St. Barths (March 19, 2022) – A two-hour delay due to winds gusting over 25 knots left plenty of time for Bucket sailors to mentally prepare for a “Not So Wiggley” course that was chosen by organizers for today’s races. Two classes (Grand Dames and L’Esprit) sailed the same 18.40 nautical miles clockwise around and through small islands and rock groupings on the west and north side of the island of Saint Barthélémy, while another five classes (Les Gazelles, Les Elegantes, Les Mademoiselles, Les Petites Dames and J-Class) sailed a similar route but with some longer legs to stretch the trek to just over 23 nm.
The wind had dampered down to a cool 17-18 knots at the first pursuit start (1:30 for L’Esprit Class’s Columbia, a 43.5 metre Sterling Burgess schooner) but whipped up again to 30+ when a squall with sideways rain hit in the vicinity of Ile Fourchue and Ile de Boulanger. That was when many in the fleet were embarking on their second downwind leg of the race. (The first downwind leg began at the start.)
“We saw that squall coming,” said Jonathan Carter, captain of the 27.7 metre Nautor’s Swan sloop Freya in Les Petites Dames, “and felt we were in front of it enough to fly our spinnaker.” The team hoisted in 22 knots, did a quick jibe, and when the wind hit 32 knots and the boat speed reached into the 20s (about ¾ down the leg), they decided it was time to douse. According to Carter, Freya’s owner/driver Don Macpherson and Volvo Ocean Race veteran Kimo Worthington, calling tactics, stayed well in sync with the team to win. “We hit all the lay lines; only had three tacks on the first beat; and hugged in close behind the island, which gave us an advantage. The foredeck crew did a great job despite us putting them in some tricky situations.”
Freya also won yesterday and joins classmates Drifter Cube (a 29.6 metre Nautor’s Swan sloop) and Sonny III (a 27.9 metre Johnson sloop) as first-timers here. The Les Petites Dames are part of a new initiative here to include smaller high-performance racing machines in the regatta.
Other class leaders from yesterday that maintained their positions for today were: defending overall and class champion Hetairos, the 59.9 metre Dykstra NA ketch, in Les Gazelles; defending class champion Aquarius, the Dykstra NA 56.2 ketch, in Les Elegantes; and Ranger, the 41.63 metre Burgess sloop, in J-Class.
Columbia dropped from first overall yesterday to second after finishing third in today’s race; the 29.3 metre Frers sloop Symmetry now leads in L’Esprit class on merit of a 2-1 scoreline.
Tomorrow’s conclusion of the Bucket will feature a final single race for all classes, followed by a Final Awards Ceremony and Party at the Wall House Museum.