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The competition promises to be fiercely competitive once again. For the 18th edition of the Cata Cup, scheduled to take place November 18–22, the organizing association, St. Barth Multihulls, has announced that 44 crews will be participating. Registration is now closed. Well, almost, as Elodie Ghezzi, the event coordinator, explains. “Local crews and others from the Caribbean can still register,” she says. “The containers transporting the boats from the south, north, and west are full.” But for someone coming from the United States, for example, there’s still room. For locals, since the boats are already in St. Barth, they still have time to sign up.”
The World’s Elite
For this 18th edition, the organizers hope to attract close to fifty crews. “That’s a bit fewer than last year, but the financial cost is becoming increasingly significant, and it’s not easy for the competitors,” notes Elodie Ghezzi. Nevertheless, the competitive field will be just as strong as in previous years.
First and foremost because, over the years, the Saint-Barth Cata Cup has established itself as a global benchmark in the world of F18s—the small catamarans on which all competitors sail. It has now become a must-attend event for the top international crews. Everyone knows that a week of intense racing awaits them every year on the waters off Saint Barth. And for local and Caribbean skippers who aren’t among the world’s elite in the sport, the Cata Cup is a unique opportunity to test their skills against the discipline’s top specialists.
As was the case last year, two crews from Saint Barth are already expected at the starting line. They will consist of Jonah and Fenosoa Raveloson, as well as Christophe Maxor and Antonin Sciou. Others may be added to the list in the coming weeks.
Competition and Camaraderie
Among the competitors, the defending champion duo (Belgian Henri Demesmaeker and Swede Rasmus Rosengren) will be in the mix. They’ll face competitors from Argentina, Switzerland, Germany, the United States, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, and France. “We’ll have a great fleet,” says Elodie Ghezzi.
While the competition at sea is the centerpiece of the event, the festivities on shore are also one of the reasons for the event’s success. For this edition, the St. Barth Multihulls association has formed a new partnership with the Le Christopher hotel. For the traditional post-race parties, the Gypsea Beach Club will host the festivities. “We’re planning activities for each evening with local themes,” says Elodie Ghezzi. “We’ll have a Caribbean night, a white-themed night, a beach party…” All set to music, of course.
In addition, the Cata Cup organizers haven’t forgotten the island’s young sailors; as they do every year, they’ll offer afternoon outings at sea with budding sailors from the sailing school.
Both international and local in scope, the Saint-Barth Cata Cup aims to stay the course toward excellence, combining high-level competition, camaraderie, and the art of living.
