St. Barth (March 20, 2022) – Somewhat repeating yesterday’s order of events, a wind delay on the water (of one hour) preceded what was to be 30 pursuit starts for as many superyachts competing here for the 35th edition of the St. Barths Bucket. Different was the sense of finality, since this was the last day of the four-day regatta, which started with two races on Thursday for three historic J-Class boats and continued with one race on Friday and one on Saturday for the J-Class boats plus six more classes of extraordinary sailing machines, ranging from 28 to 60 metres in length and towering seemingly into the stratosphere with their massive rigs.
In the end, any last-race tension was all for naught. The J-Class boats started, only to have their race abandoned after a few short legs on the “Wrong Way” (clockwise) race around the island scheduled for all. Soon after, the Race Committee abandoned racing for all other classes before they had started. The reason: winds exceeding 25 knots and reaching into the battering 30s on the far side of the island.
With that, all scores from yesterday stand for today and serve as final for the regatta.
The winner in J-Class, the refitted 41.63 metre Burgess sloop Ranger, was new to the event, as was its skipper Ed Baird, who described the entry as neither favored nor an underdog. “I would have to say we were ‘unknown,’ since the boat had not sailed in five or six years; we had a major refit; and the class rating rules recently changed.” Ranger had a winch fail on the first day that left it with a disability to overcome; however, the other J-Boats suffered their own mishaps. “When all the J-Boats were together, Ranger was typically pushed out the back just a bit, so it gave us the opportunity to stay out of the fray. The important message, though, is that these boats are just spectacular, and it’s exciting to have them racing here.”
Another first-timer was Rosehearty’s skipper Paul Goodison, notably an accomplished small boat sailor (Laser Olympic Gold Medalist, three-time Moth World champion). “First time at the Bucket, first time in St. Barths, and first time on a Perini,” said Goodison. “It was a real eye opener to do something different from what I’m used to. The key to our success was three good days of practice beforehand. We identified some problems and came up with solutions and had a great game plan going into the regatta.” The 56 metre Perini Navi, which handily won both races in her series, also won her Les Grandes Dames des Mers class in 2019, the last time this event was sailed.
Symmetry, a 39 metre Frers sloop, finished 2-1 in L’Esprit de Mer, a Corinthian Spirit class that gives owners an option of sailing without spinnakers and insuring a more relaxed approach to enjoying all that a superyacht regatta has to offer.
“The second day was most exciting with the squall and a dash to the finish, neck-and-neck with (second place) Vjonara,” said Symmetry’s owner Abbot Brown. “The biggest determining factor to our success was the crew work, sail handling and tactics, as well as some local knowledge from the St. Martin and St. Barths crew who joined us. This was Symmetry’s tenth Bucket, and the communication from other boats in close quarters is the best we have had.”
In Les Gazelles des Mers (the most performance-oriented) class, defending overall and class champion Hetairos, the 59.9 metre Dykstra NA ketch, proved she still has what it takes. With a 1-2 score line, she topped her three-boat class and for a second consecutive time will take home the overall Hermès Bucket Trophy. Hetairos also claimed the Best Starter award for executing the best starts.
“We have an awesome team that has been together for a long time, and every day that we go sailing we grow in confidence and push a little harder,” said Hetairos Captain Graham Newton. “Taking the win over two boats (Leopard 3 and Nilaya) that are so well prepared and so well sailed is very satisfying. They certainly don’t give us any breathing space, and you can see from the results that any boat in our class can win on their day.”
Tom Whidden, tactician aboard the 34 metre S&S sloop Kawil in Les Mademoiselles des Mers said that not getting to race today was disappointing, but it was a smart decision by the organizers to cancel. “It’s not the ending we wanted, but it’s the results we wanted, so how are you going to do better than that?”
Winning both of her races, the Dykstra NA 56.2 ketch Aquarius won Les Elegantes des Mers, repeating her 2019 victory in this class. “It was rather anti-climactic today, but given the conditions and the breakage yesterday, I was rather relieved,” said Aquarius’s Captain James Turner. “We had a good class of similar size and spec ketches. Meraki was our closest competition. We were faster off the wind, but we were head-to-head upwind.”
Freya won in Les Petites Dames, a first-time class for smaller boats in the 27 metre range. The 27.7 metre Nautor’s Swan sloop has raced here twice before, because it was grandfathered in. “It’s a good thing to have a specific class, since we are so different than the big Bucket boats,” said her Captain Jonathan Carter. “Hopefully we’ll attract more boats in the future and get to five or six boats.” Carter said a contributing factor to his team’s victory was that the crew has been together for 10 years; the other boats were newer teams with new owners.
“It’s hard to get your arms around the fact that it’s been three years since we all had the great pleasure of being here together to experience the spirit of the Bucket,” said Race Director Peter Craig at a rambunctious Awards Party Sunday night. “To be here on this beautiful island celebrating the return of the Bucket helps us all refocus on all that is good and the better days ahead.”
Supporters of the Bucket are an important part of its success; thus, Craig thanked Royal Huisman and Vitters Shipyard for their longstanding support as Stewards and loyal Friends of the Bucket as follows: Baltic Yachts, Doyle Sailmakers, Dykstra NA, Edmiston, North Sails, Pantaenius Yacht Insurance, Pendennis Shipyard, Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard, Southern Spars, Tradewind Aviation and ZIS Bespoke Insurance.
Racing photograph, top, by Tino Baum/Pantaenius. Night photograph by Ed Gudenas.
