Welcome to the Bucket Blog where everything from the serious to the silly is presented in vignettes for you to enjoy as you scamper to Gustavia Harbor to make boat call, or hang out with friends at the Bucket Bar, or relax at your villa at the end of a long racing day, or…well, you get the idea.
The Bucket starts today, and most teams are well into the rhythm of racing, having spent one or more days here practicing, albeit in light air that, luckily, is expected to strengthen for all racing days.
The Bucket Marquee on the Quay officially opened early yesterday evening after the Skipper’s Meeting. At the Fleet Welcoming Party that followed, mixing socially came easy to attendees, and many learned that their boat shoes were as well-soled for dancing as for sailing. Good beats and good eats were offered up by the band Zig Zag and Oui Chef, respectively, and everyone went home happy, to dream of the three spirited racing days to come.
If you are counting your blessings this week, make sure to include the one made by the Reverend Charles Dere Nicoll of St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church. With prayers for all who support this event and whose calling is the sea, the official Blessing of the Bucket Fleet took place Wednesday at the Square de la Retrocession, just past the mooring field at the southern end of Gustavia Harbor. And what about that ten-ton anchor that marks the spot? It was made in England and dates back to the 18th Century. At one point it was lost by a large military ship off St. Thomas, and there it sat submerged, until 1981 when a massive ship accidentally dragged it all the way to St. Barths. 
So the next time you’re walking to Shell Beach, stop and reflect about all the good things that have been sent your way in life and ponder all this anchor has been through!
Thursday night welcomed owners, their guests and Bucket sponsors at Nikki Beach for a casually glamorous sea-side soiree, complete with champagne, sushi and footage of last year’s racing showed on a jumbotron settled solidly in the sand. In the spotlight was the Bucket Trophy that will ultimately go to the best overall team this week. With its leather base beautifully stitched by Hermès, the engraved silver bucket showed 29 winning teams, starting with Andromeda in 1996, that have held the Bucket high above their heads in victory.
A changing of the guard took place at Wednesday’s SuperYacht Racing Association (SYRA) Annual General Meeting when Shirley Robertson OBE officially took over the helm from Peter Craig as Manager of the organization, which is essential to Superyacht racing. With a wealth of experience and success in the sport and a notable presence in superyacht racing, Robertson brings a valuable perspective and new energy to the SYRA. Robertson made history by becoming the first British woman to win Olympic Gold Medals at consecutive Olympic Games and has become – with an illustrious broadcasting career in sailing and a popular podcast — one of the most recognizable faces in the sport of sailing.
“The last decade saw many crucial areas addressed to enhance safe sailing and fair racing in this unique segment of sailboat racing,” said SYRA Chairperson Kate Branagh. “The SYRA’s priorities have shifted in recent years to fleet building, achieving more broad-based participation and expanding membership in the association, areas that Shirley will excel in.” Said Robertson: Expanding on the excellent work already done by the team at the SYRA while helping grow our membership at this exciting time in our sport is something I am really looking forward to.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.