Spirit of Malouen X on top form! The Maxi 72s consolidate their domination A good deal for Lyra in Maxi3
It was a day similar in many ways to the one experienced yesterday by the 800 sailors and 46 Maxis on track during this second week of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez. The crews were able to remain concentrated as they waited for an easterly breeze to set in, which was immediately put to good use by the teams led by Georges Kohrel and the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez to launch the day’s race. A double loop in the gulf, around 20 miles long, was on the menu for the often professional crews, all capable of adjusting and getting the best out of their boats, whatever the conditions on offer. As was the case yesterday, the delicate subtlety of a light breeze prompted strategists and tacticians to play their cards right from the start, either on the Sainte Maxime side or far out in the Bay of the Canoubiers. But it was on the edge of the gulf that the expected acceleration and groupings of boats rekindled the suspense in each of the groups, which enthusiastically confirmed a second round in a week which was decidedly placed under the seal of the most radiant of autumns.
Spirit of MalouenX in her element The huge Swan 115 Jasi, sailed by the American Ken Read, famous for his America’s Cup and Volvo campaigns, proved to be particularly inspired from the moment the gun was fired early this afternoon for the Maxi1s. He began a long windward-leeward duel with Spirit of Malouen X, Wally 107 and her predominantly French crew, followed by the two big protos Morgana (Reichel/Pugh) and Pattoo (MacKeon), as the north-easterly wind became increasingly easterly, while freshening slightly. But it was Spirit of Malouen X who took the prize for finesse, winning in quite a masterly fashion. With today’s fine result, Wally 107 is back in the saddle in the provisional overall Maxis1 rankings. 72 power! The Maxi 2 group is perhaps the most closely watched of the week, as it brings together a number of boats with similar potential, albeit with very different signatures. Rambler88, the record-breaking Kouyoumdjian design, was also quick to take the lead, in contact with the Wallycento in the Maxi 1 group. Unfortunately, the unfortunate fall of one of the men on board, fortunately not serious, forced Rambler88 to abandon the race. Yesterday’s leaders, the formidable 72-footers, took advantage of the situation to continue to make their mark on this group. North Star, the day’s winner, Jethou and Cannonball will all be taking part in the week’s final rankings this evening.
And here comes Lyra again! Another fine day for Capricorno, the Italian Reichel/Pugh 80, but it’s Lyra, the Wally that’s lying in ambush in the Maxi3 class. Ryokan, the Wally 80, a great regular at the Voiles, today reminded his rivals of his good fortune. The smaller Maxis in the Maxi4 Group continue to be dominated by the 12mJI Kiwi Magic KZ7, once again leading the way ahead of the Swan 65 Saida. Communication and coordination: the key to performance in light airs Thierry Péponnet from Le Havre, Olympic 470 champion in Seoul, officiates aboard the Wallycento Tango. Getting a 40-tonne yacht up to speed in very light airs is a fantastic team effort involving the helmsman on board, the tactician, the navigator and the various trimmers, as explained by the champion, who is in charge of strategy and sports coordination on Tango, the 4th Wallycento launched in 2017 by Persico, based on a Mills design. “I announce the manoeuvres, the sail choices, the side of the stretch of water to keep to. I communicate with navigator Jeff Cuzon and tactician François Brenac. The difficulty in light airs is that our sensors are at the top of the mast, 50 metres above the deck. All the force and direction information is collected at this height, and in light airs, this information is not homogeneous between what happens at this height and at deck level. There can be a 3 knot difference in direction and force, and it changes all the time. We’re trying to assess the strength of the wind and define whether we’re within our ‘targets’, within the boat’s polars. A boat like Tango has repeaters fixed to the mast that tell the helmsman what speed he should keep according to the strength and direction of the wind. We try to get as close as possible to these targets. The result is a lot of back and forth between the helmsman and the genoa and mainsail trimmer. We have to adapt constantly. The key is the quality of the exchange between helmsmen and trimmers. The pairing of helmsman and trimmer is therefore crucial. The helmsman has to express what he’s doing so that the trimmer can adapt to what he wants. The trimmers in turn give their impressions and feelings to the helmsman. This communication is the key to getting the best out of the boat. If Tango is supposed to perform in 8-12 knots, the boat hasn’t sailed for three years and the competition has made a lot of progress in that time. In accordance with the Wally class rules, the helmsman must be the owner of the boat, replaced here by Jean-François Cutugno, President of the Cannes Yacht Club, in the absence of the incumbent”.
Tomorrow, Thursday, the Maxis challenge each other For the first time, there will be a ‘Lay day’ on the Maxi programme tomorrow. As two legs have been correctly validated, the Race Direction wanted to revive the tradition by introducing a “Club 55 Cup – Maxi” which will take place tomorrow between the two great Wallys, Magic Carpet3 and Tango, who will challenge each other on the mythical course to Nioulargue, Pampelonne and back, with lunch at the Club 55 for both crews. In the same spirit of fair play and sport, the start line off Saint-Tropez will remain open to all boats wishing to throw down the gauntlet. Zoom on : Dee Caffari at Les Voiles Dee Caffari sailing at Les Voiles aboard Swan 82 Kallima, Maxi 3 group. Denise Caffari, also known as Dee Caffari, born on 23 January 1973 in Watford, Hertfordshire (United Kingdom), is a British yachtswoman. She made her debut in 2004 with the Global Challenge. She has since sailed around the world 6 times, including three non-stop. On 18 May 2006, after 178 days at sea, she became the first woman to sail solo around the world without assistance from east to west, in other words against the prevailing winds and currents. She finished 6th in the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe, becoming the first woman to sail around the world single-handed in both directions.
Photo competition results: The “Objectifs Voiles” photo competition organised as part of Les Voiles has revealed its winner. The winner was Cléa Auger from Cavalaire. The competition, which has been running since September 25, was open to amateur and professional photographers who immortalise the regattas out of passion and pleasure. A panel of judges, chaired by Sylvie Siri, Mayor of Saint-Tropez, and Pierre Roinson, President of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, and including Laurent Rabé, Images Service, and Gilles Martin Raget, decided on a shortlist of 38 photos.
And tomorrow… In the Village des Voiles, from 6.30pm Tahitian Festival. Tahitian dances, tastings, music and Maitai at the Bar des Voiles.
Programme 2022 Week 2: Les Voiles Maxi Yachts Thursday 6: Club 55 Cup and Maxi Challenge Day Friday 7, Saturday 8: regattas Saturday 8 October: prize-giving ceremony (week 2)
Partners of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez ROLEX BMW NORTH SAILS WALLY SUZUKI MARINE MARSHALL MERCANTOUR BYBLOS BESSERAT DE BELLEFON TORPEZ (VIGNOBLES DE SAINT-TROPEZ) BERNARD OPTIC PEPINIERES PIERRE BASSET ESPRIT VILLAGE A SAINT-TROPEZ
VILLE DE SAINT-TROPEZ
PORT DE SAINT-TROPEZ
LES MARINES DE COGOLIN
FEDERATION FRANCAISE DE VOILE
YACHT CLUB DE FRANCE
INTERNATIONAL MAXI ASSOCIATION
Organisation :
Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez
Président : Pierre Roinson
Principal Race Officer : Georges Korhel
Responsable Régates : Frédérique Fantino
Responsable technique : Philippe Martinez
Communication et Attachée de Direction : Chloé de Brouwer
Rédaction : Denis Van den Brink
Site internet : www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr
Media site : www.snst-media.com/
Facebook : les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Officiel www.facebook.com/VoilesDeSaintTropezOfficiel
Twitter : @VoilesSTOrg
Instagram : les_voiles_de_saint_tropez https://www.instagram.com/les_voiles_de_saint_tropez/
Photo
SNST/Gilles Martin-Raget
Vidéo
SNST/Guilain Grenier, 6G
Relations Presse :
Maguelonne Turcat