HH66 Nemo takes top honors in the 2024 Caribbean Multihull Challenge

After a challenging four-days of unusual Caribbean light weather, close competition on the race course and an adventurous island tour of St.Maarten /St. Martin and St. Barth’s for the cruising set, the 6th running of the Caribbean Multihull Challenge Race and Rally concluded last evening at the prizegiving ceremony on the grounds of the host organization, the St. Maarten Yacht Club. It was a time to celebrate the latest excellent edition of the annual event, and look ahead to the future.

There was no shortage of rock-star talent in the CSA 1 class, with a pair of 66-foot heavyweights trading punches throughout the 8-race series. Aboard Ricardo Pavoncelli’s Gunboat 66 Mana, the crew included two offshore legends: Brit Brian Thompson and Frenchman Loick Peyron. But American Todd Slynstad’s squad on Nemo was no slouch, and included pro sailors Ryan Breymaier, Mat Bryant and Jan Majer. It was a winning combination, as Nemo registered three bullets on the final day of racing to seal the CSA 1 championship.

“I always worry about coming here to St. Maarten with Nemo because the trade winds typically blow much more than what we had, but this time they didn’t,” said Slyngstad. “The whole regatta kind of fell right into our wheelhouse and played to our strengths. We were able to utilize all of our tools. It was fun and not too stressful.”

Slyngstad had high praise for the CMC organizers, and also revealed that the regatta was also a swan song of sorts for Nemo. “This regatta is always fun, it’s such a great place to sail and everyone does a great job,” he said.

About the Caribbean Multihull Challenge:
The St Maarten Yacht Club will host the seventh annual Caribbean Multihull Challenge Race and Rally from the first weekend of February, 2025. The event is open to all multihull sailors on racing catamarans and trimarans as well as chartered cats and cruising multis. For more information visit www.caribbeanmultihullchallenge.com.