Yachting World - July 2018

SUPERSAIL WORLD 36 APRIL-JUNE 2018

the apparent winds sailing as deep as we could at 135ºT, but it

was a long and stifling first downwind leg.

The unusual flipside to this is that turning to go upwind

again is a real pleasure. Missy was straight into double figures,

feeling unleashed and responsive as we started to pick off the

larger and less nimble competitors in our class.

There are always convergence areas at the bottom marks

at the Bucket, particularly on this course, as the large yachts

round slowly and dominate water space. As we struggled to

find a way past two of the biggest entrants, Bayesian and

Q, it was poetry in motion to witness the impossibly elegant

Rebecca slide in under kite, with helmsman Stan Pearson

using his experience to thread her nimbly through the traffic.

It set up a thrilling final fetch and beat home, as the

compressed fleet fought to get clean air. Our ability to

outpoint the others in our class was crucial here and there

was a hearty celebration aboard Missy as we crossed for the

owner’s first win. A second victory the following day sealed

the class overall, so it is no surprise that she has since entered

the Superyacht Cup. During that final day’s racing, Whisper

and Far falla also extended to healthy leads, rounding the

eastern end of the island along with Missy for their final gybe

home with no class competitors in sight. Things were tighter

between the two ketches Rebecca and Sojana, which would

take their rivalry to the wire.

But the hottest contest was in the performance class

between the 34m (111ft) Nilaya and the 45m (145ft) Visione

• just two and a half minutes separated these Baltic/Reichel
  Pugh rivals for the whole regatta.

COLLECTIVE WINNERS

The overall Bucket winner is decided by a mix of a quantitative

formula (race data, finish times and series points) and

the boat that “prevailed in the most competitive, closely-

contested class”. Having raced with them here in 2014, I

can vouch that Nilaya is sailed and crewed to a top level and

deserved the overall win.

Owner-driver Filip Balcaen can be credited with setting

a trend for the competitive modern carbon cruiser-racers

of similar length today. Team Brunel’s Bouwe Bekking is the

regular tactician aboard, so it is somewhat ironic that one of

his Dongfeng rivals, fellow Volvo veteran Stu Bannatyne, was

calling tactics for Nilaya’s first Bucket victory.

The Bucket’s prizegiving was an entertaining affair,

complete with fight song entry music for each team

and the obligatory (if slightly criminal) hosing of Perrier-

Jouët champagne. Amid the celebrations though, it was

abundantly clear that the true winners of the week were the

island and its inhabitants.

Peter Craig eloquently summed it up: “There was a

different vibe at the 2018 edition... I feel that was because

most everyone recognised what the island had been up

against and achieved in that short amount of time – and thus

people had a good feeling about being there to acknowledge

what St Barth had been through and show their support.”

Time to reserve a spot off the inset mark for next year...

With thanks to Tradewinds Aviation – a premium service

from Antigua to St Barth. http://www.flytradewind.com

ABOVE: THE

TRADITIONAL

YACHT HOP PARTY

DEMONSTRATES

THE REMARKABLE

SPIRIT OF

THE EVENT

BELOW: THE ICONIC

PERFORMANCE

CRUISER NILAYA

CELEBRATES HER

OVERALL BUCKET

VICTORY

Bucket Regatta/Ed Gudenas

Carlo Borlenghi Claire Matches