As the Winch Turns: Day 4

There couldn’t have been a more perfect staging area for Sunday night’s final prizegiving party than the tented grounds of the Hotel de la Collectivité, where Superyachts of the motor vessel kind lit up the docks as impressively as the sailing Superyachts left sitting quietly back at Bucket Headquarters across Gustavia’s Inner Harbor. The transfer of energy was by foot, car, and rib, and once there, hundreds of Bucketeers couldn’t wait for one last chance to socialize with old friends as well as new ones and take the stage, if they were fortunate enough, to receive awards for racing prowess and other significantly special accomplishments. Apart from the “smart casual” rather than formal attire, if there were an Oscars for Superyacht sailing, this could be it.

After a spirited mini concert by the Bitin Band, Event Director Peter Craig emceed the event, with St. Barths President Xavier LeDee addressing the crowd and Stewards and Friends of the Bucket assisting in the handing out of silverware, Pier Jouet Grand Brut, and Symphonie Rosé. Showcased with theatrical lighting, sound, and even smoke machines setting the mood, the stage was handsomely backed by a colorful mural replicating the artwork used for this year’s collectible event poster. In front was a green carpet runway that inspired some to run and others to dance their way up rather than walk. (Of course, spunky theme songs played for each team’s trophy presentation might have also had a role in that.)

Team Hyperion made the trip to the stage twice: once for winning in the hotly contested Les Elegantes class and then again for winning the 2025 Bucket Trophy, which had new-this-year criteria for determining its recipient. Let’s just say, they not only made an impression on the racecourse but also passed a litmus test for understanding and participating in the spirit of the Bucket. The team held high the Trophy that will have their yacht name engraved on its hand-crafted Hermés leather base.

Among other deserving finishers in the paparazzi camera lights were V, Vesheda, Hummingbird, Vijonara, Whisper, and Panthalassa, which topped their classes, respectively, in Le Cent Pied, Les Gazelles, Les Petites Dames, L’esprit, Les Mademoiselles, and Les Grande Dames. Given special awards were Vijonara (Wolter Huisman Memorial Award for competing in the true spirit of the event); Symmetry (Vitters Shipyard Best Starter of the regatta); and Gitana (2025 Owner/Driver Award presented by the Yacht Club de Monaco).