Start of a race at the 2024 Cata Cup (photo Pierrick Contin)
GUSTAVIA--Year after year, the Saint Barth Cata Cup confirms its reputation as a must-attend event for the world’s best F18 specialists. For this 17th edition, teams from across the globe will once again gather on this breathtaking and challenging playground, each determined to take the top spot.
The competition promises to be fierce. As every year, the Cata Cup brings together the very best of the F18 class: Australians, Argentinians, French, Swedes, Americans, Belgians, and Dutch sailors. In total, ten nations will be represented in this fully booked edition, featuring 48 teams on the starting line.
From Europe, strong contenders include Jean-Christophe Mourniac / Benjamin Amiot (Gypsea), sailing the brand-new Cirrus 3 designed by Emmanuel Boulogne, and the experienced duo Tim Mourniac/Pierre-Yves Durand. Winners of the 2022 edition, the pair has lost none of the chemistry forged over fifteen years of competition.
Among them, Australians Brett Burvill and Max Putman (Le Barthélemy Hotel), third at the last F18 World Championships, are making the trip from Perth to take on the best.
“The Cata Cup is an iconic event on the circuit — we’ve dreamed of racing here for many years,” says Brett Burvill. “With so many top-level teams, it’s a great opportunity to see where we stand. The Cata Cup is also an important step in our preparation for the next F18 Worlds in Western Australia.”
The same enthusiasm comes from Gavin Colby, sailing with Kaï Colman (Super U):
“Yes, it’s a long way from Perth, but the Saint Barth Cata Cup is one of those legendary events worth the trip. It combines top-tier racing with a truly unique atmosphere. We know the fleet is packed with talent — it’s going to be a fantastic challenge.”
Beyond the competition, the Saint Barth Cata Cup remains above all a human adventure and a true celebration of sailing. Combining world-class racing, friendly evenings on shore, and the island’s stunning scenery, the event perfectly captures the spirit of Saint Barthélemy — passion, camaraderie, and pushing limits.
From November 19 to 23, the world’s best crews will once again take to the water for a regatta that blends performance, adrenaline, and the pure joy of sailing — a unique alchemy that has built the legend of the Saint Barth Cata Cup for the past sixteen years.
