The Maxi Transatlantic Cup race prize giving ceremony was held at the El Rancho Restaurant on Saturday, December 5, 2009 and Commissioner of Sports was present to congratulate the winners.
The following is Commissioner Richardson’s Speech:
Participants of the Maxi Transatlantic Cup; race organizers, International Maxi Association (I.M.A.); representatives of Yacht Club Costa Smeralda; representatives of the Real Club Nautico de Tenerife; representatives of the St. Maarten Yacht Club; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.
First of all, allow me to welcome all of you to St. Maarten; we are delighted to have you here.
I trust that you had a most exciting and wonderful race – coming all the way from the Canary Islands.
I am happy that you have made it here safely after departing from Tenerife on Monday the 23rd of November en route to Sint Maarten.
It is my understanding that five nations were represented in the race: Argentina, Canada, China, Great Britain and Malta.
It is also my understanding that a special competition was held aimed at breaking the record of the course — featuring the Hong Kong boat, Beau Geste, and the Argentinean boat Alexia, racing for the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.
We now know that the Chinese maxi yacht Beau Geste crossed the finishing line at Sint Maarten on Thursday, concluding the Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup 2009 after 9 days, 8 hours, 54 minutes, 27 seconds, which is the new record of the course!
This is no small feat considering that on board of Alexia was the team who recently won the TP52 World Championship in Spain!
I would like to take this opportunity to extend congratulations to the owner of Beau Geste, Mr. Karl C. Kwok, from Hong Kong, with the performances of his boat.
Ladies and gentleman, it is a great thing that the finish of this very prestigious event takes place on St. Maarten – an island where we leave no stone unturned to welcome repeat visitors, attract new ones and grab those opportunities arising from niche markets.
We are the home of the now famous St. Maarten Heineken Regatta and venue for
boat shows and port calls for some of the most luxurious mega yachts and sailing vessels you can expect to find anywhere in the world.
The Maxi Transatlantic race is, of course, becoming one of the most important steps of the maxi yacht circuit and so I reiterate that we are proud to be associated with this event.
I wish to congratulate the participating teams and the various yacht clubs for a job well done, thereby contributing to making this event a reality and a success.
I thank you.