February 26th 2010, Philipsburg St.Maarten—With the 30th edition of the St.Maarten Heineken Regatta only days away, longtime sponsor F.O.H Distributors is making sure that the volunteers stay healthy throughout the long days and hours of work. They are donating 150 packs of Immune Plus to the regatta volunteers so that they can boost their immune systems during the event. Immune Plus is the newest addition to the popular Haliborange product range out of the United Kingdom and is its most powerful effervescent. This tropical fruit flavor formula gives the immune system the boost it needs by combining natural ingredients such as Vitamin C, Echinacea, Zinc, B vitamins and other antioxidants.

Regatta Director Heather Tackling is pleased with this donation “We have many wonderful volunteers who work tireless hours for this event and who do not expecting a thing in return, to have a sponsor take the time to think about them and provide them with something that will keep them healthy is a really great gesture. When you work extended hours, and lack sleep, good nutrition and are under a lot of stress, it is easier for you to become sick, with the Immune Plus we will be able to help our volunteers stay strong and ready for the tasks at hand”

Since the tablet is taken by dropping into a glass of ice-cold water, the revitalising effects of Immune Plus are felt almost immediately. Vitamin C and Zinc help prevent the risk of catching a cold and reduces the length and severity of symptoms. Echinacea helps to stimulate the immune system, increasing the white blood cell count. The B Vitamins, also formulated into Immune Plus, work to provide energy for the body through breaking down carbohydrates. Combined, this formulation is a great way to keep energy and immunity levels at their best.

Packed in a compact tube, Immune Plus is convenient to take along to ensure increased levels of energy and immunity.

The St.Maarten Heineken Regatta is less than one week away and with over 200 boats entered this year will prove to be as busy as they have been in the past. Four days of fantastic sailing and four nights of world class on shore concerts will bring together sailors from around the world and allow them to enjoy the islands great hospitality, beaches, ocean and scenery.

Haliborange Immune Plus is now available at your local supermarkets, pharmacies, convenience stores and gyms.

Countdown to the Rock’n Roll’n Caribbean Classic-The St.Maarten Heineken Regatta

February 24, 2010, Simpson Bay, St. Maarten – With less than one week to go before the opening events at the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta (4-7 March) there’s a steady flow of yachts arriving in the marina including Tom and Dotty Hill’s custom Reichel/Pugh 75 – Titan 15. Final preparations are well underway and entries to this 30th anniversary spectacular have already exceeded numbers from last year.

The bareboat charter fleet is extremely buoyant with over 100 including a high contingent of Beneteau and Jenneau yachts making up the bulk of the fleet. There’ll certainly be no lack of top ranked competition in this fleet either with the likes of Margriet Matthijsse – Dutch, double Europe Olympic silver medallist – who will be racing with her team aboard a Beneteau Oceanis 473 Heineken Rotterdam (Monet II), among the notable entries.

The big boat line-up is exceptionally strong too with the rare opportunity to see Tom and Dotty Hill’s new custom Reichel/Pugh 75 – Titan 15 up against George David’s Reichel/Pugh 90 – Rambler, and Irvin Laidlaw’s Wally 82 Highland Fling, and probably in the same class as Roberto Galperti’s Swan 90 White Lie, Patrick Adams’ Swan 100 Varsovie, Peter Harrison’s Farr 115 Sojana, and Christopher Besser’s Swan 80 Team Selene.

These seven large boats represent an unusually strong fleet for recent regattas with three of them (Titan 15, Highland Fling and Rambler) highly comparable new boats incorporating the latest trends in high technology, which should make for some interesting racing. Also, Bill Alcott – an avid campaigner whose spirited effort is always appreciated in the Caribbean – will make a welcome return this year with the super-hot crew aboard his Andrews 68 – Equation.

Other interesting entries to keep an eye on include Clay Deutsch’s chartered canting-keeled Farr/Cookson 50 Privateer, and Richard Matthews’ Humphries One-Off design Oystercatcher XXVI. Given the right conditions, either of these boats could produce some sparkling results. Matthews chatting about what draws him from the UK to this particular regatta said: “I have been a fairly regular participant in the Heineken Regatta, Rolex, BVI and Antigua Sailing Week for the last 20 years as they are a great way to escape the UK winter… Most of the Heineken fleet will probably be charter yachts but there is still some excellent Class 1 and 2 racing, with great courses which we are all looking forward to.”

A solid group is forming to make Class 3 interesting including Kip Curren’s Swan 56 Clover III which is likely to be fighting it out with Stefan Lehnert’s Passion 4C (Turner 56), the Spanish 55 ft X Yacht Reserva de Higueron, Bernard Laurent’s Swan 62 Schider, and the 63ft Judel Vrolijk Stickey Toffee, to name a few.

Guaranteed close racing is also expected in the next class down with a bevy of Beneteau 40.7s such as Toucan, Spirit of Athens, Past the Mark, Lancelot, Elandra and Coyote up against a selection of highly rated A 40s including Malachite, Black Sheep, the well prepared El Ocasso (J/120), and the likely entry of Lost Horizon (J/122).

Smaller boats they may be, but there will be no shortage of strong competition among the three local Melges 24s whose mission it is to beat St Croix-based Bad Girl, the J/100 that, up to now, has consistently managed to out-perform them. Other hot locals include Ian Hope Ross with his Beneteau 36.7 Kick Em Jenny, and St Barth’s entry Raymond Magras with his Dufour 34 Speedy Nemo.

Arguably the newest boats at the regatta, and making a Caribbean debut, will be the SC37 Team Optimix/AEZ – one of the newest, highly regarded generation of Santa Cruz boats.

The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta race schedule kicks off at 1000 next Tuesday, 2 March with the ISAF-sanctioned Grade 5 Budget Marine Match Racing Cup. Peter Isler, Gavin Brady, and Peter Holmberg – three of the world’s most respected match racing skipper – will be among the eight-strong team, racing for cash prizes totalling $10,000.

The Gill Commodore’s Cup on Thursday 4 March is proving a popular option with over 40 entries already signed up. This one-day, windward/leeward format, on a course two miles offshore, is used by many as the perfect warm up to the three-day Heineken Regatta series. After racing there’s a special welcoming party at Port de Plaisance giving competitors and visitors to the island a chance to experience the first of many stimulating Caribbean parties. First up, in the line-up of legendary performances planned for the regatta is “Voices of Classic Rock”, an all star ensemble comprising the original lead singers from among the most iconic classic rock acts of the 1980s including Loverboy’s Mike Reno, Toto’s Bobby Kimball, John Cafferty of John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, and Tommy Tutone.

The first race of the Heineken Regatta series is on Friday, 5 March, starting just off Simpson Bay on a course that will take most of the fleet around the Island to Great Bay. After another night of partying, most classes race from Simpson Bay on the Saturday but this time to Marigot.

The final day of racing is from Marigot back to Simpson Bay where the prize giving ceremony will take place. The iconic Caribbean beach party atmosphere where competitors will be able to relax and dance with a cool Heineken in hand, will be enhanced by the presence of International Reggae superstar Maxi Priest and his band who promises an evening filled with classic hits of the last three decades.

Commitment to Protect Local Waters Leads St.Maarten Heineken Regatta to its Second Year as a Clean Regatta

February 23rd, 2010, Simpson Bay, St. Maarten – After 30 years of “Serious Fun” the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta still holds great aspiration towards the future, both short- and long-term. Introduced in last year’s event, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta again commits to the Sailors for the Sea Clean Regatta program as it strives to achieve Bronze level certification. In cooperation with the Sailors for the Sea, the only ocean conservation nonprofit focused on the sailing and boating community, the Regatta Organization tries to reduce our impact on our oceans and coastal waters. The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta has tried to operate as environmentally friendly as possible. The use of reusable bow numbers, paperless registration, biodegradable products in the office and with the help of sponsors creates environmental awareness to all of those involved with the biggest sailing event in the Caribbean.

After being awarded with the Bronze certificate last year, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta will do its best to improve on last year. With the help of three 100% dedicated sponsors the aim is to maintain the environmental awareness on our island. Title sponsor Heineken has ordered biodegradable cups that will be used at the parties during the event. Furthermore they decided not to issue straws which will help reduce a significant amount of waste. And with the success of last year, the bracelets will be sold in order to raise money to protect the natural environment of both the French and Dutch marine parks on the island.

Sol, the official supplier of motorized support during the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, will provide all the boats with marine absorbing pads that will prevent our waters from oil spill. Sol has proven through the years to be very aware of the impact that this event has to their island, and they have taken responsibility to maintain the beauty that our Friendly Island still represents.

The new title sponsor of the Commodores Cup (Thursday March 4th) and worldwide leader in marine technical clothing Gill produce their Race Tech Collection shirts that are fully made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. These shirts offer 50 plus UPF sun protection as well as excellent wicking attributes. Made with a dual purpose use in mind. Ideal for base layer use under gear or as a standalone tech t shirt. The fact that these styles are made from recycled materials is a win for the customer and the environment.

The Regatta Office itself is as well very aware of their responsibility to set an example. In cooperation with the company Good 2 Go the organization will use several biodegradable products, such as cups, coffee cups, household towels, toilet tissues and garbage bags. In order to reduce the paper usage, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta aims towards a paperless registration for their participants and all the attending press will be issued with a press package with all the press releases on CD-ROM rather than the paper versions.

At registration all the skippers without sail numbers will place a deposit and receive a reusable bow number for their boats, and the regatta organization requests that these bow numbers be returned for use in future years. Finally the Regatta Organization will thank their volunteers for their help by handing out an aluminum reusable Thermal Mug to them!

The Organization feels that everyone involved is ready to celebrate 30 years of “Serious Fun” will all the participants.

The largest sailing event in the Caribbean will take place on March 4 to 7! For more information visit: www.heinekenregatta.com

About Sailors for the Sea Founded in 2004, Sailors for the Sea is a nonprofit organization that educates and empowers the boating community to protect and restore our oceans and coastal waters. For more information on or to participate in any of the Sailors for the Sea programs, or to become a member and support the organization, visit www.sailorsforthesea.org. A full list of Clean Regatta certification requirements is also available online.