You’ve had this dream for longer than you could remember. You’ve wanted to race an exquisite boat on the warm blue waters of the Caribbean, and feel the wind in your hair as you sail towards the horizon. One company, the 12-Metre Challenge, makes those dreams come true every year, right in the heart of St. Maarten.
It all goes back to 1851 and Queen Victoria. Since then, men have spent small fortunes to win this most prestigious and oldest sporting trophy in the world. For 132 years the New York Yacht Club would not be beaten; then, in 1983 it was the Australians. They took the "Auld Mug" "Down Under" and set up the greatest America's Cup of all time. After 354 individual yacht races, it was Dennis Conner with his fabulous Stars & Stripes campaign who won the trophy and brought it home to the U.S.A.
For the 1958 America’s Cup Trophy, the contestants and the America’s Cup Organizing Committee agreed that it was time to move on from the pre-war era of the “J” Boats. A lighter, more maneuverable design would allow for closer, more exciting racing. The very popular 12 Metre Class, possibly the most successful race boats ever designed, were selected.
12-Metre boats are so called NOT because of their overall length, but because they must conform to a formula. The formula takes the form of an equation and takes into consideration various measurements of the boat; and the result of this equation must not exceed 12. In fact, a 12 Metre boat is about seventy-feet long, the masts are eighty-six feet high, and they weigh about thirty-five tons.
The race boats of the St.Maarten 12 Metre Challenge are exclusively boats that were designed and built for the last America’s Cup using 12 Metre Yachts, the 1987 America’s Cup in Fremantle, Australia. In the knowledge that the winds in Fremantle would be far stronger than previous America’s Cups, the 1987 boats were designed and built larger, more powerful and stronger than ever before. These are the last of the legendary “12’s” and represent the zenith of the marque. Maintained in pristine condition, and kept very authentic, the yachts have only been modified to improve guest safety.
With the 12-Metre Challenge, you are sure to enjoy a different type of vacation. You are offered a chance to participate in an experience that is thrilling, unique and guaranteed to keep you coming back for more. That is why we have been voted "Best Shore Excursion in the Caribbean" for the 11th consecutive year by Princess Cruises, rated 10/10 by Crystal Cruises, rated "Seadream Yacht Club Top Experience", and rated as one of the "top excursions in the entire world" by * Seabourn Cruise Line
