An uptick in numbers for the 2024 St. Barths Bucket means 30 of the world’s most magnificent Superyachts and over a thousand serious yet fun-loving sailors have flocked to the tiny island of St. Barthelemy for this giant of an event. The racing format, now finely honed after 30 years of holding the regatta here, is three days (Friday, March 22 – Sunday, March 24) of pursuit-style racing with an abundance of shoreside social events, adding a shot of conviviality to a healthy dose of vitamin sea.
“We are so happy to be back,” said Steve Rowland, the owner/driver of the 34 meter sloop Nakupenda, which won its class and the overall Bucket Trophy last year. “Of course, we’ve returned wanting to defend our title, but it’s not just that. This is one of those amazing regattas that you never want to have end, and you always want to put on your schedule again.”
The large, diverse Bucket fleet consists of sloops, ketches and schooners, ranging in size from 28 meters (Freya) to 77 meters (M5) and split into seven classes: three for “conventional” cruising Superyachts (Les Gazelles, Les Elegantes, Les Mademoiselles), two for non-spinnaker Corinthian Spirit cruising Superyachts (L’Esprit 1 and L’Esprit 2), one for 90 footers (Les Petites Dames), and one for Open Performance (Performance Ouveurts).
A total of four Bucket yachts were newly launched in 2023; two of them – Royal Huisman’s 47 meter sloop Nilaya and Vitters Shipyard’s 59 meter ketch Maximus – will sail in the four-boat Les Gazelles class, which is reserved for the larger, faster-rated superyachts. They will face stiff competition from Baltic Yachts’ 60 meter ketch Hetairos, overall Bucket winner in 2019, and Royal Huisman’s 56 meter ketch Aquarius, which won its class here in both 2019 and 2022. In a new twist this year, the cruising Gazelles will combine with one racing superyacht to comprise an Open Performance class, which when scored separately from the Gazelles will have its own class trophies.
“This came about because we had several racing Superyachts that wanted to compete in their own class here,” said Regatta Director Peter Craig. “Though they don’t fit the mold of a conventional cruising Superyacht as defined by the SuperYacht Racing Association, we decided to accommodate them; however, in the end, only the 35 meter sloop Spirit of Malouen X was able to join us. Since we can’t have a class for just one boat we populated the Performance Class with Spirit of Malouen X and the Gazelles for some spirited racing fun.”
Sailing in the five-boat Les Elegantes class, two historic J Boats – the 39 meter Velsheda, built in 1933, and the 42 meter Hanuman, Royal Huisman’s modern interpretation of the 1936-built Endeavour II – will grace the skyline in juxtaposition to the third newly built superyacht, Baltic Yachts’ 33 meter sloop Zemi.
Nakupenda certainly will need to be “game on” in the six-boat Les Mademoiselles class, which includes Royal Huisman’s 47 meter Hyperion among the four sloops racing as well as Pendennis’s 46 meter schooner Adela and Perini Navi’s 56 meter ketch Panthalassa.
The Les Petites Dames have the narrowest rating spread with three Nautor’s Swans comprising the class. One of them, the 28 meter Freya, won her class here in 2022.
Finally, a total of 11 boats have decided to sail Corinthian this year, with the 33 meter sloop Gelliceaux being the fourth new Superyacht having to prove herself against five other entrants in L’Esprit 1. In L’Esprit 2, the 52 meter sloop Red Dragon will work to top the scoreboard as she did in 2023 (sailing in L’Esprit 1) and Perini Navi’s 56 meter ketch Rosehearty, which won her class here in 2019 and 2022, will try non-spinnaker sailing for the first time.
“In 2023, 11 out of 25 entrants chose to sail Corinthian, but sailing with spinnakers was optional then,” said Craig. “This year, both classes are strictly no spinnakers, and we have 11 out of the 30 teams choosing to go this way. It’s interesting to note, too, that four of the teams are new here, which is good for Superyacht sailing in general. Each team has its own reasons for wanting to sail without spinnakers, but the benefit to all is that it takes fewer hands on-deck to do so. It can even be done with the permanent crew and guests, so that a larger, more experienced or professional crew does not have to be brought in.”
Craig also noted that this year, on Friday and Saturday after racing, standings for the overall Bucket Trophy will be posted.
As per Bucket tradition, a single race per class will be held each day of racing; individual start times will be structured so that yachts in each class finish together. Winners in all classes as well as the overall Bucket winner will be named on Sunday at the Final Awards Ceremony and Party, slated for the Collectivitie on the far side of Gustavia Harbor from the Capitainerie.
The St. Barths Bucket regatta, beloved by owners and crew from around the world, debuted in the USA as the “Nantucket Bucket” (in Nantucket, Massachusetts) in 1986. It moved to these local waters in 1995 and has repeated annually since, becoming a fond addition to local life here. Each year, the event designates a portion of the entry fee for donation to a meaningful non-profit program in St. Barth. This year, the proceeds will go to the Youth Sailing Program at the St Barths Yacht Club.
“Stewards” of the Bucket, so critical to the success of the regatta, are Royal Huisman and Vitters Shipyard. Corporate “Friends” of the Bucket are Baltic Yachts, BOAT International Media, Burgess, BWA Yachting, Doyle Sailmakers, Dykstra Naval Architects, Edmiston, Fraser Yachts, The Moorings, North Sails, Pantaenius, Pendennis Shipyard, Perini Navi, Perrier-Jouet Champagne, Riela Yachts, Safe Harbor Marinas, Southern Spars, Tradewind Aviation, and ZIS Bespoke Insurance.