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St Barths Bucket Regatta logo

St Barths Bucket Regatta

Ranger yacht at St Barths Bucket Regatta 2022

Following a three-year hiatus, St. Barths Bucket Regatta 2023 made its comeback in 2022. This invitation-only sailing regatta welcomes the finest sailors from across the globe, and is famously filled with exhilarating racing and shoreside fun.

Ranger yacht st barths bucket regatta 2022

St. Barths Bucket Regatta

Kamaxitha yacht st barths bucket regatta 2022

Yachts at the New Zealand Millenium Cup 2020

Gitana anchored off Antibes 

Kawil yacht in Antigua

Kawil

After a three day battle is customary high winds and bright sunshine, the 33.24-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Denship A/S (Company)">Royal Denship</a> sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/72" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nakupenda33.24m (109'1&quot;)Royal Denship A/S2005">Nakupenda</a> won the St Barths Bucket 2023 over this weekend. 25 yachts competed between the five racing classes that took part in this year's event; Les Gazelles, Les Elegantes, Les Mademoiselles, L'Esprit 1 and L'Esprit 2 (the Corinthian Spirit Class). <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/66" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Red Dragon51.7m (169'7&quot;)Alloy Yachts2008">Red Dragon</a>, the 51.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/60" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alloy Yachts (Company)">Alloy Yachts</a>, a regular on the race circuit, took home the prize for best owner driven performance, while her sistership the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/60" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alloy Yachts (Company)">Alloy Yachts</a> 51.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1226" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Prana51.7m (169'7&quot;)Alloy Yachts2006">Prana</a>, was awarded best starter.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262098/image/large-a9663124253318752df558799d73ca73.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262098"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262018/image/large-d987aa7f202ad57c9f622d7c1de9f44b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262018"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262068/image/large-da7bd64052ae4e40c41a7d94b6f1afe1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262068">Race Day 1The first day of the regatta saw the fleet sail counterclockwise in an 28-25 knot northerly, with the conditions forcing three yachts to withdraw from the 20-26 nautical mile course.&nbsp;“After our light-air training this week, today was a wake-up call, but expected,” said Tom Whidden, helmsman for the smallest yacht in the fleet, the 28 metre ketch <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7754" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bequia27.61m (90'7&quot;)Brooklin Boat Yard 2009">Bequia</a>, which won Les Mademoiselles. “It was really rough in the corner on the other side of the island, on the way to the rock (a natural mark of the course named Ile Fourchue), but we were happy with the crew work and the boat management.” Whidden has won the Bucket before on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7754" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bequia27.61m (90'7&quot;)Brooklin Boat Yard 2009">Bequia</a>&nbsp;and twice more on different entries (including <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2250" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kawil34.14m (112'0&quot;)Derecktor Shipyards2000">Kawil</a>, last year). He added with a chuckle, “You see, the captains of these boats tell you they will kill you if you break anything, so you have to be careful with your resources.” &nbsp;(<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2250" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kawil34.14m (112'0&quot;)Derecktor Shipyards2000">Kawil</a>, sailing this year against Whidden’s team, retired due to a headstay furler that broke near Ile Fourche.)<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262024/image/large-7b2364e42cda9f5e3493ba2c97459efa.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262024"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262022/image/large-55d4467729a449d63a85cf4909f28a41.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262022">Peter King, navigator aboard the 52 metre sloop <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/66" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Red Dragon51.7m (169'7&quot;)Alloy Yachts2008">Red Dragon</a>, which won L’Esprit 1, said his team “didn’t have the best start but made up for it later and didn’t break anything.” This is King’s fifth time competing in the Bucket and first time sailing in the “Corinthian Spirit” class. More important, it is the first time <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/66" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Red Dragon51.7m (169'7&quot;)Alloy Yachts2008">Red Dragon</a> has ever raced period, so the yacht’s owner is delighted. “The owner loves to drive, so he drove the whole time and did a great job,” said King.The 44-metre schooner <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5645" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Columbia43.03m (141'2&quot;)Eastern Shipbuilding Group2014">Columbia</a>, one of the most elegant yachts in the L'Esprit 2 fleet, recorded a 43.5 degree of heel on its winning sprint. “We were taking a lot of water over the deck but we were under control,” said guest crew Jakob Havrlant, who counts this as his first Bucket but says it won’t be his last. “Some of the sloops were catching us upwind, but we were a reaching machine on the other legs. It was a perfect race for us.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262032/image/large-3b5b9f18e2aeb1b28744676f0fdc61b6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262032"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262031/image/large-0ec3a3f6dab99fc18126e6e86b5123fb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262031">Race Day 2The second day saw yet another high wind event with 25-27 knots over the 23-26 nautical mile course. “It was a lot of wave action and wind, with gust of 25-27 knots,” said Steve Rowland, the owner/driver of the 34 metre sloop <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/72" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nakupenda33.24m (109'1&quot;)Royal Denship A/S2005">Nakupenda</a>, which now leads Les Mademoiselles after suffering a steering problem and finishing fourth yesterday. “It made for a lot of hard work, but we won, so I guess that was a good thing!” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262028/image/large-63d1c5872098bfe93ae5d3dd11b57f38.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262028"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262030/image/large-4420de271e2f182aa983a156bd435a38.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262030">The yacht was the fourth to cross the start line, but was the first to cross the finish line, despite an issue with her spinnaker during the opening leg. She managed to peg <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5645" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Columbia43.03m (141'2&quot;)Eastern Shipbuilding Group2014">Columbia</a> to cross the line first, followed closely by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7754" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bequia27.61m (90'7&quot;)Brooklin Boat Yard 2009">Bequia</a> and the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman Shipyard BV (Company)">Royal Huisman</a> sloop <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5558" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Action37.3m (122'5&quot;)Royal Huisman Shipyard BV2015">Action</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262103/image/large-eb6046c44b2cb0daea1b7999db055ee6.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262103"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262104/image/large-2e8fe29f68d01d3f44b25d15f34e30d9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262104">In Les Gazelles class the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baltic Yachts (Company)">Baltic</a> yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4749" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="WinWin33.04m (108'5&quot;)Baltic Yachts2014">WinWin</a> took the top spot, overtaking the Day 1 winner, another <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/327" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Baltic Yachts (Company)">Baltic</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1163" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Visione44.84m (147'1&quot;)Baltic Yachts2002">Visione</a>. “Yesterday we got stuck behind some other boats and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1163" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Visione44.84m (147'1&quot;)Baltic Yachts2002">Visione</a>, faster on the reaches, beat us right at the end,” said <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4749" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="WinWin33.04m (108'5&quot;)Baltic Yachts2014">WinWin</a>’s Captain Will Glenn, explaining that today, with longer downwind legs than yesterday, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4749" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="WinWin33.04m (108'5&quot;)Baltic Yachts2014">WinWin</a> had an advantage. “It is what <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4749" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="WinWin33.04m (108'5&quot;)Baltic Yachts2014">WinWin</a>&nbsp;is designed for, and tomorrow’s course has lots of downwind in it, too, so we are confident we can win.”In the L’Esprit 2 Columbia once again took the top spot, with the 52-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/401" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Q52.0m (170'7&quot;)Alloy Yachts2008">Q</a> close behind her and 56.1-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1936" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Melek56.01m (183'9&quot;)Perini Navi2010">Melek</a> taking the third position.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262038/image/large-cc10bb13691545eabe92a582675dd8ee.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262038"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262057/image/large-864b8c3fbf9a53d71b6cfac7007f653a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262057">Race Day 3The wind on this last day of the three-day series toned down ever so slightly to 18-24 knots, giving sailors somewhat of a reprieve from the 20-26 knots that prevailed on Friday and Saturday. In all classes, the leaders of Day 2 held their own to clinch overall victory on the final race day.“The wind and sea state was definitely at the upper end for some boats, and certainly for the Race Committee making decisions,” said Race Chairman Peter Craig. “Typically, we sail around the island on Sunday, but we made a decision to keep the boats in the lee of St. Barths for the larger part of today’s race with a course option that was newly added to the Bucket this year.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262059/image/large-752263cd59cbb776f083830aeaf328c1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262059"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262060/image/large-e591bf54e38666089bf3a4465ed2aa27.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262060"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/72" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nakupenda33.24m (109'1&quot;)Royal Denship A/S2005">Nakupenda</a> won the six-boat Mademoiselles to take overall victory in that class with a 4-1-1 score line. “I’m over the top about it,” said <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/72" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nakupenda33.24m (109'1&quot;)Royal Denship A/S2005">Nakupenda</a>’s owner/driver Steve Rowland, explaining that this is his fourth Bucket with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/72" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nakupenda33.24m (109'1&quot;)Royal Denship A/S2005">Nakupenda</a> and his first class win, not to mention overall victory, which is decided by a number of factors including performance and time differentials. “We were in a three-way tie going into today with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7754" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bequia27.61m (90'7&quot;)Brooklin Boat Yard 2009">Bequia</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5558" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Action37.3m (122'5&quot;)Royal Huisman Shipyard BV2015">Action</a>, so we knew we had to beat both of them. I tried not to think of anything but getting to the finish line once we had passed Bequia (the 28 metre ketch that started ahead) in the final miles of the race and had <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5558" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Action37.3m (122'5&quot;)Royal Huisman Shipyard BV2015">Action</a> (the 37 metre sloop that started behind) gaining on us from behind.” (<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7754" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bequia27.61m (90'7&quot;)Brooklin Boat Yard 2009">Bequia</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5558" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Action37.3m (122'5&quot;)Royal Huisman Shipyard BV2015">Action</a> finished second and third, respectively, in overall results.)<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262087/image/large-eefdccb01be2ca2a8ff27ac454f9585f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262087">In the L’Esprit 2 Corinthia Spirit Class Columbia held her own and was the only class winner to also win every one of her races. The 49.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/51" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Perini Navi (Company)">Perini Navi</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/925" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Almyra II49.8m (163'5&quot;)Perini Navi2000">Almyra II</a> was her closest competitor, taking the second position. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262015/image/large-673bdaf099414fbd8852e797abee99af.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262015">“In both the first and second races, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/925" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Almyra II49.8m (163'5&quot;)Perini Navi2000">Almyra II</a> was ahead of us,” said <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5645" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Columbia43.03m (141'2&quot;)Eastern Shipbuilding Group2014">Columbia</a>’s tactician Tony Rey, “and I have to give credit to our crew members who handled the spinnaker, because we were able to pass them back both times on downwind legs.” On day one, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5645" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Columbia43.03m (141'2&quot;)Eastern Shipbuilding Group2014">Columbia</a> started first and finished first, putting others on alert that this was not just a modern-built recreation of a 1924 fishing schooner that would be slogging around the course. “The boat’s like one of those old flexible flyer sleds you might have had when you were a kid; everything moves and bends but it keeps moving ahead,” said Rey. “We had a mix of traditional schooner sailors and grand prix sailors working together. Our navigator Nacho Postigo helped bring some digital know-how to an analog boat and tracked our progress over the last three days; it was nice to see how we improved as a team.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262092/image/large-9842c9b7f11fc4741ac716d38bb4b863.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262092"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262094/image/large-8f33ee74c55528b13ccf3ce367b5faa7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262094">

St Barths Bucket 2023 results

The St Barths Bucket 2023 came to a close over the weekend with Nakupenda taking the top spot.

St Barths Bucket 2023: Nakupenda winner, with Red Dragon and Prana awarded special prizes 

2023 St Barths Bucket Regatta yachts

The entry list for the 2023 St Barths Bucket  has been announced, with 26 yachts racing.

Yachts attending the 2023 St Barths Bucket Regatta

Last Saturday (19th March) saw the third day of racing at one of the world’s most prestigious four-day regattas, <a href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St Barths Bucket Regatta - 2022">St Barths Bucket Regatta</a>. The sailors had plenty of time to mentally prepare for the course as winds gusting over 25 knots led to a delay of two hours for the events to begin.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220441/image/large-d3bcc76ff20b93bdf4be666c24fd93ab.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220441">The day’s racing saw two classes, the Grand Dames and L’Esprit, sail the same 18.4 nautical miles clockwise around and through small islands and rock groupings on the west and north side of the island of Saint Barthélémy. The other five classes, Les Gazelles, Les Elegantes, Les Mademoiselles, Les Petites Dames and J-Class also sailed a similar route but with some longer legs to stretch the trek to just over 23 nautical miles.Thankfully the wind conditions had improved to a cool 17-18 knots for the first pursuit start at 1:30pm for the L’Esprit Class. But the wind then whipped up again to 30+ knots when strong winds and sideways rain hit in the vicinity of the islands Ile Fourchue and Ile de Boulanger. That was when many in the fleet were embarking on their second downwind leg of the race. (The first downwind leg began at the start.)<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220447/image/large-1b006020db8d50625c1d413730b710b7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220447">“We saw that squall coming,” said Jonathan Carter, captain of the 27.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/313" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nautor's Swan (Company)">Nautor’s Swan</a> sloop <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8346" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Freya27.71m (90'11&quot;)Nautor's Swan2012">Freya</a> in Les Petites Dames class, “and felt we were in front of it enough to fly our spinnaker.” &nbsp;The team hoisted in 22 knots, did a quick jibe, and when the wind hit 32 knots and the boat speed reached into the 20s, they decided it was time to douse. The team including owner/driver Don Macpherson and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1450" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Volvo (Company)">Volvo</a> Ocean Race veteran Kimo Worthington who called tactics, managed to stay well in sync which led to a win in this race. “We hit all the lay lines; only had three tacks on the first beat; and hugged in close behind the island, which gave us an advantage. The foredeck crew did a great job despite us putting them in some tricky situations.”<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8346" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Freya27.71m (90'11&quot;)Nautor's Swan2012">Freya</a> also won yesterday in the Les Petites Dames class, joining classmates <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Drifter Cube31.05m (101'10&quot;)Nautor's Swan2020">Drifter Cube</a>, a 29.6-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/313" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nautor's Swan (Company)">Nautor’s Swan</a> sloop, and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7509" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sonny III27.86m (91'5&quot;)Brooklin Boat Yard 2018">Sonny III</a>, a 27.9-metre Johnson sloop as first-timers here. The Les Petites Dames are part of a new initiative to include smaller high-performance racing machines in the regatta.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220437/image/large-3bf65e9b112b8897a9d3e97ee517a9f0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220437">Other class leaders from Friday’s race that maintained their positions on Saturday were the defending overall and class champion <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a>, the 59.9-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/230" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dykstra Naval Architects (Company)">Dykstra Naval Architects</a> ketch, in Les Gazelles; defending class champion <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5848" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aquarius56.0m (183'9&quot;)Royal Huisman Shipyard BV2018">Aquarius</a>, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/230" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dykstra Naval Architects (Company)">Dykstra</a> ketch, in Les Elegantes; and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/432" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ranger41.55m (136'4&quot;)Danish Yachts2003">Ranger</a>, the 41.63-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/159" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Burgess (Company)">Burgess</a> sloop, in J-Class.The 43.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/421" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="W Starling Burgess (Company)">Starling Burgess</a> schooner <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5645" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Columbia43.03m (141'2&quot;)Eastern Shipbuilding Group2014">Columbia</a> in the L’Espirit class, dropped from first overall in Friday’s race to second place after finishing third in Saturday’s race. This led to the 29.3-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/171" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="German Frers (Company)">Frers</a> sloop <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7628" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Symmetry 29.3m (96'2&quot;)Yachting Developments2004">Symmetry</a> going on to lead in L’Esprit class on merit of a 2-1 scoreline.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220446/image/large-627883aa3be4809609b42f4891f9bd46.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220446">Day 4- ResultsThe final day of racing on Sunday saw just as much drama as the previous day’s events! The strong winds in the water led to one hour delay for the proceedings of what was to be 30 pursuit starts for the superyachts competing at the 35th edition of <a href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St Barths Bucket Regatta - 2022">St. Barths Bucket</a>.The J-Class boats started, only to have their race abandoned after a few short legs on the “Wrong Way” race around the island. The winds were exceeding 25 knots and reaching battering highs in the 30s on the far side of the island. The race committee then made the difficult decision to abandon the racing for all other classes before they had even started.&nbsp;With that, all the scores from Saturday’s races served as the final results for the regatta. The winner in the J-Class was the refitted 41.63-metre sloop <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/432" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ranger41.55m (136'4&quot;)Danish Yachts2003">Ranger</a>, who was new to the event as well as her skipper Ed Baird. He described the entry as neither favoured nor an underdog. “I would have to say we were ‘unknown,’ since the boat had not sailed in five or six years; we had a major refit; and the class rating rules recently changed.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220438/image/large-332441dd52ae4a54aaafcd0f6342907b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220438"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/432" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ranger41.55m (136'4&quot;)Danish Yachts2003">Ranger</a> had a winch fail on the first day that left it with a disability to overcome, however, the other J-Boats suffered their own mishaps. “When all the J-Boats were together, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/432" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ranger41.55m (136'4&quot;)Danish Yachts2003">Ranger</a> was typically pushed out the back just a bit, so it gave us the opportunity to stay out of the fray. The important message, though, is that these boats are just spectacular, and it’s exciting to have them racing here.”Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/54796" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="All the action from Day 1 at St Barths Bucket (2022-03-18 10:45:00 +0100)">All the action from Day 1 at St Barths Bucket</a>Although, she was not the only first-time entrant as the Les Grand Dames des Mers saw <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/367" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rosehearty55.7m (182'9&quot;)Perini Navi2006">Rosehearty</a>’s skipper Paul Goodison give the regatta a go. He is notably an accomplished small boat sailor and Laser Olympic Gold Medalist as well as a three-time Moth World champion. “First time at the Bucket, first time in St. Barths, and first time on a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/51" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Perini Navi (Company)">Perini</a>,” said Goodison. “It was a real eye opener to do something different from what I’m used to. The key to our success was three good days of practice beforehand. We identified some problems and came up with solutions and had a great game plan going into the regatta.” The 56-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/51" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Perini Navi (Company)">Perini Navi</a> won both races in her series and also won her Les Grandes Dames des Mers class in 2019, the last time this event was sailed.&nbsp;The L’Espirit de Mer series saw the 39-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/171" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="German Frers (Company)">Frers</a> sloop, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7628" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Symmetry 29.3m (96'2&quot;)Yachting Developments2004">Symmetry</a> finishing with a 2-1 win. The Corinthian Spirit class gives owners an option of sailing without spinnakers and ensures a more relaxed approach to enjoying all that a superyacht regatta has to offer. “The second day was most exciting with the squall and a dash to the finish, neck-and-neck with (second place) <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6729" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vijonara39.4m (129'3&quot;)Pendennis Shipyard Ltd2018">Vijonara</a>,” said <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7628" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Symmetry 29.3m (96'2&quot;)Yachting Developments2004">Symmetry</a>’s owner Abbot Brown. “The biggest determining factor to our success was the crew work, sail handling and tactics, as well as some local knowledge from the St. Martin and St. Barths crew who joined us. This was <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7628" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Symmetry 29.3m (96'2&quot;)Yachting Developments2004">Symmetry</a>’s tenth Bucket, and the communication from other boats in close quarters is the best we have had.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220440/image/large-0ba37b7249d9bcf1aad6899073675e2a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220440">In the most performance-oriented class, Les Gazelles des Mers, the defending and overall champion <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a> proved she still has what it takes to win. The 59.9-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/230" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dykstra Naval Architects (Company)">Dykstra</a> ketch finished with a 1-2 score line and topped her three-boat class and for a second consecutive time meaning she took home the overall Hermès Bucket Trophy. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a> also claimed the Best Starter award for executing the best starts.“We have an awesome team that has been together for a long time, and every day that we go sailing we grow in confidence and push a little harder,” said <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/592" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hetairos66.7m (218'10&quot;)Baltic Yachts2011">Hetairos</a> Captain Graham Newton. “Taking the win over two boats (<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/314" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Leopard 330.0m (98'5&quot;)McConaghy Boats2007">Leopard 3</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4304" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nilaya34.14m (112'0&quot;)Baltic Yachts2010">Nilaya</a>) that are so well prepared and so well sailed is very satisfying. They certainly don’t give us any breathing space, and you can see from the results that any boat in our class can win on their day.”Those in the Les Mademoiselles des Mers series were upset that they did not get to race for the day. Tom Whidden, tactician aboard the 34-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/213" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sparkman & Stephens, Inc. (Company)">Sparkman &amp; Stephens</a> sloop <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2250" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kawil34.14m (112'0&quot;)Derecktor Shipyards2000">Kawil</a> that finished first said that not getting to race today was disappointing, but it was a smart decision by the organisers to cancel. “It’s not the ending we wanted, but it’s the results we wanted, so how are you going to do better than that?”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220445/image/large-85e9375a747ee65daf0678e1cbfb2a30.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220445">The Les Elegantes des Mers series saw the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/230" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dykstra Naval Architects (Company)">Dykstra</a> ketch <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5848" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aquarius56.0m (183'9&quot;)Royal Huisman Shipyard BV2018">Aquarius</a> repeating her 2019 victory in the class. “It was rather anticlimactic today, but given the conditions and the breakage yesterday, I was rather relieved,” said <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5848" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Aquarius56.0m (183'9&quot;)Royal Huisman Shipyard BV2018">Aquarius</a>’s Captain James Turner. “We had a good class of similar size and spec ketches. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6791" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Meraki49.7m (163'1&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2020">Meraki</a> was our closest competition. We were faster off the wind, but we were head-to-head upwind.”Finally, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/8346" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Freya27.71m (90'11&quot;)Nautor's Swan2012">Freya</a> was the overall winner in the Les Petites Dames series, a first-time class for smaller boats in the 27-metre range. The 27.7-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/313" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nautor's Swan (Company)">Nautor’s Swan</a>&nbsp;sloop has raced at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/139" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="St Barths Bucket Regatta - 2022">St Barths Bucket</a> twice before. “It’s a good thing to have a specific class, since we are so different from the big Bucket boats,” said her Captain Jonathan Carter. “Hopefully we’ll attract more boats in the future and get to five or six boats.” Carter said a contributing factor to his team’s victory was that the crew had been together for 10 years; the other boats were newer teams with new owners.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/220439/image/large-1062a700af77753fc5b80fa71f906aab.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/220439">The events of the weekend were celebrated at a rambunctious award ceremony on Sunday night. “It’s hard to wrap your arms around the fact that it’s been three years since we all had the great pleasure of being here together to experience the spirit of the Bucket,” said Race Director Peter Craig. “To be here on this beautiful island celebrating the return of the Bucket helps us all refocus on all that is good and the better days ahead.”

St Barths Bucket Regatta 2022 results

SYT takes a look at all of the drama from the weekend at St Barths Bucket Regatta 2022 where strong winds led to delays for the events. 

Final racing results from the weekend at St Barth Bucket Regatta 2022

Following three nail-biting days of racing in the Bay of Islands in the world's most southerly superyacht regatta, the winner of the 2020 <a href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="New Zealand Millennium Cup 2020">New Zealand Millennium Cup&nbsp;</a>has been crowned: the 34.14-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/36" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Derecktor Shipyards (Company)">Derecktor</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2250" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kawil34.14m (112'0&quot;)Derecktor Shipyards2000">Kawil.&nbsp;</a>Delivered by the US yard in back in 2000, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2250" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kawil34.14m (112'0&quot;)Derecktor Shipyards2000">Kawil</a> was a new entrant to the competition this year.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/112174/image/large-5eae3a07a92a485d545a6e4759fafc22.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112174">Hot on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2250" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kawil34.14m (112'0&quot;)Derecktor Shipyards2000">Kawil's&nbsp;</a>heels were the four other sailing yachts vying for first place: the 33.8-metre<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/474" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Yachting Developments (Company)">&nbsp;Yachting Developments&nbsp;</a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/842" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silvertip B33.8m (110'11&quot;)Yachting Developments2002">Silvertip,</a>&nbsp;the 34.2-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman Shipyard BV (Company)">Royal Huisman&nbsp;</a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2334" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sassafras34.2m (112'2&quot;)Royal Huisman Shipyard BV2000">Sassafras</a>&nbsp;- delivered in the same year as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2250" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kawil34.14m (112'0&quot;)Derecktor Shipyards2000">Kawil&nbsp;</a>- the 39.75-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/60" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alloy Yachts (Company)">Alloy Yachts</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1640" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Janice of Wyoming39.75m (130'5&quot;)Alloy Yachts2005">Janice of Wyoming</a>,&nbsp;and by far the largest boat of the bunch, the 54.64-metre<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/34" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Vitters Shipyard (Company)">&nbsp;Vitters</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1842" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Adele54.64m (179'3&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2005">Adele</a>,&nbsp;which was awarded second place in the competition.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/112164/image/large-b37e94bc270d6a4f39499cb7286dbf5e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112164"> <img src="/uploads/store/photo/112158/image/large-7354f6806f3b690f8b8b02e000095f3b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112158">The final day of racing was exciting from the beginning, with the 33.83-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/842" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silvertip B33.8m (110'11&quot;)Yachting Developments2002">Silvertip</a>&nbsp;and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2334" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sassafras34.2m (112'2&quot;)Royal Huisman Shipyard BV2000">Sassafras</a>&nbsp;displaying impressively well-timed runs to the start line and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1640" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Janice of Wyoming39.75m (130'5&quot;)Alloy Yachts2005">Janice of Wyoming</a>&nbsp;sailing so close to the starting line that she crossed two seconds early, incurring a penalty as a consequence.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/112159/image/large-bb36ea5df1dc48fd3bb8fc835e919534.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112159">Heading into the wind, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/842" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silvertip B33.8m (110'11&quot;)Yachting Developments2002">Silvertip&nbsp;</a>took a lower approach than the other yachts before sharply turning her knuckle bow towards the Ninepin Mark. Meanwhile, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2250" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kawil34.14m (112'0&quot;)Derecktor Shipyards2000">Kawil</a>&nbsp;had been out in front from the start. Despite some speculation from onlookers that she had overshot the mark, her perfect turns displayed the skills of her crew and kept her in check. Although <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/842" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silvertip B33.8m (110'11&quot;)Yachting Developments2002">Silvertip</a> and the others displayed exceptional racing throughout the day, it was newcomer <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2250" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kawil34.14m (112'0&quot;)Derecktor Shipyards2000">Kawii</a> who would secure the top spot on corrected time.&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/112161/image/large-a3f45e43fc3f62cc6cfa3aaba9724a85.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112161"><img src="/uploads/store/photo/112169/image/large-5c07bf50ca61b299ad2a8a104bf4ed83.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112169">The prize-giving ceremony was officiated by Peter Montgomery MBE, with the prizes presented by Orams Marine's managing director, Craig Park and Bas Isselman, sales manager at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman Shipyard BV (Company)">Royal Huisman.</a> Montgomery commented on the setting of the racing, calling it a paradise and commenting that "If this isn't heaven, then it's just next door,"&nbsp;with spectators at the event also entertained by the appearances of a local dolphin pod.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/112155/image/large-6e08b9e6548fcb8628da97e9ce9a9bcf.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112155">The owner of repeat competitor <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/842" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Silvertip B33.8m (110'11&quot;)Yachting Developments2002">Silvertip</a>&nbsp;commented on the event, calling the regatta "extraordinary" and stating that "It's a great privilege to be here [...] it's fantastic fun to be here in the Bay of Islands."<img src="/uploads/store/photo/112153/image/large-1428ad05fb7eebad2479c020d8cfac99.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112153">As well as securing her second prize, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1842" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Adele54.64m (179'3&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2005">Adele&nbsp;</a>also saw success in the Cup's traditional skiff regatta, which took place after the second day of racing, in which the superyacht crews rowed in pursuit of the 20-litre barrel of Mount Gay Rum prize, which was won by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1842" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Adele54.64m (179'3&quot;)Vitters Shipyard2005">Adele's</a> Team A. <img src="/uploads/store/photo/112176/image/large-bd18e424b21a4a21a1415d82a7e8bece.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112176">The 2021 edition of the New Zealand Millennium Cup regatta will take place between 15-18th February. Thanks to the flock of superyachts expected to head to New Zealand for the America's Cup, next year's regatta is expected to be a bumper edition, with over 40 entries anticipated<img src="/uploads/store/photo/112156/image/large-bc389e1d06518a7205bc0b382ceb8e8b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/112156">

34m sailing yacht Kawil winner of 2020 New Zealand Millennium Cup  

New entrant Kawil, a 34-metre Derecktor superyacht, has won the 2020 New Zealand Millennium Cup. Find out more about the nail-biting result on SYT.