Newport Bucket | photo by Cory Silken
What started as a 15-mile race in Nantucket Sound to establish bragging rights between the owners and crew of seven yachts in 1986 has endured through 25 years and a change of venue to Newport, Rhode Island.
Owners and crew of some of the world’s largest sailing yachts still meet annually each summer to do (lighthearted) battle for the Bucket in pursuit racing style – and in a spirit of ‘wholesome competition’ – with the first yacht to cross the line the winner.
Eschewing the oh-so-pedestrian categories of ‘racing’ and ‘cruising’, the Bucket has instead ‘Les Gazelles’ and ‘Les Grand Dames’. Seamanship and sportsmanship are highly regarded and recognised with the Vitters Seamanship Trophy; but, in the spirit of the Bucket, adult behaviour is not encouraged and the Skulduggery Cravat is awarded to the yacht and crew displaying the best Bucket humour.
The upcoming event
The 2011 event was the Newport Bucket’s 25th anniversary, kicked off by a Bucket Rendezvous on Martha’s Vineyard on the Thursday. In the event adverse weather conditions also known as Hurricane Irene meant that all racing was cancelled, but the ‘bucket spirit’ won out and the regatta’s social side was a reported a great success. The organisers expect the 2012 Newport Bucket to produce beter racing, while keeping up to the standards of 2011′s party spirit.
The table below lists all yachts that have had their registration confirmed for the 2012 Bucket. Among those listed as likely to attend are Bolero, Whisper, Tenacious, Rambler, and the 2010 champion Hanuman. Participation is by invitation to yachts over 27 metres, and the regatta is overwhelmingly oversubscribed – so it is worth getting in there early.
2012 Newport Bucket Entries
| Yacht | Builder | Designer | LOA (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boo Too | Pendennis Shipyard | Holland | 89 |
| Clan VIII | Perini Navi | Ron Holland | 148 |
| Hyperion | Royal Huisman | Frers | 157 |
| Indio | Wally | Frers | 102 |
| Keewaydin | Palmer Johnson Yachts | John G. Alden | 108 |
| Lady B | Vitters Shipyard | Dubois | 148 |
| MITseaAH | Pendennis Shipyard | Pedrick | 154 |
| P2 | Perini Navi | Briand | 125 |
| Rebecca | Pendennis Shipyard | Frers | 138 |
| Sejaa | Chantier Naval | Judel & Vrolijk | 83 |
| Timoneer | Vitters Shipyard | Dubois | 144 |
| Wild Horses | White | Brooklin Boatyard | 76 |
The next Bucket kicks off August 24 – 26, 2012.
For more information visit www.bucketregattas.com/newport
Events News Newport J Class Regatta 2011 post-race reportFun and speed were the order of the day at the first of the J Class Regatta series that will culminate in Newport in 2014 |
Events Videos St Barth’s Bucket 2011 videoAn overview of the annual St Barth's Bucket regatta, which is the perfect mix of friendly sailing rivalry between 40 sailing yachts in the water and parties galore on shore |
Events Calendar Les Voiles de Saint-TropezThe classiest of yachting events gathers together the most extraordinary modern sailing boats with the most beautiful traditional yachts to do battle in the Bay of Saint-Tropez |
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