Doyle Sails out in force at the 2019 St. Barths Bucket

The Doyle Sails team is present at the regatta with their clients to make sure they get the best performance possible out of their boats during the event.

Doyle Sails CEO Mike Sanderson is racing on one of the most striking boats in the fleet, the Dykstra-designed 56-metre (184-foot) Royal Huisman, ‘Aquarius’. Also on board from Doyle are fellow Kiwis Daniel Fong and Chris Blunden.

“It’s a big goal for Doyle Sails here in St Barths,” said Sanderson. “We have 14 people from the company out on the water, so it’s a big job but it’s worth it.”

‘Aquarius’ in St. Barths training in days leading up to race.© Justin Chisholm/Doyle Sails

Sailing on the largest boat at the regatta – the gigantic 66-metre (218-foot) Dykstra/Baltic Yachts ‘Hetairos’ – is Luke Molloy from Doyle Palma and Matt Bridge from Doyle New Zealand.

The striking green plumb-bowed ketch is carrying two Doyle sails – as Molloy explained:

“Doyles have built a jib top – a big furling sail that is flown out front and for reaching,” he said. “And we have also supplied what we call a gennaker staysail – that’s one of our cableless downwind sail.”

Molloy said the Hetairos crew were cautiously optimistic about their performance in the regatta this week after spending several days race training in Antigua last week before making the passage to St Barths.

“The training went well last week,” Molloy said. “After that and having sailed the boat here in full racing trim from Antigua we are happy with our manoeuvres and our sail handling. We are looking forward to a fun week on the water in this spectacular venue.

Even if the fleet is well prepared and very professional they don’t have to leave out the playful aspect of the race, because it’s very importatnt  for the crew keep the mood up.

Hopefully when we are back on the dock there are no protests so that everyone can enjoy a drink or two together and any disputes can be resolved amicably over a beer.”