After my photos from the Crédit Mutuel Trail (check the previous article), I was contacted by Mary from Learn 2 Paddle SXM, who organizes the Soualiga Challenge, a race connecting Fourchue Island to Kimsha Beach in St. Maarten, featuring surfski, kayaks, and outrigger canoes.


There were about 15 participants, some from Guadeloupe, Martinique, and a few local athletes, like Juan-Pablo from Tripsports racing with his son on a double surfski, my good friend CaptainJo and also Chucho Nonnot, a foil specialist.


Mary asked me if I could cover the event, and I was stoked to say yes, excited to put my ocean-shooting skills to the test.


Spoiler alert: it did not disappoint.

People gather outside a beach resort building with palm trees and a wooden bridge structure overhead.

📍Kimsha Beach, 9AM – Briefing & Boarding


I got to Kimsha around 9AM, a bit tense. Not about the gear (technically I felt good) but I really wanted to deliver something beautiful.

Shooting on water is a different game. Light, movement, wide open space… it’s harder to catch the vibe.


The athletes started arriving, Mary handled all the paperwork, and I took a few shots of the warm-up and prep with my Fujifilm XT4.

Then we all boarded the Enigma catamaran, gear loaded, heading for Fourchue. The mood was chill, everyone was smiling.

For now.

White boats and small watercraft lined up on a sandy beach with sailboats visible in the turquoise ocean background.
Someone wearing a watch fills out paperwork on a blue surface with a large stone nearby.
A small glass trophy or award with a curved sculpture design sits in a clear display case on a table.
Person in pink shirt applies sunscreen while standing outdoors near a blue building and palm tree on a sunny day.
Person in bright orange sun shirt and hat holds a kayak paddle near boats and waterfront buildings on a sunny day.
Athletes in athletic wear and hats pose together at a sunny beach with palm trees.

🌊 The Crossing – From Chill to Struggle


As soon as we passed Pointe Blanche, the ocean got wild. Heavy swell, choppy water and the vibe changed.

Smiles faded, faces tensed up. A few held onto jokes, but the rest were clearly not loving the ride including me.


I kept watching Fourchue inch closer, very slowly, and started wondering if I’d even be able to shoot with seasickness creeping in.

Spoiler again: it’s rough framing a shot when your stomach is staging a revolt.


After two hours at sea, we finally reached Fourchue, and you could feel the collective relief.

Some jumped in for a swim, others explored the bay by kayak.

Me? Water. Sandwich. Recovery. Then I got back to shooting the race prep from around the boat.

Person relaxing on a blue cushioned bench on a boat deck with ocean view visible through window.
A group of people enjoy a sunny day on a boat deck with bright blue ocean waters and sky in the background.
A group gathers on a boat deck during a sunny day on turquoise waters wearing sun protection gear and sportswear.
View from the deck of a sailing yacht showing white rigging, orange ropes and turquoise ocean waters under blue skies.
Boater wearing an orange life vest and baseball cap points while sailing on bright blue waters.
Someone relaxes on a sailboat deck against a bright blue ocean background on a sunny day.
Person in blue striped shirt and floral shorts standing at boat helm against blue sky on sunny day.
Someone naps peacefully on a couch wearing a light green t-shirt in a casual home setting.
Person in white shirt and black hat sailing on a boat against bright blue sky with rigging visible.

🛶 Race time – And the madness begins


At 2PM, the race kicked off. I jumped on a support boat with John & Marc, and off we went chasing the lead pack.


The Doliprane I took that morning was wearing off fast, and the headache started tapping on the door.

Still, I kept my sandwich down which was a win. Now I just had to get the shots.


As we focused on the surfskis, we suddenly noticed Chucho on his paddle foil… way ahead. Flying.

We floored it to catch him. But out in open water, the swell hit hard. Chucho lost speed, got caught in sargassum, and tried to relaunch his foil again and again.


Honestly, I wouldn’t want to be in his place — on such a tiny board, drifting between St. Maarten and Saba.

Eventually, we had to leave him behind and focus on the race. My job was to shoot and the rest of the pack was far ahead.

Three people having a conversation together on what appears to be a boat with mountains visible in the background.
Two crew members help demonstrate proper life jacket safety procedures during a boat safety briefing.
Person working on boat equipment on deck with turquoise ocean waters and rocky coastline visible in background.
A person in a blue wetsuit sits aboard a sleek white water vessel on bright blue ocean waters during a sunny day.
People relax on a yacht deck while sailing in crystal blue waters on a sunny summer day.
A group of people in orange life jackets gather on a small boat near a large yacht in blue waters.
Athlete paddling a white racing kayak on bright blue water while wearing orange safety vest and black hat.
A kayaker in bright orange safety gear paddling across blue water on a white vessel.
Kayaker wearing an orange life vest and navy shirt paddles through bright blue ocean waters on a white kayak.
Kayaker wearing orange life vest paddling through bright blue ocean waters on a sunny day.
Two kayakers paddle through blue waters near red cliffs with boats in the background.
A person stand-up paddle boarding on bright blue waters near dramatic rocky cliffs performs a dynamic maneuver.
Kayakers paddling through blue waters near red rocky cliffs with a white sailboat anchored in the background.
A person kayaking on bright blue waters near rocky coastal cliffs on a sunny day.
A kayaker in red paddles along dramatic coastal cliffs with bright blue ocean waters below.

📷 Focus: tested. Patience: required.


Catching up with the leaders was one thing. Shooting them? Another level.

Surfskis sit super low, the swell was messy, the boat kept rocking, and my XT4’s autofocus was pushed to its limits.


I just hoped I’d come back with something sharp.


We followed Olivier (in the lead) all the way to the finish at Kimsha. Then circled back near Pointe Blanche to catch the chasers.


They were flying. After two hours at sea, they still had power and focus: impressive stuff.

Past Pointe Blanche, the water calmed down and tracking them became easier.

Olivier and Frank were neck and neck at the finish, with the rest not far behind.


Every time we passed a new paddler, I couldn’t help but think:

“How do they manage to do this, on these tiny crafts, without flipping?”

A surfer in an orange life vest rides a hydrofoil board across deep blue ocean waves.
Surfer rides a hydrofoil board across deep blue choppy ocean waters with rocky islands in the background.
Paddle boarder in orange lifejacket rides across choppy blue ocean waves with distant island visible on horizon.
Kayaker in orange life vest and cap paddles through blue ocean waves during water sports adventure.
Person riding a white surfboard or paddleboard on choppy blue ocean waves on a bright sunny day.
A lone kayaker paddling across deep blue choppy ocean waters on a bright sunny day.
A seabird spreads its wings while flying over deep blue ocean waves with a rocky island mountain in the background.
Sea kayaker paddling through blue ocean waves with white spray trailing behind the vessel.
A kayaker in a white kayak navigates through choppy blue ocean waters on a sunny day.
A kayaker navigates through choppy blue ocean waters with breaking waves on a sunny day.
A kayaker in an orange life vest paddles through blue ocean waves on a sunny day.
Two kayakers paddle in turquoise waters near a coastal residential area with white buildings and palm trees.

🏁 Back on land and done


We hit the beach just in time to catch the final arrivals. Tired faces, but smiling. They made it.


After the awards, I packed up, exhausted (more than I expected) and headed home with over 2,000 photos to go through.


The complete gallery of 300 photos is here.


🙏 Gratitude & what’s next


Huge thanks to John & Marc for the boat rides and good vibes all day.

And of course to Mary for trusting me with this kind of shoot — not easy conditions, but what a challenge.


I hope I managed to capture the atmosphere of the Soualiga Challenge 2025, and maybe open the door to other ocean events here in St. Martin.

A kayaker paddling a white racing kayak across turquoise waters near a rocky shoreline.
A kayaker in red life vest paddles a white kayak across turquoise waters near a rocky shoreline.
People enjoy a sunny day of water activities on a tropical beach with palm trees and tents near turquoise waters.
Two kayakers paddle through blue ocean waters in a white kayak near a rocky coastline on a sunny day.
Kayaker paddles a blue and white kayak across turquoise ocean waters near a scenic beach.
Sea kayaker paddles past a white catamaran yacht anchored in beautiful blue ocean waters.
A paddler navigates choppy blue ocean waters on a sleek white surf ski in warm weather conditions.
A kayaker in an orange life vest paddles a white kayak across bright blue waters on a sunny day.
An adventurer in orange athletic gear and a baseball cap smiles while carrying winter sports equipment in a snowy setting.
A beach lifeguard in bright orange safety gear stands on white sand with palm trees and water safety equipment.
Person wearing orange life vest and sunglasses smiles while adjusting shades on sunny beach.
Person carrying a white surfboard wearing an orange life vest walks along a tropical beach with boats in background.
Glass beside a curved metal sculpture at a tropical bar or restaurant with drink menu visible.
Close-up of hands holding a bottle of Coppers Rum with a palm tree logo and special edition label.
Person relaxing on a green bench with stacked white chairs visible in the background.