From March 15 to 18, expect to find plenty of action in the harbor of Gustavia on St. Barths. That’s when the annual St. Barths Bucket takes over the island. “Take over” is no understatement, either. Next to the renowned annual fireworks show on New Year’s Eve, the regatta is its second-biggest draw.
For more than 20 years, sailing superyachts across all size ranges have entered this competition. While there’s plenty of action on the water each day, there’s still plenty to enjoy on land. In fact, the St. Barths Bucket has a spirit of camaraderie. That’s why a yacht hop is among the social events set for the week. It’s also why an owner’s reception is additionally among those events. Similar to some of the other global superyacht regattas, the St. Barths Bucket attracts owners who love racing right alongside their own crew.
Some of the notable yachts competing next week are:
- Child of Lir. Delivered as Ti-Coyo in 2014, Child of Lir is a Swan 105 RS. This year marks her St. Barths Bucket debut.
- M5. Measuring 255 feet (77.6 meters), M5 reigns as the largest among the regatta entries. She further reigns among the largest sailing superyachts in the world.
- Missy. The 108-foot (33-meter) Missy competed in last summer’s America’s Cup superyacht regatta in Bermuda. This is her first Bucket race.
- Rosehearty. If past St. Barths Bucket appearances are any indication, Rosehearty will race with her owner aboard. She’s been victorious twice as well in her class in the event.
- Spiip. Another previous St. Barths Bucket class winner, Spiip is further coming off a win at the Antigua Superyacht Challenge a few weeks ago.
As part of the Bucket, there will be a separate J Class race. Just three competitors are racing—Svea, Topaz, and Velsheda. However, all three are return racers. In addition, Velsheda turned in quite a performance last year. In fact, she tied for first (with Hanuman) on points.
Another important component of the St. Barths Bucket is charity. Each year, the organizers donate part of the entry fees to a non-profit on the island. This year, they’ve selected the Help St. Barth Fund. Created following Hurricane Irma, it works with the local government and business owners to get the island back on its feet. St. Barths Bucket organizers pitched in themselves in the early days of the fund, helping coordinate aid. Besides now donating from the entry fees, the race organizers are encouraging the public to buy copies of the official regatta poster.
You can do so exclusively via the art gallery Space SBH. Price is 80 euros.