Who doesn’t love a colourful and eye-catching regatta poster? Well it seems no-one, so it was a labour of love when a late evening phone call in 2015 from the much missed Michael Koppstein, started a process that eventually saw the St Barths Yacht Club Youth Sailing Programme benefit by €16,000 from the sale of St Barths Bucket Regatta posters for the 2019 event.

Andy Smith, creative head of Owen Superyacht Marketing in the UK explains: “Our client, Royal Huisman was supporting their client’s yacht Meteor at the 2015 regatta and we designed the crew T-shirts for the event. The design was taken up by the Bucket Regatta who commissioned Owens to design a series of posters based on that style. I produced illustrations for a series covering 2016 to 2019, so each year there would be a poster in the series. They were a great success and have become quite collectable items.” Initially, 2016 was the first year of printing, featuring the famous St Barths airport and was highly coveted, 200 were printed as mementos for Bucket participants.

The next year, the 30th anniversary event, 300 were printed and 100 were sold through the Space SBH contemporary art gallery at €50 each with the proceeds going to the SBYC Youth Sailing Program. Then in 2018, 350 were printed and 140 were sold through the gallery, this time at €80 each, with the proceeds going to the “Help St Barths” post Irma recovery.

Event Director, Peter Craig explains: “With the poster series designed by Andy at Owens becoming synonymous with the St Barths Bucket Regatta brand style, we were really pleased that the uptake from so many people resulted in such a big result this year. The 2019 Poster was a hit beyond all expectations!  We had 450 printed and made 200 available for sale. They sold out quickly and at €80 each, we were able to commit €16,000 to the SBYC Youth Sailing Program. The St Barths Yacht Club is not a typical yacht club. Its membership and programs are focused on the kids and its budget is always tight. They were very excited. We are very thankful to all those who supported a great cause.”