Setting aside a portion of entry fees and proceeds from the sale of each year’s beautifully illustrated Bucket poster, the Bucket regatta annually makes contributions to worthy St. Barths causes. On the stage Wednesday before the Skipper’s Meeting were representatives of The Youth Sailing Program at the St. Barths Yacht Club; this year they are the beneficiaries of both a monetary donation and a MarkSetBot robotic buoy. Currently in use here in the Bucket Regatta, a second one will be added to the Yacht Club’s mark inventory. The self-propelled sailing mark with GPS technology allows sailing program instructors and race managers to set courses without anchors or mark boats. They also serve to protect the delicate ocean environment.
You probably don’t know this but since last year the Youth Program mentioned above has grown from 400 participants to between 800 and 1000! That’s right, because now sailing is part of the local school curriculum in St. Barths, and all students from age 6 to 16 must sail for three months a year, two classes a week. Makes total sense for island children, does it not?
When singer/songwriter/musician Jimmy Buffett passed away last September it seemed the whole sailing world might stop turning. All of us have been touched by his songs in one way or another, and even if he might not have known each one of us personally, we can say we knew him like a good friend. On Wednesday night, Le Select, a popular watering hole for Bucketeers, conducted a tribute to the man complete with videos on a jumbo screen and of course tunes by the good-hearted pirate. A local resident and huge fan of the Bucket, Jimmy made many musical appearances here over the years… on the stage at the Bucket Bash or at the Baz Bar jamming with the house band. He is gone but will not be forgotten as long as our sailing spirits are alive.
Roaming the docks in the morning you can’t miss our check-in volunteers, all of them familiar faces year after year. They are just a few of the many good people that put their hands up to make the Bucket special.
If you forgot to have your coffee, tea or fresh-squeezed juice before you left the team villa, ENJOY ST. BARTHS had you covered this morning. Their colorful traveling cart was stationed at the docks, near the Bucket stage.
Last night’s party at the BMQ featured the first presentation of daily awards and jeroboams of Rose to class winners (the latter thanks to Oliver Fayard, CEO and Winemaker Chateau St Maraguerite followed by a lively performance from the band Freedom, which mixed island and rock classics for some energetic dancing. Don’t forget the Bucket Bash tonight, also at the BMQ; it’s one you don’t want to miss. The terrific Tanya M. Quintet will be on the stage.
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