Depuis plus de quarante ans, le monde de la voile s’est tourné vers la restauration des yachts anciens. Portés par des amoureux épris de l’indéfinissable plaisir de faire revivre les plus beaux témoins de l’âge d’or du yachting, d’extraordinaires voiliers, adulés du public, ont renoué avec le bonheur de la belle navigation.
In the wake of the Nioulargue, the Société Nautique and its teams are bestowing another privilege upon them: the chance to share the Gulf’s iconic racecourse with the most incredible craft on the modern, avant-garde yachting scene. Yet another reason to succumb, at the end of summer, to the charm of the 24th edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez.
Week 1: Doyennes to star at the gathering in Saint Tropez
Introduced two years ago, the popular two-week format is being carried over, with the configuration put in place in 2021; the opening week at Les Voiles is dedicated to the sumptuous fleet of classic yachts, with no limitation on length, as well as modern craft measuring up to 18m28 (60 feet).
This impressive line-up of contemporary and traditional floating marvels will be gathered together in and around the port of Saint-Tropez.
Among the traditional yachts, superlatives are required to evoke the incredible armada of seven large classic schooners, some of which—like Elena of London and Shenandoah—boast an overall length in excess of 50 metres. Amidst an impressive broadside of more than 20 centenarian boats, the prize for seniority goes to Madcap, a boat dating right back to 1874 and a newcomer to Les Voiles: classed as an Historic Monument in 2014, she’s the oldest recorded pilot-cutter in the world still fit to sail. The boat was restored in 2018 with the support of key economic players from the Commercial Port of La Rochelle.
On the modern side up to 18m28, Les Voiles remains a firm favourite with enthusiasts and specialists of the IRC B to F classes, who are eligible to compete during this first week, with categories that can reach around forty entrants. The big news this year is the return to the start lines of a 1973 Swan 44. Nothing exceptional in itself—except that this very elegant black-hulled monohull is none other than Pride, one of the two protagonists who, in 1981, up against the 12 mJI Ikra and thanks to the complicity of Patrice de Colmont, sparked the regatta that would become La Nioulargue, and since 1999 Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. Suffice to say her Saint-Tropez tacks—especially as the boat has just been bought by a descendant of the original American owner, Dick Jayson—will carry a very special symbolism.
Week 2: 50 maxis in the Gulf
Anything is possible at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. The time will come, during the second week, to welcome an extraordinary fleet of more than fifty maxis—single-hulled or now even double-hulled—pushing the record set in 2021 still further, when 45 boats took part.
This year, no fewer than around ten Wally yachts will be taking part in the Voiles Maxi Yachts, a line-up of a scale not seen for several years. On the racecourse, the most phenomenal craft conceived by this unmistakably styled class—defined by ultra-contemporary design that sacrifices nothing in high performance and peerless comfort—will be ready to light the fuse. A titanic battle is brewing between the 100-footers and above: Spirit of Malouen X and Y3K, challenged by the three Wallycento born of the box rule launched by Luca Bassani in 2013: Magic Carpet3 and Galateia, the two 100-footers penned by the John Reichel and Jim Pugh design office, completed by Tango 100, drawn by the California-born, Ireland-based architect Mark Mills.
Leaving the world of luxury and comfort for that of pure speed, it is precisely from the Mills office that the most incredible new arrival of the second week of Les Voiles comes: the very first flying maxi with articulated foils, inspired by the technology of the monohulls from the 36th edition of the America’s Cup: Flying Nikka.
“The challenge Roberto Lacorte set us was not only to design a foiling sailboat, not only to fly over long offshore distances, but to do so within the framework of the existing rules.” détaille l’architecte “That raises many challenges, such as the requirement to keep the project affordable, using the best of America’s Cup experience in a project whose costs and sophistication are closer to a Grand Prix racing boat like a Maxi 72.” Le sensationnel maxi volant portera les couleurs du club dont son propriétaire est le commodore : le Yacht Club Repubblica Marinara di Pisa.
Focus: An exclusive customisation workshop in the Voiles village
It’s one of the most sought-after services at the exclusive North Sails boutique, official supplier to Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. Widely open to the crews taking part in the event, but also to the public, the Custom Lab—offering the option to have technical pieces or sportswear purchased in the North Sails sales/showroom space embroidered or screen-printed—will be back on a stand inside the village. All competitors who wish can also place pre-orders for delivery ahead of the event.
Contact: guillaume.yvon@northsails.com
Programme 2022
Week 1: Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, Modern and Classic
Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September: welcome for all classic yachts with no size limit and modern yachts up to 18.28 metres
Monday 26 September: races for modern yachts
Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28, Friday 30 September and Saturday 1 October: races for modern yachts and traditional yachts
Thursday 29 September: challenge day
Saturday 1 October: prize-giving (week 1)
Week 2: Voiles Maxi Yachts and Multihulls
Sunday 3 and Monday 4 October: welcome for the large modern yachts (Wally, Mini Maxi, Maxi, Super Maxi) and Performance Cruising Multihulls (from 60 feet)
Tuesday 4, Wednesday 5, Thursday 6, Friday 7, Saturday 8: races
Saturday 8 October: prize-giving (week 2)
Partners of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
- ROLEX
- BMW
- NORTH SAILS
- WALLY
- SUZUKI MARINE
- MARSHALL
- MERCANTOUR
- BESSERAT DE BELLEFON
- TORPEZ (VIGNOBLES DE SAINT-TROPEZ)
- BERNARD OPTIC
- PEPINIERISTE PIERRE BASSET
- INTERNATIONAL MAXI ASSOCIATION
- PORT DE SAINT-TROPEZ
- LES MARINES DE COGOLIN
- FRENCH SAILING FEDERATION
- YACHT CLUB DE FRANCE
Organization
- Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez
- President: Pierre Roinson
- Principal Race Officer: Georges Korhel
- Race Manager: Frédérique Fantino
- Technical Manager: Philippe Martinez
- Communications and Executive Assistant: Chloé de Brouwer
www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr
www.snst-media.com
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Officiel
@VoilesSTOrg
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Photo credits: SNST/Gilles Martin-Raget
Press relations: Maguelonne Turcat