St. Barths Bucket

Thanks for reminding me. :-(

I'm unable to make it, but have gotten prodding phone calls from my Father and other friends in the J Boat regatta telling me "the weather is here, wish you were great."

Looking forward to hearing recaps from them.

Update

It was a fantastic race, but the final leg was marred by the injury of a crew member on Valsheda. They called us with a possible spinal injury due to an accident involving the spinnaker pole. They were able to stabilize the crewman and I understand he will be OK, but suffered broken teeth and jaw.
Today is an around-the-island race, but looks as if it may be more of a drift-fest as the winds are topping at around 10 kts. I'll post more photos if I'm able after the race.

Thanks Ken.

Photos from the 2012 Bucket

Here are some of the boats who raced in the Bucket this year, including individual shots of Moonbeam, Marie, and Zafira (you can see the guy climbing the rig in this shot).

A few More

Here are a few more which include Marie, Ranger, and Parsifal III

Should read Moon Bird

Those modern J-Class yachts are so spectacularly beautiful... thanks for the images.

How about the not-so-modern Js?

Hetairos aground ?

Just heard that the new Hetairos ran aground, and suffered damage to her hi-tec retractable keel system. Any details known about that incident?

Latitude38.com reports:

"But after the Bucket, it's a come-down for almost every sailor, as the 47-boat fleet ranged in size from 96 feet to 218 feet. Well, make that 96 to 208 feet, after the nearly new Gerry Dykstra / R/P / Baltic yacht 218-ft Hetairos cut the leeward mark of Isle Forschue a little too close, driving her 24-ft-deep drop keel into the bottom. She was able to get off and finish the race, but that accident knocked her out of the series. Lest you think that 24 feet is deep draft, the previously mentioned Twizzle draws 36 feet with her board down."

Several blogs mention the incident but with no new details.

Word on the dock was that she left 2/3 of her lead keel (the bottom of the centerboard) on the ocean floor. She is currently at PDP in Simson Bay.

She is 218 feet, correct? Or did she lose something else? Or is it just a typo?

I think the author was trying to make a joke about "cutting off" either from cutting the marker or her keel or both; maybe from loosing 10' of her keel?

2013 Bucket

There has been some great racing this year at the Bucket.
Thursday was a match race amongst 5 J Boats, Valsheda, Ranger, Rainbow, Hanuman, and Lionheart.

Friday and Saturday brought out the whole fleet; light winds Friday and heavier today.

A few more shots

Here are a few more of the boats.

+1

Totally awesome, keep em comin!!

A picture of us

I can't take credit for this photo, but it was sent from someone on the committee boat. I believe that is Hanuman in the foreground.