The owner and crew of Hetairos might have gotten a bit wet on the race course Sunday when a squall passed through, but they got a real drenching Sunday night on the Bucket stage when they celebrated being named the overall Bucket winner for 2019. The coveted award was kept a surprise until the end of the joyous prize giving, which took place on the expansive lawn of the Collectivité and saw top-three teams in each of six classes take the stage while rousing fight songs – specially chosen for each – played over the loud speakers.
Hetairos had previously taken the stage as victor in Les Gazelles class, receiving (as did all other class winners) a stunning Ship’s Bell Clock from Chelsea Clocks and a bottle of champagne. It was because the class was deemed by organizers to be the most closely-contested that the owner ultimately was able to hold high the silver Bucket and spray his beloved crew with an additional bottle of award champagne, this time Jeroboam-sized.
The evening started with special thanks to Bucket Stewards Perini Navi, Royal Huisman, Rybovich and Vitters, as well as 16 corporate “Friends of the Bucket, followed by St. Barths President Bruno Magras accepting, on behalf of the Help St. Barth Initiative, this year’s Bucket donation from the owners (through entry fees) to the local community. The Initiative helps the island’s continuing recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, and Bucket organizers requested that at least 50% of the contribution be earmarked for Coral Restoration St. Bath, the association engaged in the restoration and repopulation of the damaged marine reef.
The “Special Awards” segment kicked off with an abundance of color and boisterous cheering, as the team of Kaori, from Les Femmes class, took the stage in grass hula skirts to receive the Wolter Huisman Memorial Award, given to the yacht that has competed in the true spirit of the event. A special thank-you went to Kaori’s captain, Ian Craddock, who helped start the Bucket here 25 years ago.
Also brought to the stage for special awards was the crew of Rosehearty, winner of Grand Dames class, for the Perini Navi Cup (presented by Perini Navi’s Edoardo Tabacchi for the best Perini Navi yacht competing); the Rebecca crew for the Vitter’s Shipyard Seamanship Trophy (presented by Vitters Shipyard’s Elise Brouwer for the yacht that demonstrates the Best Seamanship and Sportsmanship in the interest of promotion of safety on the race course) ; the crew of Nakupenda, from Les Femmes class, for the Owner/Driver award; and the crew of Sojana, winner of Mademoiselles class, for the Best Starter award.
A specially framed poster for this year’s Bucket was dedicated in the memory of Michael Koppstein, a longtime supporter of the Bucket, and will hang in the Capitainerie.
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