From September 28 to October 6, Saint-Tropez will be living to the rhythm of the Voiles, which are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. A grandiose regatta comprising three classes of Maxi, Modern and Classic boats making up a fleet of 250 of the world’s finest yachts to grace the water and make Saint-Tropez the yachting capital of the world during ten days. The Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez are busy working on the final details of the organisation of this well-established event, which still has a few surprises up its sleeve this year.
Timed starts, a full programme
Following registration formalities on Saturday, September 28th and the arrival of the Cannes to Saint-Tropez race on Sunday, it’s the Modern yachts, a pack of 124 boats ranging from the racer-cruisers, the TP52s to the performance sports yachts, who will open the ball on Monday at 11am at the Portalet tower.
The Maxis will follow at midday, heading for Pampelonne where they will have clear waters. To ensure the safety of this class of 43 yachts over 60 feet – one of the largest gatherings of Maxis in the world – the race directors have decided to divide the fleet in two. Whilst one section will be racing windward/leeward courses on Monday and Tuesday, the other will be racing coastal courses and vis versa for the end of the week with a day off programmed for Wednesday.
Finally, the classic yachts will make their debut on Tuesday, October 1 after completing their registrations the day before. Divided into no fewer than ten classes, these yachts will also set off from the Portalet, with a fixed line whatever the wind direction, giving rise to both upwind and downwind starts, much to the delight of the photographers and the public, who will benefit from a spectacular view from the Jean Réveille seawall or the heights of the town, at the foot of the Citadel or church of Sainte-Anne.
Tuesday’s schedule also applies to Friday and Saturday, while Thursday is devoted to the Challenger Races from all classes, as well as the Maxi races. On Wednesday, October 2, only two Maxis, My Song – 2023 winner – and Capricorno will be competing in the Club 55 Paul Watson Maxi Yacht Cup over a course of around 12 miles, as will Belle Aventure and Il Moro de Venezia on Thursday, October 3 for the Club 55 Paul Watson Cup. In keeping with the custom initiated at the first Nioulargue in 1981, these clashes between gentlemen will finish with a convivial lunch generously hosted by Patrice de Colmont at Club 55. The Classics will also be on the water: the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenaries Regatta, organised by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez race committee takes place on the same Thursday, with staggered starts from 12.30pm. Throughout the afternoon, crews who have pre-registered with the organisers will be able to challenge one or more fellow competitors, all starts once again from the Portalet Tower.
An exceptional cast at the 25th anniversary
Of Boats and Of Men, such as could be the base line of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez which as well as offering a marvellous spectacle every autumn, is the scene of exceptional encounters and jousting at the highest level. Scouring the list of entrants reveals a unique mix of crowned heads, industry leaders, rock stars, stars of the big and small screen, Olympic medallists, America’s Cup experts, world regatta champions and prodigies of the greatest ocean races. Maxime Sorel, who has just returned from his Ultra-trail du Mont Blanc and seemingly can’t get enough of fresh air and competition, will be lending a hand to the crew of Nacira 47 Swell, just one month before the start of his second Vendée Globe! He will be alongside sailing legends such as Lionel Péan on Hermitage to Philippe Monnet aboard Lys, both of whom are racing in the Classics, to Marc Pajot, who will be helming the 12m JI French Kiss, 37 years after his Australian epic. Racing in the Modern Class Jean-Pierre Dick, will be on the start line with his JP 54 Notre Méditerranée – Ville de Nice, the boat with which he won the latest edition of the Route du Rhum in the Rhum category. But the passion for regattas and yachting extends far beyond the circle of pros, with the discrete and valued presence of British guitarist Pete Townsend of The Who, a regular at Les Voiles, lining up this year on a 1938 Marconi sloop, as well as lead singer from the group Duran Duran, Simon Le Bon, regularly leading on another Marconi A, also dating from 1938.
Aurics in the spotlight
After the Marconi yawls in 2023, it is the Epoque Aurique class that will take pride of place racing in this year’s Rolex Trophy. This prestigious prize will be awarded for the nineteenth time by the watchmaking brand, which has been a partner of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez since 2006, a loyalty which testifies to its unfailing passion for classic yachting in all its forms.
The ‘Epoque Marconi A’ yachts form a colourful class of fourteen yachts, all over a hundred years old, ranging in size from 11 to 20 metres, notably four yachts in the P Class. This category, launched by Nathanael Herreshoff on the basis of his universal rule in 1903, all built on the east coast of America will be reunited for the first time on the water in a regatta in Saint-Tropez. Joyant is the last of them to have been restored in Camden, Maine, and will cross swords with Chips, Corinthian and Olympian. These 16-metre yachts are well equipped and at ease in light airs, but they will have their work cut out against the likes of Lulu, listed as a historical monument, Rowdy and the formidable 10-metre JI Marga.
Noteworthy is that all these classic yachts, which require a great deal of skill to be sailed in a breeze, race on corrected time.
In brief:
Race information and results from Les Voiles available via ‘Racing Rules of Sailing’
As in previous years, all official documents relating to the regatta – course information, results, information from the jury, will be available online by clicking on the unique QR code, an initiative to reduce paper usage and ensure that everyone has access to the most up-to-date information. A link will also be online on the official Voiles de Saint-Tropez website from the start of the competition.
LES VOILES DE SAINT-TROPEZ 2024 PROGRAMME
Saturday 28 September: Registration for Maxis (over 18.28m) Classic and Modern yachts up to 18.28 metres.
Sunday 29 September: Registration for Maxis (over 18.28m) Classic and Modern yachts up to 18.28 metres. Arrival of the YCF Autumn Cup (Cannes Saint-Tropez)
Monday 30 September: Regattas for Modern and Maxis yachts
Tuesday 1 October: Regattas for all fleets
Wednesday 2 October: Regattas for Modern and Classic yachts
Day Off for the Maxis and Club 55 Paul Watson Maxi Yachts Cup
Thursday 3 October: Challenge Day and Club 55 Paul Watson Cup for Modern and Classic yachts, Centenarians’ Regatta YC Gstaad Trophy,
Regattas for Maxis
Friday 4 October: Regattas for all fleets,
Saturday 5 October: Regattas for all fleets, Prize-giving ceremony for the Maxis
Sunday 6 October: Prize-giving ceremony for Modern and Classic yachts
Voiles de Saint-Tropez partners
ROLEX
BMW
NORTH SAILS
WALLY
SUZUKI MARINE
BRIG
MERCANTOUR EVENTS
BYBLOS
PEPINIERE DU GOLFE
LA MER
EKLE HOME
Official suppliers to Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
CHAMPAGNE BARONS DE ROTHSCHILD
CHATEAU SAINT-MAUR
DOMAINE BERTAUD BELIEU
Institutional partners to Les Voiles de 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
ESPRIT VILLAGE DES COMMERCANTS
Organisation:
Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, President: Pierre Roinson
Principal Race Officer: Georges Korhel
Regatta Secretary: Frédérique Fantino
On-the-water logistics: Gilles Doyen
Communication and Executive Assistant: Chloé de Brouwer
Editorial : Pierre-Marie Bourguinat
Internet sites: www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr; www.societe-nautique-saint-tropez.fr
Facebook: les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Officiel
X formerly known as Twitter: @VoilesSTOrg
Instagram: les_voiles_de_saint_tropez
Press Relations: Maguelonne Turcat
Photos: Gilles Martin-Raget