From its casual beginning in Nantucket in 1987, where only seven competitors competed, to its most recent iteration in St. Barths where over 35 yachts took to the race course, the Bucket Regattas have been highlights on the superyacht racing calender for nearly three decades.

Here is the latest announcement regarding the Newport Bucket:

Newport, Rhode Island, USA– Bucket stewards Perini Navi, Royal Huisman, Vitters and Rybovich have announced they are turning the Newport regatta over to local organizers. Newport Shipyard owner Charlie Dana and Bannister’s Wharf owner David Ray will now carry forward the Newport Bucket tradition.

Founded in Nantucket in 1986 by the late Nelson Doubleday, it was there that the Nantucket Bucket was raced for 15 years. After that, it came to Newport Shipyard where it has been hosted ever since.

The owners of the Bucket Regattas will be concentrating their efforts on the St. Barths Bucket and believe that the Newport regatta would be well served in the local hands of David and Charlie, who are not only participants but also understand well “the spirit” of what Nelson created.

Starting in July 2016, superyacht racing in Newport will continue as the ‘Candy Store Cup.’ The Candy Store Cup has good synergy with the Bucket; it was first won by Bill Ziegler’s Gem in 1977 and more recently by Kenny Read’s Mar Mostro, narrowly beating George David’s Rambler 100 in 2011. The Candy Store Cup will be the perfect sequel to honor the light-hearted tradition for which the regatta has always been known.

“I’m confident that Charlie and Eli Dana and David Ray will create an event that, like the Bucket, will bring spectacular superyachts together with sportsmanship and camaraderie,” said Bruce Brakenhoff, Jr., Bucket Steward and Perini Navi USA President. “These Newport stalwarts have the local relationships and knowledge to carve out a new chapter for superyacht racing in Newport.

The Bucket stewards are very pleased that the Newport Bucket racing tradition will continue in New England and look forward to working with the new organizers to help ensure future success.”

The Shipyard and Bannister’s Wharf teams have already consulted yacht owners and captains and determined that a shift to earlier summer dates (tentatively July 21–24) will make it easier for more of the great sailing yachts to be in the neighborhood.

“Newport Shipyard is a longtime supporter and friend of the Bucket,” said Charlie Dana. “Initially, it was more of a party for the biggest sailing yachts that had no races to enter. Here we are three decades later with such spectacular racing and imagery that the sailing fraternity is not only agog but out in full force. Racing these boats is something I never would have dreamt possible as a child. How lucky we are. We can’t wait,” Dana said.

Head to the Newport Shipyard website for more information.