What a day!

Thousands of square meters of sails were lowered in a joyful din this Saturday evening at the end of a breathtaking closing day for the first part of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2022. The particularly virile conditions of this final day had led the committee and the teams from the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez have turned the program upside down from early morning to take advantage of a tough but more manageable window at the start of the morning. The few thousand crew members on the modern boats under 60 feet and the incredible fleet of traditional sailboats which took to the water one last time will regret nothing. They have obviously filled up with memories to recharge this poignant desire to – always – return to Les Voiles!

Classics are chic!

October 1, 2022 – For this final day, the gulf was adorned with its finest finery, with a calm to rough sea, a moderate to strong westerly wind, to promote sumptuous departures under spinnaker, port tack in all classes , preludes to often decisive games at the head of each group. Between the Mistral at the beginning of the week and the day of the Challenges on Thursday, the Classic yachts validated two races, each disputed in very different contexts: moderate wind yesterday, and freshening Mistral today. The sailors were thus able to exercise their venerable steeds in very different ways on an extremely changeable body of water, which compelled them to carry out heavy manoeuvres, changing the headsails in particular. Downwind under spinnaker, crosswind under genoa, then back upwind towards the bottom of the gulf and the Portalet under jib and genoa redesigned the beautiful spectacle of Les Voiles, a fantastic spectacle as much on the water as on the piers. We immediately noted the will of the three 12 m JI, Il Moro di Venezia , France and Ikra do battle in a most spectacular speed run. In one breath, for a few seconds, France got the better of Ikra , but not with enough lead to overtake Eugenia V (Rhodes 1968) in corrected time. Same scenario in the Epoque Gaff Group as Spartan , the swift New York 50 signed by Herreshoff dominated on the line, but which could not overcome its handicap against the formidable Scud (Herreshoff 1903) of Torben Grael, again winner at Saint- Tropez.

Shenandoah of Sark, the impressive three-masted schooner (Ferris 1902) was the scarecrow of the Rolex Trophy support group. Beaten in race 1 by the astonishing Paine Viveka design , she recovered magnificently in the breeze, winning the day’s race and, at the same time, the prestigious Rolex Trophy.

8 other Trophies were awarded this evening, rewarding the winners of as many Tradition groups. The following winners will be mentioned: Torpez Trophy (Classic Marconi A), Eugenia V (Rhodes 1968), Turquoise Trophy (Classic Marconi B), Espar II (Sangermani 1968). Mercantour Trophy (Gaffle Period A), at Scud (Herreshoff 1903) Byblos Trophy (Gaffle Period B), at Lulu (Rabot 1897), Marshall Trophy (Marconi Period A) Skylark 1937 (Olin Stephens 1937), the SNSM Trophy (Marconi Period B) in Bona (Baglietto 1934), Besserat de Bellefon Trophy (Grand Tradition) in Sumurun (Fife 1914) and the Pierre Basset Trophy, won by Jap (Fife 1897) crowning the best yacht of the “Guests” group.

Modern, the pleasure of sliding

Day resolutely placed under the sign of sliding for the 132 sailboats of the “Modern” section of Les Voiles. A perfectly smooth body of water on the starting line, in a wind oriented in the direction of the exit from the gulf, encouraged sailors and tacticians to send the whole canvas in the direction of Cavalaire. As expected, the Mistral took its ease during the day, and it was in a good flow of 25 knots, gusts to 30, with a strong chop, that the arrivals were judged.
The BMW Trophy crowns in the IRC C an undeniable winner, a great regular on the podiums in Saint-Tropez and elsewhere, the TP52 Nanoq to the Prince of Denmark. The member of the Yacht Club of Hong Kong Karl Kwok, ( Beau Geste) author of a thunderous start to the week, fell off in Friday’s stole. He takes a meritorious second place, far ahead of another TP52, Peter Harrison’s Jolt 3.

The North Sails Trophy, IRC B, was also the setting for epic battles throughout the week. Laurent Courbin (First 53 Yaziga ), emerges victorious in the showdown which pitted him against Linda Goddard (Swan 53 Bedouin ), and Solaris 50 Nergy (Jean François Guillon).

Peter Dubens ( North Star II Cape 31) is awarded the Suzuki Trophy for his victory in IRC D. He is ahead of Marc Pajot (Cape 31 Dopamine ) again after a terrible mano a mano. Jolt 4, Tilly Harrison’s third Cape 31 completes the podium. The Marine de Cogolin Trophy, IRC E and Bernard Optique Trophy (IRC F) are respectively awarded to King Of Blue , Pascal Fran, and Pippa , Bernard Giroux’s Tofinou 9.5.

Awards

The award ceremony for these 24th Voiles de Saint-Tropez was held at the Village des Voiles in a warm atmosphere, under the chairmanship of Pierre Roinson, and in the presence of Sylvie Siri, Mayor of Saint-Tropez. , Eric Colombin, Managing Director of Rolex France, and Patrice de Colmont, initiator of the Nioulargue. Tomorrow, Sunday, the pivotal day for the new format of Les Voiles: some are leaving, others are arriving. The Classic yachts will be sailing tomorrow towards new adventures, a well-deserved winter refit for some, transhumance to the West Indies for others. They give way to other more futuristic “racing beasts”, the Maxi yachts over 60 feet which will enliven the second week of Les Voiles in the sportiest sense of the term. 50 of these units are expected this week

They said: Georges Korhel, Principal Race Officer

“ A great Sailing Week. We of course regret the absence of regattas for the Traditions at the beginning of the week because of the Mistral. We adapt, for example by waking everyone up a little earlier today, in order to avoid the strongest wind in the afternoon. Today’s starts were absolutely superb. We chose courses along the coast all week, to avoid heavy seas. The day of the Challenges was once again a success. A beautiful Club 55 Cup with a course also adapted to avoid the sea at La Nioulargue. After 24 years, we continue to find solutions to sail well. The programming of the Maxis in the second week makes it possible to have shorter routes that are well suited to the fleet. The geopositioned buoys worked well and that’s a plus.. »

Serge Guilhaumou, captain of Shenandoah from 1993 to 2002, crew member for the day’s race

“ We left in good conditions, downwind, in variable winds. From the mark of La Sèche, it started to get stronger with a wind coming from land, and we had to adapt the sail plan that we had to carry to the conditions, that is to say without returning the arrow sails or all headsails. There were then 25 knots. We were coming back to Naema in gusts of more than 32 knots. It was absolutely magnificent! We did everything on one side, there were big gusts and we had to hit hard to avoid breaking. We were going at more than 12 knots. Naema had to pull a counter tack just before the finish line, and we took the opportunity to pass them and win the regatta. We were 21 people on board, but we can go up to 30. The boat was completely refitted in New Zealand, for 2 years, in 1996. We have sailed around the world almost twice since the refit. »

2022 program

Week 2: Maxi Yacht Sails
Sunday 3 and Monday 4 October: reception of large modern units (Wally, Mini Maxis, Maxis, Super Maxis)
Tuesday 4, Wednesday 5, Friday 7, Saturday 8: regattas
Thursday 6: lay day /reserve day
Saturday, October 8: prize giving (week 2)

Tender madness…

September 29, 2022 Thursdays, the Nioulargue spirit mixes with the wind, and Les Voiles slips into the gentle madness of sailors in search of fun and friendly nautical challenges, all imbued with the fair play dear to the teams of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. We challenge each other between owners, between captains and crews, over a drink and for a meal or for the simple satisfaction of having lived, the time of a nice windy and sunny course, a beautiful day at sea. Club 55 Cup , Trophée des Centenaires, a good dozen challenges with 2, 3, 4 and even 6 boats set off under full sail to attack the gulf. This day also marked the launch of the “Blue Sails” initiative. The parade of crews, always popular with participants with an overflowing imaginations.

Crazy and sometimes improbable Challenges

From 1 p.m., Portalet saw a parade, in the wake of the protagonists of the Club 55 Cup and the Trophée des Centenaires, of a good dozen duels with two, three or six boats, homogeneous challenges like the one which brought together the magnificent Bermudian yawls Skylark (Stephens 1937), Manitou (Stephens 1937) and Blitzen (Sparksman & Stephens 1938), or that opposing the large units Cambria (Fife 1929), Halloween (Fife 1926) and Mariella (Mylne 1938) or more improbable , such as the opposition of the styles of Houari Alcyon (Scotto/Vaton 2013) and 10 MJ Marge (Anker 1936). The Moderns were also part of this beautiful mix of groups, when the Grand Soleil 50 MadIV , one of the tenors of the IRC B (North Sails Trophy), challenged Bernina X , a brilliant X41 registered in IRC D (Suzuki Trophy).

In France , the Club 55 Cup

Course modified for the 2022 edition of the Club 55 Cup, an elegant nod to the origins of Les Voiles. The strong swell that rages on the Nioulargue side prompted the protagonists of the day to review the course in a loop of around 14 miles, starting and finishing in front of the Saint-Tropez pier, via the Club 55 mark at Pampelonne and the bottom of the gulf. France , the 12 mJI signed Mauric (1970), helmed for the occasion by the President of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez himself, the Honorable Pierre Roinson, was opposed to the sublime Tuiga (Fife 1909), flagship of the Yacht Monaco club. And the victory went to the President of the SNST, at the end ” of an absolutely magnificent regatta, in the wind and under the sun ”, as the winner liked to narrate.

In Kismet the Centenary Trophy

21 century-old yachts competed today for the Centenary Trophy of the Gstaad Yacht Club. Mixing rigs, sizes and styles, this original event in the Sails program saw the smallest sailboat in the fleet, Dainty (Wesmacott 1922) and its 8.20 m waterline, face the giant Shenandoah of Sark (Ferris 1902), 55 meters, and all these sailboats born at the beginning of the 20th century, each more legendary than the other. The Centenary Trophy is disputed in the format of the “pursuit race” (the boats cross the starting line according to their rating, the first to cross the finish line is the winner), this format allows competitors to race on an equal footing. And the outcome of 3 fine hours of racing allowed the coronation of the gaff cutter Kismet (Fife 1896), to Sir Richard Matthews, brilliant winner, in front, excuse me a little, the formidable Scud (Herreshoff 1903), helmed by Torben Grael, and Oriole , the Herreshoff gaff sloop of 1905.

Creation of the Blue Sails, the initiative!

Les Voiles Bleues was launched today September 29, 2022 with the screening of the film “Mediterranean, the Odyssey for Life”, Renaissance room in front of a group of schoolchildren from Tropez, then by a new screening for the attention of Sails sailors, followed by a conference with well-known personalities from the world of the sea and sailing. Animations, such as the presence of the innovative semi-submersible boat ” Platypus which carried out the Blue Odyssey South expedition in June 2022, clean-up actions carried out by Stéphane Mifsud and his Blue Odyssey and workshops to define a “blue sails charter” by sailors for sailors, are carried out along the Veils. A stand dedicated to Les Voiles Bleues is present in the village of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez bringing together the experts and partners involved in this first edition.

They said: Richard Matthews, Kismet , Centenary Trophy winner

“ We’re thrilled! A beautiful course, a superb regatta. We are resisting the return of Scud , which was going very well. The decision to send the gennaker was crucial. It was a new wing for us and we knew how to use it perfectly in the conditions of the day. We have created a decisive gap. The crew was great. The boat has no winches and is very physical. We recently restored it from top to bottom. I have been sailing with this team for almost 15 years. Our British tactician Andy Green has been outstanding. We will come back to defend our title with pleasure next year. »

Torben Grael ( Scud )

The “turbine” is at Les Voiles. The Brazilian of Danish origin Torben Grael sails in Saint-Tropez aboard Scud , the small gaff cutter signed Herreshoff and built in 1903 which belongs to Patrizio Bertelli, the boss of Prada. He learned to sail thanks to his grandfather who sailed him on a 6-meter JI type keelboat used by the Danish sailing team at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. Torben Grael won five medals at the Olympic Games between 1984 and 2004, including four in Star.
“This must be my 8th participation in Les Voiles, and third participation in the Centenary Trophy, once on Linnet , and once on Scud. We are very happy to be able to race again after the Covid years. We have a great team, which pushes hard on the boat. It’s nice. But you have to take care of Scud who is 120 years old. I learned to sail on an old boat, my grandfather’s 6m, which is still in the family. I know how to place this type of boat, quite heavy, on the water. I love browsing here. I love the Classics and it’s fascinating to watch all types of boats. We learn something every day. I would love to win the Centenary Trophy. »

The partners of the day: Besserat de Bellefon

Partner of Les Voiles for the 4th year, the champagne house Besserat de Bellefon is taking full advantage of the great dynamics of Les Voiles. Throughout the fortnight, she receives guests, in order to share with them, on land and at sea, the unique experience of Les Voiles. “We have created a very “boat” atmosphere on the stand in the heart of the Sailing village” explains Nathalie Doucet, President. “We are applying the color code specific to our white and blue marinière, the symbol of the House. The sea meets the land in Saint Tropez. We receive many customers from all over France, as well as importers, whom we invite on the water. »

Founded in 1843 at the water’s edge on the lands of Aÿ, the Maison Besserat de Bellefon is now based in Epernay. It has left its mark on the most prestigious tables for nearly two centuries and perpetuates a tradition of high quality by producing wines reserved for the exclusive sector of gastronomy, hotels, wine merchants and delicatessens.

Suzuki

For the 6th consecutive year, a loyal partner of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, Suzuki Marine is at the rendezvous of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez. On the water, the brand is extending its commitment by providing a fleet of twelve Marshall RIBs equipped with Suzuki outboard motors. On land, Suzuki’s Clean Ocean Project environmental program is presented to the general public on the brand’s stand, including the microplastic manifold that will now equip the new DF115B and DF140B engines. It is a collector of microplastics. Directly mounted on the engine structure, this innovative system makes it possible to collect floating waste while sailing by filtering the water intended for cooling the engine. Suzuki’s environmental program is also based on reducing plastic packaging at source: 11.2 tonnes of plastic material have thus been saved since October 2020 in Suzuki’s industrial process. Thanks to the mobilization of more than 10,000 people since 2010, the Clean Up Campaign makes it possible to collect waste on shores and coastlines around the world.

2022 program

Week 1: Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, Modern and Classic
Friday 30 September and Saturday 1 October: regattas for modern sailboats and traditional sailboats
Saturday 1 October: prize giving (week 1)

Week 2: Maxi Yachts and Multihulls Sails
Sunday 3 and Monday 4 October: reception of large modern units (Wally, Mini Maxis, Maxis, Super Maxis) and Performance Cruising Multihulls (from 60 feet)
Tuesday 4, Wednesday 5, Friday 7, Saturday 8: regattas
Thursday 6: lay day/reserve day
Saturday 8 October: prize giving (week 2)

Wind in Les Voiles!

September 28, 2022 – Thanks to a slight moderation of the Mistral, and eager to take advantage of a warm sun, all the sailors in the running, both in the Moderns and in the Classics, were prancing around this morning to face the tough conditions of the day, and to test themselves in the tonic West wind. Never mind, from 11 a.m., the 132 Modern yachts set sail for L’Escalet, for a superb coastal course as close as possible to the shore, while the 82 classic yachts tried to reach the start area. Alas, the state of the sea and gusts of more than 30 knots did not allow the games to be held fairly for the Classics, and it is with regret that this part of the fleet returned to port, not without having previously entertained image hunters, still numerous in Saint-Tropez.

The TP 52s at the party

Cut out for racing, regattas and at ease in strong winds, the TP 52s today had the opportunity and the ingredients to hammer home their supremacy in the IRC C group , support of the BMW Trophy. It was the President of the Yacht Club of Hong Kong, Karl Kwok and his TP 52 BeauGeste who renewed his performance on Monday, and won after a one-and-a-half-hour apnea sprint on the small coastal race of the day. The two other TP 52s, Jolt 3 of Peter Harrison, and Nanoq , defending champion, in the hands of Prince Frederik of Denmark, complete this fine domination of the TP52s. Among the IRCBs, on track for the North Sails Trophy, the mano a mano initiated on Monday between the First 53 Yagiza by Laurent Courbin, and the Swan53 Bedouin by Linda Goddard continued in the breeze of the day. The two boats are each posting a victory and a runner-up place tonight. Baltic5 Music and Mad IV , Clive Llewellyn’s Grand Soleil, will have to raise their level of play to titillate these two leaders. Matches are just as contested in all the other groups, in particular within the Suzuki Trophy in the IRC D, which display in real time, very tenuous gaps between leaders.

The schooners sublimate the gulf

The absence of a race for the classics has not overcome the motivation of the largest units in the fleet of traditional yachts, in particular the supercharged schooners of the Rolex Trophy, stars among stars. Shenandoah of Sark, Aschanti IV, Puritan and Elena of London were having a great time despite hollows of five feet, even heeling very hard, as evidenced by the astonishing vision of the helmsman of Elena , feet in the water.

On Thursday, the Nioulargue comes back to life in Saint-Tropez…

On Thursday, a tradition now well understood and appreciated by racers and owners, it is the spirit of the Nioulargue and its creator Patrice de Colmont, which is celebrated, at sea and on earth. Challenges of all kinds, inter-class or inter-style, Club 55 Cup or Centenary race, we race among gentlemen of yachting, for the beauty of the gesture and the pleasure of accumulating new excuses to redo, in the evening, the regattas of the day. The starting line under the Portalet is open, and each captain sets off after having announced himself to the Race Committee. On land, sailors are invited to compete in imagination to animate the always hilarious carnival of the crews towards the Jean Réveille jetty where the traditional sardinade of Les Voiles will be held.

Club 55 Cup, France and Tuiga in duel.

Since 2003, the Club 55 Cup has replayed the mythical challenge of 1981 between the 12 mJI Ikra and the American Swan Pride . Between the Portalet and the Nioulargue, two sailboats challenge each other in the friendliest of climates. Winner last year, The Kid at Niçois Jean Pierre Dick, unable, Route du Rhum obliges, to put his title back into play against an opponent of his choice, left the legitimately desperate Organizing Committee to to find protagonists. Clash of genres but not of cultures, it is the 12 mJI France (1970) which will face the 15 mJ Tuiga (1909).

Centenary Trophy of the Yacht Club of Gstaad

Tomorrow Thursday, 11th edition of the Centenary Trophy, reserved for century-old sailboats. There will be 21 venerable Classics on the starting line at Portalet. The double winner of the event, Olympian (Gardner 1913), will have a lot to do to defend his title against another former winner, the formidable Spartan (Herreshoff 1913).

They said – Philippe Serenon, President of the Association Prop IRC

“This is an owners’ association that brings together IRC rated boats. Handicap racing based on the IRC Rule aims to make racing easier for a wide range of racing and cruising monohull keelboats by establishing a system of measurement to classify competing boats according to a single factor. time or distance correction. This represents, year in, year out, 3,000 members. To receive an IRC gauge certificate, you must be a member of the association, knowing that between 500 and 800 certificates are issued each year. The association thus supports the owners and the races. We have recurring events like the Massilia, the Snim, the Napoleon, the Ar Men, or the Spi Ouest-France, and two championships, one in the Atlantic and the other in the Mediterranean. We are studying the idea of ​​a national final with the new Class30 developed by the UNCL and the RORC. Already 40 boats have been ordered at this stage from Multiplast. The racers ask for beautiful festive regattas. We are spoiled here in Saint-Tropez…”

Le partenaire du jour : North Sails

North Sails is, for the 4th year, the official textile supplier of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez. A special collection dedicated to the event is thus created each year, for Men, Women and Children, with graphics inspired by the world of regattas. It is a “life style” collection, designed with natural materials, organic cotton, or nylon made from recycled plastic. 96% of the collections are produced in organic or recycled materials. The brand goes to great lengths to reduce the impact of its manufacturing and products on the environment. Saint-Tropez presents a very good compromise between the art of living and the world of regattas. North Sails has a shop in the village of Les Voiles for the sale of the dedicated line, and also, an embroidery workshop – the Custom Lab – for sailors who wish to personalize their clothing. Technical products are on sale in the shop on quai de l’épi. Brand ambassador, Titouan Bernicot, founder of “Coral Gardner” will also be present this week. To be noted on board the Ker 46 Daguet3 the presence of Quentin Ponroy, master sailmaker North Sails much appreciated by offshore racing skippers.

2022 program

Week 1: Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, Modern and Classic
Thursday 29 September: day of challenges, Club 55 cup, Centenary Regatta
Friday 30 September and Saturday 1 October: regattas for modern sailboats and traditional sailboats
Saturday 1 October: awards ceremony (week 1)

Week 2: Maxi Yachts and Multihulls Sails
Sunday 3 and Monday 4 October: reception of large modern units (Wally, Mini Maxis, Maxis, Super Maxis) and Performance Cruising Multihulls (from 60 feet)
Tuesday 4, Wednesday 5, Friday 7, Saturday 8: regattas
Thursday 6: lay day/reserve day
Saturday 8 October: prize giving (week 2)