Sailing yachts prepare for 2019 St Barths Bucket Regatta

By Katia Damborsky 14 March 2019

Gustavia harbour is preparing to welcome a fleet of sailing yachts to the waters of St Barths, as the Caribbean island readies itself for the 32nd edition of the St Barths Bucket Regatta.

Between March 21 - 24, the idyllic cruising grounds of St Barths will be studded with sailing yachts for three days of action-packed racing and sparkling shoreside social events. 34 yachts are expected to participate in the 2019 St Barths Bucket Regatta, and will be divided into six classes according to their performance.

First hosted on the island in 1995, the regatta has swiftly become one of St Barths’ most iconic events, second only to the island’s legendary New Year’s Eve festivities. The spirit of camaraderie and sailing for the joy of it still prevails, and the regatta has attracted some of the world’s most impressive sailing yachts as a result of its historic success.

Sailing yachts on the water at St Barths Bucket Regatta

Yacht on the water at St Barths Bucket Regatta

Yacht competing in St Barths Bucket Regatta

As ever, the St Barths Bucket Regatta includes a significant number of charter yachts. Indeed, the second longest in the fleet is the 60m/197ft charter yacht Perseus^3, a Perini-Navi designed sloop with a 75.8m carbon fibre mast that’s sure to catch plenty of eyes on the water.

She will be racing in class E, alongside fellow Perini Navi charter yachts SEAHAWK and long-time competitor ROSEHEARTY. Of the E class, also known as ‘Les Grands Dames des Mer’, the 56m/184ft superyacht ROSEHEARTY will be looking to replicate her winning streak of 2016, which ended in a disappointing fourth place at the 2018 edition of the regatta.

The spirit of camaraderie and sailing for the joy of it still prevails.

Also joining the E class is Royal Huisman’s 47m/156ft charter yacht HYPERION and the longest on the line-up; the 67m/219ft ketch sailing yacht TENDER (formerly known as Heitaros) from Baltic Yachts.

Plenty of other charter yachts are making a return to the regatta, including 2018 class winner, the 35m/112ft sailing yacht SOJANA, who will be going head to head in B class with Southern Wind’s 32m/104ft charter yacht FARFALLA.

Sailors on yacht at St Barths bucket regatta

St Barths Bucket Regatta yacht rounding corner

The 2019 Barths Bucket Regatta will also see the return of the non-spinnaker class, which has been a fixture of the regatta for the past two years. The ‘Corinthian Spirit Class’, ‘Les Voiles Blanche’ or class F will see just three yachts battle it out for first place.

The 50m/163ft charter yacht OHANA will be competing alongside the Nautor’s Swan-built, 32m/105ft sailing yacht ‘Child of Lir’ and the 52m/170ft charter yacht Q from Alloy Yachts.

The regatta includes three days of action-packed racing and sparkling shoreside social events.

As well as the exciting on-the-water action, there will be an array of auxiliary events taking place, including yacht hops and an awards ceremony.

This balance between sailing and social activities makes the 2019 Barths Bucket the ideal candidate for a private yacht charter, whether it be to join in the racing as part of a regatta charter or to take in all the action from the side lines as part of a superyacht vacation.