an EXCELLENT sailor. Mirian used to be general manager of the Regatta. If I were going on a spectator boat, I would choose No1SXM in a heartbeat.

Back in the duct tape name tag days!

Carol,
Miriam and Pierre’s original boat was an incredibly beautiful,old sailboat which, sadly, was lost in hurricane Irma.
They ultimately replaced it wit a lovely cat but they still provide the ultimate sailing experience. They don’t overcrowd the boat and you can be assured of a great sail. This would be my choice in boats for sure.

JD--yup!!

Nice photo Jazzgirl.

We have sent an e-mail to Heineken spectator boat people to find out how many people will be on their boat because we don't really want to be on a boat with 65 other people as on Tango and Lambada. The No1SXM sounds better because of less people but not sure if we want to be out there for 7 hours especially on rough seas. Hoping Zanshin chimes in as I figure he would probably know.

Whale Tail--I'm not sure I'd want to be out there that long either, if the seas are rough. I'm not aware of there being an 'official' spectator boat, but maybe that's new.

I have no idea for sure but I am wondering if someone paid some $$ to be listed as the "official" spectator boat and to get connected with the Regatta website?

We did an all-day Regatta boat trip the very first time I went to Regatta; it left a lot to be desired but that was due to a lot of circumstances that should not have happened. Really bad beer (Bergen Brau), the boat was oversold (overcrowded), we basically went outside of Marigot and sat the entire day and then got stuck on a sandbar coming back into the lagoon via Sandy Ground. That was a long day but we met some nice people on the boat that day.

I think a day on No 1 SXM would be nice and it would be much more intimate but there is nothing wrong with going on The Tango if you want a shorter day.

As was stated earlier, Pieter and Mirian do a great job. They are already fully booked on Sat. and Fri. is almost full.

Good luck with your decision.

I’ve done the all day trip for Regatta on NO1SXM and highly recommend it. Pieter actually sails with the racing boats. Not in the regatta - but follows while sailing. Never runs the engine. Hope to do it again this year if my family can decide if they are staying longer!!! But because it’s only 12 people they book fast.

After a phone call to the "Official Heineken Spectator Boat", I have found out that it is a charter catamaran called Golden Eagle, operating in SXM, which will have 65-70 passengers, so not much different from Tango and Lambada. Now, No.1SXM is a fast catamaran, which appeals to me and it follows the race from start to finish. We're just not sure if we want to be out there for 7 hours. On the other hand No 1 SXM offers a sunset cruise which sounds wonderful and it picks us up in Simpson Bay, will book this tomorrow.
So we are booked on the Tango, which picks us up right at our resort. Should be fun.
Thanks to all for your help.

Which Resort you staying at? Didn't think Aqua Mania had a pick up service.

We're staying at Simpson Bay Villas. I believe Aqua Marine operates right there at the resort, so no need for pick up service, just walk the dock. Now, No 1 SXM Sunset Cruise advertises that " we tender you to the boat in Simpson Bay and welcome you aboard ". Sounds within walking distance from our villa.

Ok. From your post you said it picked you up but in reality the Tango is moored at the resort your staying at and is in walking distance from your Resort. You'll enjoy the Tango and captain Hirish.

Pretty sure they pick you up at NoWhere Special. You may want to check that maybe they can grab you at the Aqua Mania dock as the boat is out in Simpson Bay and not the lagoon.

Tango and Lambada are both moored at the Simpson Bay Resort and Marina dock. They have their own permanent slips there.

Thanks Kim we'll figure it out as we go. Either location is close and within walking distance.

No1SXM picks up passengers at the dock behind Nowhere Special and takes you to the trimaran via dinghy.

The Multi-Hull races are going on now. It’s called the Caribbean Multi-Hull Challenge. Feb 1-4.