The 2025 St Barths Bucket – taking place 13-16 March – is fast approaching, with the yachts competing for the coveted regatta title now confirmed. BOAT takes a closer look at the competitors vying for the top spot...
For the first time in its nearly 30-year history, several superyachts registered as non-competing "social entrants" in 2024 – a tradition which will continue in 2025 with the likes of Benetti's 65.4-metre Triumph, Holland Jachtbouw's 46.3-metre Windrose of Amsterdam, Burger Boat's 47-metre motor yacht Ingot and Nautor Swan's 35.2-metre Darlin in attendance as social non-racing entries. Discover the superyacht spectators already spotted at the event in BOAT's guide to the biggest yachts to look out for at the 2025 St Barths Bucket.
Read More/St Barths Bucket: The extraordinary history of an event where the ultimate aim is to win the partyRosehearty – 56m
Builder: Perini Navi
Year: 2006
This 56-metre Perini Rosehearty rarely misses a Bucket. She raced Corinthian last year but returns to the Les Grande Dames this year, where she normally wins, having collected five Chelsea clocks. She is in her full glory when she’s fully powered, with the big spinnaker, staysail, main, mizzen staysail and mizzen up. Available for charter with edmiston.com
Read More/The biggest yachts to look out for at the 2025 St Barths BucketPanthalassa – 56m
Builder: Perini Navi
Year: 2010
Following a refit in 2023, Panthalassa returned to the racecourse in 2024, revived to her “original racing potential”, according to refit yard Amsterdam Yacht Service. In her first appearance in St Barths since 2013, the 56-metre Perini Navi managed a second-place finish by the last day, and she’s ready for more in 2025.
Burrasca – 55.7m
Builder: Perini Navi
Year: 2003
Burrasca’s 20 years of race history span victories at the 2004 Perini Navi Cup and the 2024 Andros International Yacht Race. One of designer Ron Holland’s 56-metre Perini Navis, Burrasca is strong in light to moderate conditions thanks to a sail area of 1,585 square metres. This year she will be flying new sails. Available for charter with fraseryachts.com
Adela – 55.1m
Builder: Pendennis
Year: 1995
Born in 1903, Adela was rebuilt at Pendennis in 1995 and has since proven herself again and again on the racecourse, thanks to design heavyweight Gerald Dykstra, who was behind the 55-metre’s restoration. In 2013, the schooner took home the Bucket Trophy as overall winner in a field of 31 yachts.
Ravenger – 53.9m
Builder: Baltic Yachts
Year: 2017
Baltic Yachts says 54-metre Ravenger (ex-Pink Gin VI) – the world’s largest carbon-fibre sloop – was built as the “ultimate cruising platform” with hull balconies and a large covered cockpit. But with her lightweight carbon composite hull, Judel/Vrolijk design and powerful sail plan, she is nevertheless fast too.
Wisp – 47.7m
Builder: Royal Huisman Year: 2014
Whatever St Barths dishes out, the classic 48-metre Hoek Wisp can take it. Well balanced and light on the helm, she is responsive in all conditions. The double headsail works well in a fetch to a broad reach, and her long overhangs make her comfortable in the larger seas of the island’s windward side. She’s proven it twice before, winning her class in 2017 and 2023.
Hyperion – 47.42m
Builder: Royal Huisman
Year: 1998
Could this be Hyperion’s year? A Bucket regular, she has had many second places on the podium. Captain Dan Rawlins says not to underestimate the robust 1998 Royal Huisman: “She still knows how to surprise the competition with great VMG and a long-standing quality crew, many of whom have been with the race programme for 15 years.”
Available for charter with hillrobinson.com
Captain Dan Rawlins of Hyperion said: “Racing can be an excellent, safe way to learn the limits of these large yachts – having some of the best sailors in the world very keen to squeeze every ounce of performance. Regular racing keeps the equipment in tip-top shape and allows for a great understanding of how far we can push. It’s an amazing week for the owners, charter guests and crew – a definite highlight on the calendar for all involved.”
Gitana – 45m
Builder: Fitzroy Yachts
Year: 2009
Built for big-boat racing, Gitana was launched from Fitzroy Yachts as Salperton IV in 2009 and quickly made a name for herself on the race circuit. This marks the second Bucket for the yacht as Gitana. The 45-metre Dubois-designed sloop thrives in 18 to 25 knots, reports her captain, Will Duffell.
Visione – 44.9m
Builder: Baltic Yachts
Year: 2002
A St Barths regular, Visione had her greatest victory in 2015 when she sailed away with the Bucket Trophy as overall winner. She defies her 23-year-old age with a programme of ongoing improvement, says her builder, Baltic Yachts. Displacing just 15 tonnes of which 5.4 tonnes is in the keel ballast – the 45-metre Reichel/Pugh design can reach speeds over 30 knots.
Vijonara – 38.8m
Builder: Pendennis
Year: 2018
This year makes the third Bucket for the 39-metre Pendennis Vijonara, following a second place in 2024 and a special award for best owner-driver in 2022. The Truly Classic 128 by Andre Hoek “impresses in the lighter breeze but still hangs on nicely in the heavier stuff,” says Captain David Roberts.
Velsheda – 38.5m
Builder: Camper & Nicholsons
Year: 1933
The 1933 38.5-metre Camper & Nicholsons J Class is a familiar sight at St Barths. For the last 15-plus years, Velsheda has raced in class against fellow Js or competed with Les Elegantes, a division that she dominated in 2024.
Read More/Why the J Class’s classic lines and powerful performances continue to capture heartsAction – 37.3m
Builder: Royal Huisman
Year: 2014
This 37-metre Royal Huisman shies from the press spotlight but she’s gaining a reputation on the superyacht racing scene nevertheless, winning the Buccaneer class at Superyacht Challenge Antigua in 2022 and 2023. Action returns for her third Bucket this year.
Whisper – 35.5m
Builder: Holland Jachtbouw
Year: 2003
Cruising and Bucket racing since her launch in 2003, the Ted Fontaine-designed Holland Jachtbouw Whisper was built by avid sailor Hap Fauth – an owner that Captain Simon Davison calls the “best I have worked for in 30 years”. At 35.4 metres, with a 49-metre rig and 565 square metres of sail, she is great in light breeze. Available for charter with rjcyachts.com
Aurelius – 33.9m
Builder: Jacht Ontwikkelings Maatschappij
Year: 2011
Classically styled Aurelius began racing in St Barths after she changed hands in 2017. Custom built by a yachtsman who formed his own yard, the 33.9-metre aluminium sloop has the expertise of the Dykstra design team behind her.
Inukshuk – 32.6m
Builder: Baltic Yachts
Year: 2013
Awarded 2014’s Sailing Yacht of the Year at the BOAT International World Superyacht Awards, the Baltic 107 designed by Germán Frers is a both a high-performance sloop and a comfortable cruiser. Inukshuk returns to St Barths for the third year in a row, racing in the non-spinnaker Corinthian Spirit class. Available for charter with fraseryachts.com
Liberty Squared – 31.4m
Builder: Southern Wind
Year: 2024
This new Southern Wind is fresh on the scene and learning perfect harmony between crew, boat and conditions, reports Captain Johann Visser. Delivered in March 2024, Liberty Squared is the fifth SW96 and was designed by Nauta Design and Farr Yacht Design with a bigger emphasis on racing than previous hulls, so expect great things.
Galateia – 30.5m
Builder: Green Marine
Year: 2015
Reichel-Pugh-designed Wallycento Galateia is normally seen racing in the Med, where she’s won the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup twice in Porto Cervo and claimed victory the last three years at PalmaVela. Captain Mike Atkinson reports they are looking forward to competing in the Caribbean’s challenging sea state conditions.
V – 30.5m
Builder: Persico Marine
Year: 2017
It may be her first ever race in the Caribbean, but this Mark Mills-designed Wallycento V will be one to beat. Launched as Tango in 2017 from Persico Marine, she had an overhaul in early 2024 that transformed her on all angles of sail. She went on to win her class at the European Maxi Championships and the Barcelona Superyacht Regatta.
L’Hippocampe – 30.2m
Builder: Nautor Swan
Year: 2008
A lightweight design and efficient sailplan make this Swan 100 a contender. Indeed, she is a Bucket veteran, racing as L’Hippocampe and under her previous name of Varsovie. She changed ownership in late 2021, and a recent refit has seen the cockpit redesigned to host a full race crew alongside guests. Available for charter with judel-vrolijk.com; roccabellayachts.com
Nostromo – 30.1m
Builder: Pendennis
Year: 2009
After taking a hiatus from racing between 2018 and 2022, the 30-metre Dubois design Nostromo has had a significant refit and is back better than ever. The Bucket will be one of three races on the 2025 calendar for this solid Pendennis that excels in winds above 15 knots – which St Barths never fails to deliver.
Symmetry – 29.3m
Builder: Yachting Developments
Year: 2004
A Bucket aficionado, having raced in 12, Symmetry owner Abbott Brown says he sails his lightweight sloop like a dinghy. The 29-metre Frers’ best result was in 2022 when she came first in class. “Most unusual was in 2006 when a race was cancelled shortly after starting and it turned into a swim party between boats,” he reminisces.
Freya – 27.7m
Builder: Nautor Swan
Year: 2012
With more than 10 Buckets in her wake, which saw her win her class several times, this 28-metre Swan 90 is La Petite Dame to beat – particularly in windy conditions, when the Germán Frers design comes into its own.
Captain Joph Carter of Freya said: “We are excited to see the development of the 90 Foot class and pleased the race committee has introduced this over the past years. It gives a chance for the smaller, pocket-size yachts who cannot compete under the 100-foot-plus classes, however are just as competitive. We are hoping to see four to five boats on the start line this year with some good competition coming from Hummingbird, who are always pushing us.”
Nefertiti – 27.7m
Builder: Nautor Swan
Year: 2010
One of 12 Swan 90s built, Nefertiti was delivered in 2010 but is joining the Bucket for the first time this year, perhaps enticed by the competition in the recently added 90 Foot class. She is no racing neophyte though; she took first in the Swan Caribbean Challenge at the RORC Caribbean 600 in 2013 and 2014.
Hummingbird – 27.7m
Builder: Nautor Swan
Year: 2009
The Swan 90 Hummingbird is making her Bucket debut, joining at least two of her sisterships in the 90 Foot class. Unlike her fellow Swans, though, Hummingbird is oriented more towards light air, with less righting moment. She recently placed second at the 2024 Rolex Swan Cup in the Maxi division, and will faceoff with the first-place Freya again in St Barths.
Prevail – 27.4m
Builder: YYachts
Year: 2021
Making her Bucket debut in the 90 Foot class is this 27-metre YYachts Prevail. Designed by Bill Tripp, she is a great example of his lightweight carbon composite boats. Since her delivery in late 2021, she has cruised mainly in the Med, racing once at the 2023 Ibiza JoySail, where she finished second in her class.
Captain Lockie Stewart-Baker of Prevail said: “Prevail is mainly used for family cruising and the Bucket offers an opportunity to stretch her legs in what is always a well-organised and high-quality racing event. The accent will be on having fun with a great guest and race crew.”
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