St. Barths Bucket Regatta 2025 Round-up
The iconic St. Barths Bucket Regatta is the catalyst for bringing some of the world’s finest sailing superyachts to the beautiful French Caribbean island of St Barths. The St. Barths Bucket is an invitation-only regatta which takes inspiration from the very first Bucket Regatta, organised in Nantucket in 1986 - where a friendly debate at a birthday party led to an impromptu race. The prize? Bragging rights - and a champagne-filled bucket…!
In 1995, St Barths hosted its first Bucket Regatta and has done so in March every year since then. Although the size of the yachts and competing fleet has grown substantially, the spirit and camaraderie has remained unchanged.
2025 Edition
Marking the 30th anniversary, racing took place from 13th- 16th March, bringing together 26 of the world's most magnificent sailing superyachts, ranging from 28 to 56 meters in length.
The island warmly welcomed an influx of over 1000 participants. This included superyacht owners, guests, permanent and race crews, as well as specialist service teams offering their support and expertise, no doubt hoping for a ride too on one of these iconic sailing superyachts.
Onboard coverage from Jill Bobrow...
Jill has had an extensive career in yachting journalism and was the Founding Editor of Boat International USA and Editor-in-Chief of ShowBoats International. She was Editor-at-Large for Yachts International for a number of years. Jill continues to write for numerous yachting and luxury publications. She is Board Member Emeritus of the International Superyacht Society is on the event steering committee of the International Seakeepers Society.
The St. Barths Bucket Regatta is arguably the premier super sailing yacht race. Simply put it has everything going for it—beautiful boats in an unbeatable setting all demonstrating the Corinthian spirit—oh, and then there are parties galore. If you are not racing, then you are at a beach club drinking rose all day and watching the yachts circle the island.
I guess you could say I am an old Bucket groupie. I have followed the Bucket since its inception in Nantucket in 1987. In its first incarnation, the now famous regatta was initially the Nantucket Bucket —a gentleman’s race among a handful of yacht owners who simply set themselves a course one summer to see whose boat was faster. Since 1995, The St. Barths Bucket has taken over for both Nantucket Bucket and the short-lived Newport Bucket.
Naval architect and yacht designer, William ‘Bill’ Tripp III explained, “St Barths is a bit like stepping out of the world to a place of forgetting—where everything is of the moment and sailing is the most important thing—so clearly unreal and joyous."
"Where else can you be racing a 5 -star hotel and choosing between the 12,000 -square- foot and the 15,000- square- foot spinnaker for the run to the finish on the last day of the race— with 15 yachts arriving together— looking for that little bit of advantage to win, in a weaving choreography impossible to describe.”
The 2025 edition of the St. Barths Bucket had 26 participants this year along with a healthy entourage of spectator sailing yachts following the course. I was one of the spectators onboard the stunning 2023 Vitters built S/Y Maximus.
The wind was particularly light this year and (thankfully) there was no drama. There are many categories of entries, Classes A, B, C, D, and E…with nomenclature that suit the style of the respective yachts such as Grande Dames and Gazelles. Event Director, Peter Craig, and his team have ensured the Bucket adheres to a set of strict racing rules— unlike the old days when the race was a bit of a free for all and a protest meant the protester had to fork over several bottles of champagne to the protested—regardless of the outcome.
The awards ceremony was emceed by Craig along with the St. Barths President Xavier LeDee addressing the crowd while Stewards and Friends of the Bucket assisted in the handing out of trophies and champagne. Team Hyperion won the hotly contested Les Elegantes class as well as the overall 2025 Bucket Trophy. But in the end, everyone is a winner is this regatta.
Finishers topping their respective classes:
- 30.4m Persico Marine built V - Le Cent Pied
- 39m J Class Velsheda - Les Gazelles
- 27m Nautor Swan Hummingbird - Les Petites Dames
- 39m Pendennis built Vijonara - L’Esprit
- 36m HJB Whisper - Les Mademoiselles
- 56m Perini Navi Panthalassa - Les Grande Dames
Vijonara was also awarded the Wolter Huisman Memorial Award for competing in the true spirit of the event, 29m Nz Yachting Dev Symmetry won the Vitters Shipyard Best Starter of the Regatta and 45m Fitzroy Gitana was awarded the 2025 Owner/Driver Award presented by the Yacht Club de Monaco.
The loudest cheer of the prizegiving evening went to the crew of the 47m Royal Huisman Hyperion, who not only won the hotly contested Les Elegantes class, but won the 2025 Bucket Trophy - with new criteria this year for determining the recipient, they surpassed themselves on land and at sea, making an impression on the racecourse and truly understanding and participating in the ‘Spirit of the Bucket!’
Hyperion - 2025 Bucket Trophy Winner
A warm thank you must be extended to St. Barths, the dedicated team of organisers, volunteers and stewards who played a vital role in making the event such a success.
In Pictures
