March 3, 2010 (Sint Maarten) – The excitement is building and the parties have started in anticipation of the 30th Annual Heineken Regatta. As registration drew to a close the tally approached 250 boats and over 3,500 sailors and their entourages, representing over 30 countries had descended on Sint Maarten.

Today was a practice day for many. A star-studded team of 22 put Titan 15, a Reichel/Pugh 75’ through its paces for nearly six hours today. They will meet up with Vela Veloce, Rambler, Privateer, Equation and Highland Fling in the Spinnaker 1 division once the racing begins. Many other boats paraded out of Simpson Bay when the drawbridge went up for the last time this morning and returned just before sunset. They are checking the color-coded chart of parties and bands that comes with the registration packet for the regatta.

Some sailors, who are at the Heineken Regatta for the first time, took part in what is considered the national sport on the Dutch side of the island. They went to The Sunset, a bar on the beach at the end of the international airport’s runway and waited for the planes to land. The Sunset posts the flight schedule on a surfboard and broadcasts the chatter from the air traffic control tower. Of course, the landing schedule is at its peak this week. The warning at the end of the runway doesn't seem to deter anyone, " Warning Low Flying and Departing Airplane Blast Can Cause Physical Injury or Death."

Thursday is the Gill Commodores Cup, a day of windward-leeward courses off the south coast of Sint Maarten. Open only to spinnaker and racing classes, the one-day event is the warm up regatta for the Heineken Regatta and is scored separately.

Today's Arrival Schedule at The Sunset Bar and Grill in Sint Maarten.