St Barths Bucket superyacht regatta
Superyacht racing is getting more and more competitive, as St Barths Bucket proves
St Barths Bucket superyacht regatta.
We’re not trying to win the party, Jonathan Kline says with a smile.
Kline is the captain of the 38m Perini Navi sloop P2 and this is his way of affirming that their participation in the St Barths Bucket is about winning. Some crews in the Caribbean’s biggest superyacht regatta do like to party, but on P2 the intent is serious. The boat was built for these regattas.
At his pre-race briefing, Kline outlines the reason why this regatta, of them all, has such a following. We have done everything possible to prepare and be ready, he says, but don’t forget to look out of the boat. We are one of the most beautiful regattas in the world, on one of the most beautiful islands of the world. Enjoy it.
It’s impossible to overstate the might of these big boats under sail, and how impressive and glorious they look carving through the deep azure of the Caribbean Sea. They are the epitome of ingenuity.
A pristine new Doyle carbon mainsail is hoisted and the headsail cracked out, and off we go to ping the line and check out the wind at either end of the island ahead of a pursuit race lap of St Barths.
For racing, there is a crack crew of top sailors: former Olympic sailor and top match racer Peter Holmberg is at the wheel, Whitbread and Volvo sailor Paul Standbridge is the crew boss and the the team is decked out with professionals from the mast building and sailmaking suppliers. What it means is that the boat is handled with precision, and because this crew has raced together, on average for four regattas a year …read more
