Saint Barths’ Star-Studded New Year’s Eve Regatta

by The Islander photos by Jean Jarreau

St.Barth’s, Saint Barth’s, St.Barth or Saint Barthélemy; this island is so wonderful that to name it once just wasn’t enough! It is THE Island where every Christmas through New Year, a ton of celebrities -and “normies”- mingle. Champagne is sipped on the docks and all the world’s problems slip away. It’s the island where the Bucket Regatta, Les Voiles de Saint Barth, and the New Year’s Eve regatta take place.

Recently, several stars attended the “Gala de LuisaViaRoma” at the Emeraude Hotel. This is a charity for Unicef featuring a cocktail reception, gala dinner and live auction. The table seating sold out, reaching the dizzying heights of €130.000 to €250.000. Amongst those spotted at this event have been Lenny Kravitz, Drake, Mike Tyson and many others.

International celebrities, philanthropists and notable guests from all over the world were present including Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup, Luke Evans, Edward Enninful Obe, Rita Ora, Karolina Kurkova, Maxwell, Kygo. Also, Liya Kebede, Kiernan Shipka, Taika Waititi, Remo Ruffini, Georgia Palmer, Chase Hudson, Nabilla Vergara, Jordan Barrett, Rachel Zoe, Amalie Gassmann, Sveva Alviti, Bob Sinclair and Frida Aasen, to name a few! Collectively, they helped raise over €3 million for Unicef.

According to the Port De Gustavia, 368 yachts had registered in the harbor for New Year’s Eve (compared to 305 in 2021). There were 213 visiting yachts and 155 permanent yachts. These included: 4 superyachts over 100 meters; 14 between 75 to 99 meters; 28 between 60 to 74 meters; 47 between 45 to 59 meters. Thirteen megayachts had applied and received permission to host parties while at dock.

Fewer people than in previous years sailed in the New Year’s Eve regatta; only 8 yachts participated, but they had plenty of fun. Maëlia with Raphaël Magras was declared overall winner. The well-known (certainly in the USA and the Caribbean) musician Jimmy Buffet, who is a regular St.Barth’s sailor, was helming the famous classic yacht, Ticonderoga. Other yachts were the 140’ Gitana, the 66’ Gunboat Phaedo, Symmetry, Flying Nemo and White Rhino.