Dream conditions …
That’s it! It’s over! Nearly 4,000 sailors, a little groggy from so much light, so many exciting regattas, so much happiness shared on land and on the water, were struggling to realise today that the exceptional edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2016 was coming to an end in the mildness of an autumn Sunday. The prize-giving ceremony, traditionally held at the Citadelle of Saint-Tropez, provided the opportunity for a final moment of sharing, full of promises of an enchanting tomorrow, right here, in a year’s time. A year to recall the thousand and one moments of bravery during this dazzling week, the anthology tacks in contact with legendary yachts, in the glittering setting of the gulf. They will return, more convinced than ever of the unique character of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez, capable of bringing together so many sailors from so many different horizons in the same spirit and mood. As André Beaufils, happy President of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, the event’s organiser, points out, it is they, the sailors, skippers and owners who make the event happen, and who, edition after edition, prolong the dream of the visionaries who created the Nioulargue 35 years ago.
They said:
André Beaufils, President of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez
“It’s an edition that will go down in the annals, in terms of the weather of course, which was absolutely fantastic, but also in terms of the constraints that were imposed on us this year with the work on the harbour master’s office and its impact on the location of the Voiles village, not forgetting the imperatives linked to safety. We can no longer organise an event like this in a carefree manner. I’m delighted with this week, as are all the competitors. That’s the main thing. Our partners have said they are happy. The Municipality of Saint-Tropez has reported some wonderful encounters, notably with Tahiti, thanks to Les Voiles. The show on the water was magnificent. The media were able to work in optimal conditions. This extremely positive feedback is the reward for all our volunteers. The village was very popular, with its trompe l’oeil windows. We’re going to keep the concept but make it wider. Our partner Rolex will be returning with its hospitality area. We’ll have the usual entrance, but with some changes.
How can we do better? I’m not asking myself that question. I don’t have any records to beat. We’ve achieved a level of quality that correlates with the event. We can change things according to external constraints. Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is a bit like a Spanish inn; you eat what you bring! There’s nothing at stake in our regattas. The spirit must endure. We can allow ourselves a few excesses, a few moments of madness. It’s up to the competitors to create that madness.”
Georges Kohrel, Chairman of the Race Committee
“This year, it’s hard to be more satisfied! What a superb week, with superb conditions and superb racing! We haven’t had conditions like these for a long time. The teams on the water know each other perfectly; we’re making small adjustments, if necessary, so that there’s no break in the chain of skills. I have no organisational concerns about the three race committees, Modern, Tradition and Wally. It’s the skill of all our volunteers on the water that makes it possible to manage three race rounds and 300 boats simultaneously. The good weather and the beautiful boats have attracted a lot of people to the water. We have to explain to the public who come out on the water how to respect the regattas. For next year, we’re going to change the timetable to avoid the Modern rapids arriving under the Portalet just as the last Tradition boats are starting…”.
They were in Saint-Tropez
The world of the sea, regattas and ocean racing traditionally meets up under sail. At the helm of the most beautiful boats, in tactics, manoeuvres, abseiling as well as on the quays, the biggest names in sailing are present in the famous port of Var and in particular, in this year of the Vendée Globe, two competitors who will be at the start on 6 November: Sébastien Josse and Sébastien Destremeau, as well as a former winner, who will be in charge of safety for the next edition: Alain Gautier. Other Tourdumondists include Sébastien Audigane, the South African Jan Dekker, Philippe Poupon and his wife, the actress Géraldine Danon, Philippe Monnet, Bruno and Loïck Peyron (currently also in the Artemis challenge for the next America’s Cup) Lionel Péan and Eric Peron. A host of Figaro, Ministerial and other ocean class racers such as Yannick Bestaven, Sébastien Rogues, Erwan Leroux, Nicolas Lunven, Armel Tripon, Des Olympiques… such as Sofian Bouvet, (French 470 Rio team), Noé Delpech, (French 49er Rio team), Guillaume Florent, Olympic bronze Finn medallist in Beijing or the German Jöchen Schümann, Olympic Finn and Soling champion, America’s Cup specialists Marc Pajot, Bruno Troublé, Sébastien Col, American Tom Whidden and New Zealander Brad Butterworth, not forgetting crowned heads with a passion for regattas such as HRH Juan Carlos, King of Spain, HRH Charles of Bourbon of the Two Sicilies and Pierre Casiraghi, reigning helmsman of the 15mJI Tuiga.
LES TROPHÉES DES VOILES
Trophée Rolex : Moonbeam IV (Grand Tradition)
Trophée Groupe Edmond de Rothschild : TP 52 Team Vision (IRC C)
Trophée BMW : Open Season (Wally)
Trophée Kappa : Leopard (IRC A)
Trophée Pommery du plus beau spi : Elena of London
Trophée YCF : Spartan
Trophée Byblos : Spartan (Epoque Aurique A)
Trophée Jetfly : Rowdy (Epoque Marconi A)
Trophée Euronews : Maria Giovanna II (Classe Invités)
Trophée Mercantour Events : Yanira (Classique Marconi A)
Trophée Esprit Village : Cholita (Epoque Marconi C)
Tropheminin : Alibi
Trophée les Marines de Cogolin : Team Chalets (IRC D)
Trophée SNSM : Absolutely (IRC E)
The results:
The Voiles de Saint-Tropez welcomes three major categories of yachts on 3 separate race “rings”: Modern boats, Traditional yachts and Wallys.
5 groups of modern yachts are racing in Saint-Tropez, divided into 5 categories governed by the IRC. They have all completed 4 races this week.
Groupe IRC A
Ramblers 88 (George David) led the way for a long time, alternating with the other Mini Maxi, Michael Slade’s Leopard. Until Friday, the two “fighter jets” shared the victories. In the end, it was Leopard that came out on top. Lionel Péan placed his VOR 70 ‘S’ on the podium, the result of a fine display of consistency in real time. He was edged out by the immense ClassJ Velsheda for second place.
Groupe IRC B
Baltic 50 Music (James Blackmore) came out on top thanks to two fine heat wins. He beat his namesake, Alba Batzill’s Music from Switzerland, and Sergio Sagramoso’s Lazy Dog.
Groupe IRC C (Trophée Edmond de Rothschild)
This highly competitive group brings together some formidable 50 and 52 foot racers. The TP 52 Freccia Rossa owned by the Russian Vadim Yakimenko and Team Vision (Jean Jacques Chaubard) reign supreme, with Gérard Logel’s Botin Arobas in ambush. In the end, it was Team Vision who came out on top, after a hard-fought battle, ahead of Vadim Yakimenko’s Russian team.
Groupe IRC D
The A 40 Team Chalets (Philippe Saint André) literally crushed the competition with two heat wins. The J 133 Black Jack (Eric Gicquel) clung on to second place and kept Frédéric Bouillon’s Wallis at bay.
Groupe IRC E
A very tight group with no fewer than 36 entries. Philippe Frantz’s M 36 Absolutely swept all before it. The A 35 Tchin (Jean Claude Bertrand) and HEAT, Max Augustin’s Farr 30 completed the podium in that order.
WALLY (Trophée BMW) :
A record 16 Wallys took part in this year’s Voiles. They completed 6 races off the coast of Pampelonne.
Michael Atkinson and his Open Season won after many twists and turns on the final day, stealing the title from Sir Lindsay Owen Jones’ Magic Carpet Cubed. The 80-foot J One helmed by Piers Richardson was on the podium and took the 80-foot ranking, of which 6 boats raced in this group.
TRADITION 12 Groupes rassemblent l’ensemble des voiliers de tradition.
Groupe Classique Marconi Aurique : 7 inscrits
1- Yanira (Aas 1953)
2-Samarkand «5Sparksman&Stephens 1958)
3- Eugenia V (Rhodes 1968
Groupe Classique Marconi B
1- Outlaw (Illingworth 1963)
2- Argos (Holman 1964)
3- fantasque (Mauric 1970)
Groupe racer – rapides 12 m JI
1- Il Moro di Venezia (Frers 1976)
2- Ikra (Boyd 1964)
3- France (Mauric 1970)
Groupe Epoque Aurique
1- Spartan (Herreshoff 1912)
2- Olympian (Gardner 1913)
3- Chinook (Herreshoff 1916)
Groupe Epoque Aurique B
1- Kelpie of Falmouth (Sweisguth 1928)
2- Marigold (Nicholson 1897)
3- Lulu (Rabot Caillebotte 1897)
Groupe Epoque Marconi A
1- Rowdy (Herreshoff 1916)
2- Enterprise (Olin Stevens 1940)
3- Seven seas of Porto (Clinton Crane 1935)
Groupe Epoque Marconi B
1-Leonore (Anker 1925)
2- Jour de Fête (Paine 1930)
3- Carron II (Fife 1935)
Groupe Epoque Marconi C
1- Cholita (Potter 1937)
2- Blitzen
3- Fjord III (Frers 1947)
Groupe Grand Tradition (Trophée Rolex)
1- Moonbeam IV (Fife 1914)
2- Moonbeam III (Fife 1903)
3- Halloween (Fife 1926)
Classe Invités
1- Maria Giovanna II (Olin Stephens 1969)
2- Alibaba II
3- Dainty (Westmacott 1022)
Tofinou – 9 inscrits
1- Camomille – Jean Louis Nathan)
2- Black Legend (Christophe Delachaux)
3- Milou (Mario Schobinger)
Tofinou 9,5
1- Mynx – Guy Reynders
2- Pippa – Obe edward S. Fort
3_ Pitch – Patrice Riboud
15 m JI
1- Mariska (Fife 1908)
2- The lady Anne (Fife 1912)
3-Tuiga (Fife 1909)
4- Hispania (Fife 1909)