A UNIQUE AND EXCLUSIVE EVENT, LIKE NO OTHER. EVERY YEAR THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS REGATTA TAKES LIFE ON THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF THE FRENCH ANTILLES, SURROUNDED BY ITS SIMPLE ART OF LIVING, BUT WITHOUT GIVING UP A TOUCH OF SOPHISTICATION… THE PERFECT COMBINATION FOR YACHT OWNERS.
This article was published on Superyacht Digest JULY ISSUE 2019 – Pag. 22
Let’s talk about brand experience, that is, the personal knowledge that we acquire in every moment of interaction with a brand. The more experiences we have, the wider, stronger and better informed our opinions will be. To generate a positive impression from the perception of the brand experience, a company must bring its audience to enjoy what it offers, so the offer must be exceptional to the public, it must differentiate itself from that of its competitors, and above all it must be “real”.
The brand must be committed so that each of its touch points with the consumer is positive: it must be able to convey engagement, surprise, positive emotions… The best brand experience a brand can create is through a holistic attitude – mind and body together – in which the audience can feel completely involved.
The St Barths Buckett Regatta, which every year fills with energy the island of Saint Barthelemy, can be actually defined a holistic experience through which guests can live the best brands of the largest sailing yachts builders, which every year, equipped with specialized racing teams meet at Gustavia Port to challenge each other with colorful spinnakers and vigorous turns.
The St. Barths Bucket Regatta is one of the most important and exclusive events for larger sailing yachts on the world calendar: a yachting experience lived by yacht owners and their friends with spirit of adventure, healthy competition and strong involvement. An experiential rendez-vous, which allows all the privileged guests to escape from the daily routine and immerse themselves in a unique and fascinating event, seasoned with adrenaline and enthusiasm, in an informal atmosphere, surrounded by a landscape of absolute beauty, in a full and deep contact with nature.
The St. Barths Bucket Regatta is a moment of strong relationship among all participants, an extraordinary occasion to share emotions with yacht owners, friends and sailing teams.
At the last 32th edition last March, Perini Navi saw its own burgee defended at sea by S/Y Aquarius (46m), S/Y Rosehearty (56m), S/Y Perseus^3 (60m) and S/Y Seahawk (60m). A total of 36 yachts participated in the three days of racing, whose rules and ratings comply with SYRA (Superyacht Racing Association) and ORCsy criteria. The participating yachts were divided into five classes: Les Gazelles, Les Elegantes, Les Mademoiselles, Les Femmes, Les Grand Dames, and Les Voiles Blanches (Corinthian Spirit class). The overall winner position went to S/Y Hetairos (Baltic Yachts).
The week of the St. Barths Bucket Regatta was an important moment for Perini Navi: while on one side of the world, on the French Antilles of the Caribbean Sea, the Italian shipyard was involved with yacht owners and guests in all the events that animate the sailing event, their building facility in Viareggio saw the hull of the first S/Y 42m E-volution arriving from Turkey, to be positioned inside the shed to continue the construction process.
The sailing yachts’ world, unlike motorboats’, has a double life: you can indulge in holidays with your family and friends sailing across the oceans, reaching the most beautiful corners of the world, or enjoy a break participating with your special racing teams, at annual events, such as The Bucket in St Barth.
Even the sailing superyachts builders often participate actively in these events. In a certain way and metaphorically speaking, we can say that they live their product twice. First, during the two or three years they need to build the yacht, and, secondly, when they participate in this kind of regattas with their clients and guests.
Perini Navi is currently the shipyard with the highest number of sailing megayachts under construction: this new 42m is the first hull of the E-volution series, created by Perini Navi’s in-house designers in collaboration with renowned American performance yacht specialists Reichel / Pugh. The naval architecture and sail plan offer the ideal compromise between cruising comfort and performance. Equipped with a lifting keel, the yacht will be powerful and easy to handle.
WHAT’S ON IN ST BARTH
The shoreside social activities during the St Barths Bucket Regatta are unparalleled with the Bucket days being St Barths second biggest week of the year after only their famed New Year’s Eve festivities! During the day, race viewing parties are held daily at some of the island’s most iconic beachside establishments. Each night, Bucket parties are held at private villas and at local restaurants in typical St Barths tradition. Many St Barths regulars passionately proclaim that Bucket Week is their favorite time of the year.
Among the collateral events, there is also an evening in which guests are invited to visit the sailing yachts taking part in the competition. It is the socalled “Bucket Yacht Hop” night. One of the most colorful social events on the schedule during the week; the Bucketeers meet to party and show the willingness of crews to get creative with party themes, signature cocktails and entertainment.
The event, which is by invitation only, allows various participants to also visit the other boats, know each other, spend convivial moments and develop new relationships.
ON BOARD WITH THE OWNERS
Far from the work schedule at least for one week, yacht owners meet in St Barth to compete with their giants in the waves. They participate with enthusiasm and clear conviction. Standing next to their Captain, ready to leave at the signal, and assisted by other two professional sailors, who evaluate the changing sea conditions and functionality of the onboard systems, they wait on the flybridge for their turn, hoping to cut the starting line according to the correct times. “Aquarius, get ready to start … three, two, one … Aquarius has cut the starting line!”. When on board you hear this message coming via radio, it’s showtime. Every crew member has a precise role and when the majestic sails are opened, the magic begins. Everything else is pure adventure.
Superyacht Digest was on board S/Y Aquarius on the third day of the race and could talk with the owners and know about their story. It was summer when they were cruising with their motoryacht in the British Virgin Islands. Suddenly they saw a big sailing yacht passing next to them. Udo and Ursula (Ushi for friends) fell immediately in love with that beautiful boat, they found out it was a Perini Navi build and once back in Europe after summer, they visited the yard in Viareggio.
About the regatta and their active participation, Uschi and Udo said:
“Participating in such a high-level sailing event takes the Captain and the crew, and also us as yacht owners, much time for planning. Especially when the number of crew members varies from 7 to 17, and you also have invited 8 guests on board to enjoy the event. Mix all of these things together – the enthusiasm of the race, all the racing activities taking place on all decks, the spectacular huge sails filling out, the power of the vessel and 1300 square meters crusing in the waves – what you get is a strong emotion. The waves play with the yacht and with the feelings of every guest on board. Special guests, such as Superyacht Digest, are always welcome and ensure a greater sharing of fun. Getting in the heart of things, when everyone is needed to help… that’s the meaning of the race, or at least it is for Udo and Uschi”.
