There is Patrice de Colmont who tells the story (see “How it all began!”) but there is also the team who welcomes you each year in the Press Room. She has summarised the whole history of the Voiles in a few paragraphs. Read on:
There are evenings when one has ideas… of genius. It all started on September 29th 1981, when a challenge without much sporting interest, except to defend a sailor’s honour, was launched between Pride, Dick Jason’s American Swan 44, and Ikra, the 12M JI skippered by Jean Lorrain. The challenge could not have been simpler: start at the foot of the village of Saint-Tropez at the Tour du Portalet, turn the mark of the Nioulargo (which means “nest of the sea” in Provençal) and arrive in front of the restaurant, the “Club 55”, located on the beach of Pampelonne. If for the anecdote, Ikra won before Pride, for the history, this challenge gave birth, thanks to the spontaneity and the enthusiasm of Patrice de Colmont, to the “Club 55 Cup”.
And from this regatta was born a unique event, a gathering of its own that would allow ordinary racing boats to race with prestigious maxi yachts, ultra-sophisticated prototypes with classic yachts with histories as long as days without wind. The incomparable and inimitable Nioulargue was thus born and, for fifteen years, mixed the greatest sailors with owners of all calibers. Imagine that majestic J-Class yachts will be able to cross bows with the latest generation of racing boats… Imagine that the nautical jousting game, once finished, will continue as an improvised game of boules and anchovy jam on the Place des Lices…
And if the same state of mind and good-natured simplicity is to be found every year, each year will also see its coup d’éclat, its miracle or its appearance. 1984 will see the giant J Class Velsheda cross the gulf whilst Eric Tabarly at the helm of the maxi Coriolan IV battled hard against Herbert von Karajan’s maxi Helisara or against Harold Cudmore, then at the helm of Gitana.
In 1988, John Parkwright IV, owner of France II, launched a challenge to other boats while the official races were cancelled due to the strong Mistral blowing on the peninsula. He simply asked that the start be given and the finish be recorded. The Florida Cup (now known as the Défis Jean Lorrain) was born and would witness fantastic duels such as the one between Astra and Candida, or in 1992 between the J Class Endeavour and Ville de Paris, then a recent challenger for the America’s Cup.
Another highlight, 1990, with the arrival of five three-masted ships: Shenandoah, the magnificent Créole, Raphaelo, Aquarius and Fleurt Je. 1991 saw three exceptional boats appear on the horizon: Pen Duick, Eric Tabarly’s boat, tasting the waters of the Mediterranean for the first time, the J Class Endeavour, defender of the America’s Cup in the 1930s, and Matador, the famous reigning world champion maxi then belonging to a certain Bill Koch.
1993 welcomed the splendid Tuiga. 1995 celebrated the return of Kentra and the arrival of Mariette. As an anecdote, it is worth noting that during the filming of the legendary movie “And God Created Woman”, Brigitte Bardot spent a great deal of time aboard Kentra. Once again, one of those famous and magical “coincidences” of the Nioulargue!
But after so many years of success and recognition, the sixteenth edition would experience tragedy. A collision between Mariette and a 6M JI, Taos Brett IV, cast a shadow over the event and put it on hold for three years.
It was not until 1999 that the Voiles de Saint-Tropez picked up the torch that had never truly gone out.
And as if by magic, autumn found its light once more on sails of Mylar and cotton, challenges blossomed again at the bar counters, and games of boules resumed on the Place des Lices, bringing together locals of Saint-Tropez and sailors from around the world.
MILESTONES
1981: Duel between the 12M JI Ikra and Pride, a Swan 44. Patrice de Colmont creates the “Club 55 Cup”.
1983: The crew of Kiaola III most worthily celebrates the historic victory of Australia II on the evening of the America’s Cup final.
1984: The J Class Velsheda is present and the maxis impress. Coriolan IV, Helisara, Gitana and Mephisto compete in power, with Eric Tabarly and Harold Cudmore among those at the helm…
1988: Birth of the Florida Cup, a day of unconventional challenges that would go on to mark the various editions of the Nioulargue
1990: Five three-masted ships are present: Créole, Aquarius, Raphaelo, Shenandoah and Fleurt Je. Impressive!
1991: Three exceptional boats answer the call: Pen Duick, Eric Tabarly’s boat, the J Class Endeavour and Matador, Bill Koch’s reigning world champion maxi. Three boats that left an indelible mark on the pages of yachting history.
1993: The 15M JI Tuiga shows off her superb restoration. Magical!
1994: Kentra returns to Saint-Tropez, Mariette appears.
1995: Mariette collides with the 6M JI Taos Brett IV. The dark year…
1999: First edition of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez.
2009: The 10 year anniversary!
2011: 13th edition of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez and the thirtieth anniversary of the original regatta: the Nioulargue.
2019: The 20 year anniversary!