The post I promised about the recent Phuket Invitational megayacht race will have to wait a few more days, due to a delay in photos arriving, so I thought I’d update you on yet another race, this time one that you can still get in on–if you hurry.
It’s the annual St. Barths Bucket, being held March 27 to 30 in the island’s picturesque harbor town of Gustavia. The regatta is open to sailing yachts more than 100 feet LOA as well as ones invited under the Grandfather Clause (or successful in bribing the racing committee–champagne usually does the trick, I hear).
There are a few interesting things about this race. First, while it shies away from formal measurements, it does rely on owners and their crew being as precise as possible in entering data because the design inputs are entered into a Velocity Prediction Program (VPP). This program determines the yacht’s sailing potential in seconds per mile for any wind angle and wind velocity. It also lets the organizers create allowances for how each entrant performs on each point of sail. Here’s how they put it: “Simply stated, there are a lot of upwind dogs that become reaching screamers–and in a fleet as disparate in design at the Bucket, this is an essential component of the rating analysis. This is the only rule that fully analyses the percentage of upwind, reaching and running involved for each race–and factors it into each yacht’s rating.”
Still need convincing this race is up your alley? Besides being a great opportunity to mix and mingle with your fellow owners and crew, the St. Barths Bucket is ideal for picking up ideas on where to visit next. For example, Port Louis Marina and Resort in Grenada, owned by Peter de Savary–who also owns the classic megayacht Savvy, which will be on hand with her crew to greet you–is sponsoring the fleet welcoming party on March 27.
It all wraps up on March 30, with an awards presentation and cocktail party sponsored by Perini Navi, Alloy Yachts, and Royal Huisman. The festivities start at 7 p.m. and go to (and I quote the organizers) “whenever.” Now that’s my kind of party.
Dock space is limited to 20 to 24 yachts, and the Bucket itself can only accommodate 30 yachts, so if you want to participate, register now: As of last evening, 26 yachts have already confirmed, including Gliss, Hyperion, Patient Falcon, and Andromeda la Dea. Check this page to get the rundown.
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