In a major announcement made from St. John’s, Antigua, the Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) has revealed sweeping changes to the region’s elite competitive sailing schedule, alongside the launch of an ambitious new championship award to celebrate the sport’s top performers. The updated five-year racing calendar will consolidate all of the Caribbean’s most prestigious sailing events into a tightly packed four-month core season, a restructuring designed to elevate competitive opportunities while retaining the region’s signature laid-back, adventurous sailing culture.
The new condensed circuit is tailored to meet the needs of both professional sailing teams and high-level amateur Corinthian competitors, offering a clear, uninterrupted window for athletes to mount full competitive campaigns across the region. At the same time, the restructuring preserves the flexibility that draws recreational sailors to the Caribbean, allowing casual participants to continue crafting their own unique sailing experiences in the region’s iconic waters.
“This updated calendar brings much-needed clarity and forward momentum to our sport,” shared Bastien Poutier, President of the CSA, in a statement following the announcement. “By concentrating all our marquee events into a single four-month window, we are able to create a true, cohesive circuit for serious competitive sailors — all without losing the adventurous spirit that has always defined Caribbean racing.”
### A Refined, Streamlined Competitive Schedule
The overhauled season retains the region’s most beloved events while adjusting dates and formats to create a more cohesive circuit. The iconic St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, widely recognized as the Caribbean’s largest sailing gathering, will remain the anchor event of the new season. The Antigua Racing Cup has been shifted to an earlier date on the calendar to fit the new timeline, while the popular St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR) is set to return April 8–11 with a fully refreshed format.
STIR’s updated structure will integrate the popular Three Sheets Distance Race & Rally directly into its schedule, and add an all-new wing foiling class to complement existing CSA open fleets and one-design racing fleets, expanding opportunities for a new generation of sailing athletes.
### A New Prestigious Award Culminates in a High-Stakes Finale
To complement the calendar restructuring, the CSA has launched a prestigious new annual championship that recognizes the top overall performing team across the Caribbean’s six major regattas. Eligible events for the new trophy include the RORC Nelson Series, RORC Caribbean 600, St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, Antigua Racing Cup, and BVI Spring Regatta.
The inaugural winner of the CSA Majors Trophy will be crowned at the BVI Spring Regatta, which will serve as the high-stakes grand finale that closes out the core four-month season. The new award joins two existing circuit-wide honors — the Budget Marine Windies Multihull Trophy and the Travellers Trophy — all of which recognize consistent excellence from boats that compete and win across multiple stops on the Caribbean circuit.