The Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) has announced two major updates to the region’s competitive sailing landscape: the launch of a brand-new overall championship trophy and a revised five-year event calendar running from 2027 to 2031. The changes are designed to streamline scheduling, cut down on conflicting event dates, and boost the Caribbean’s standing as a top global destination for competitive sailing.
Central to the new plan is the consolidation of all the region’s top-tier regattas into a single four-month competitive racing season, anchored by the newly introduced CSA Majors Trophy. This prestigious new award will honor the sailor or team that delivers the strongest consistent performance across five of the Caribbean’s most high-profile sailing events: the RORC Nelson’s Cup Series, RORC Caribbean 600, St Maarten Heineken Regatta, Antigua Racing Cup, and BVI Spring Regatta. The overall champion of the circuit will be officially crowned following the conclusion of the BVI Spring Regatta.
The updated five-year calendar brings key adjustments to event timing to eliminate overlapping schedules, a longstanding pain point for competitive teams that want to compete in multiple regional events. Barbados Sailing Week will retain its annual January spot on the calendar throughout the entire 2027–2031 period, while the St Maarten Heineken Regatta also remains a core fixture on the circuit. The Antigua Racing Cup will shift to an earlier date in the revised schedule to accommodate the consolidated four-month window for major events.
CSA President Bastien Poutier emphasized that the structural changes strike a balance between building a professional, accessible competitive circuit and preserving the iconic adventurous spirit that sets Caribbean sailing apart. “This calendar delivers clarity and momentum for our sport,” Poutier explained. “Concentrating our marquee events into a four-month window creates a true circuit for serious campaigners — without losing the adventurous spirit that defines Caribbean racing.”
The CSA Majors Trophy becomes the third regional award recognizing consistent cross-event performance, joining the existing Budget Marine Windies Multihull Trophy and Travellers Trophy. CSA officials noted that the overarching goal of both the new trophy and revised calendar is to maximize competitor participation across the region’s events, attracting more top sailing talent from around the globe and cementing the Caribbean’s reputation as a world-class sailing host.