Tony Rey, a veteran racing sailor, North Sails superyacht expert and familiar face at Bucket Regattas, is the new President of the SuperYacht Racing Association (SYRA). “I’d been on the SYRA Executive Committee for a couple of years and liked what Peter Craig (past Executive Director) and Shirley Robertson (current Executive Director) were doing to shepherd SYRA along and continue to improve our partnership with ORC,” said Rey, who is serving as tactician aboard the ketch Maximus this year. 
“When it was time for long-time SYRA President Kate Branagh to pass the baton, it was my turn to step up. It’s fun as a pro sailor to be part of the solution.” SYRA is a non-profit organization established in 2011. Membership is open to any superyacht owner (or owner’s representative) and superyacht event organizers as well as industry-related companies and individuals. (If your Superyacht is not represented, they should be!)If you’ve spotted a race mark cruising along as if it has a mind of its own, don’t worry…it’s a MarkSetBot. These robotic marks have been part of the Bucket since 2022, adding a high-tech twist to race management.
According to MarkSetBot’s Jim Thompson, the two bots in use this year actually call the island home; Bucket organizers donated them to the St. Barths Yacht Club a few years ago. “They offer great flexibility because they can be controlled directly from the signal boat and don’t require anchors or tackle to set,” says Thompson. “It’s simply a ‘botter way’ to run a race.” Also of note is the reduced environmental impact.
As you can imagine, it takes an incredible team of dedicated volunteers to bring the Bucket to life. Dozens upon dozens of enthusiastic supporters step up each year, giving their time and energy to keep the event running seamlessly. From welcoming sailors at shoreside registration to assisting the race committee on the water – and countless tasks in between – their efforts touch every part of the experience. We are deeply grateful to every volunteer who lends a hand and thus helps create the collective spirit that makes the Bucket so unforgettable.
Last night’s Bucket Bash on the Quay carried on a tradition of camaraderie and celebration that has become as integral to the Bucket as the racing itself. The dance band Caza set the tone early, filling the quay with music while gourmet small bites and drinks from the Bucket Bar kept the crowd moving and mingling.
And yet, the biggest celebration of the event still lies ahead: tonight’s Final Awards Ceremony and Party at the Collectivité across the harbor. It’s one gathering no one wants to miss — the grand send-off where hundreds of Bucketeers come together one last time to celebrate the week and say their farewells until the next Bucket.
