<\/p>\n\n
The Maxis play out their season finale in Saint-Tropez<\/strong>
\n46 superyachts in the Gulf<\/strong>
\nFlyingNikka, a foiler at Les Voiles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n The last Classic and Modern yachts left Saint-Tropez in the morning, to be immediately replaced in the small port by the imposing Maxi Yachts, here to compete in the final leg of their Inshore Mediterranean season as part of the second week of Les Voiles. Suffice to say that the week promises to be one of high sporting tension, as the stakes are so high for the 2022 title. 46 monohulls built for racing will be racing from tomorrow, Tuesday, in 4 distinct groups, defined according to their measurement handicap and their size. From the largest, Jasi (Swan 115) and its 35 metres of technology, to the smallest, the 60 footers (18m29) of Groupe Maxi 4, all will be sailing at their best, led by the cream of the international crews and skippers, including a myriad of Olympic medallists, Volvo Ocean Race and America’s Cup winners.<\/strong>
\n
\nLast inshore event of the season for the Maxis<\/strong>
\nLes Voiles de Saint-Tropez is now the 6th and final event on the international Maxi inshore circuit – the IMA Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge 2022 – organised under the aegis of the International Maxi Association, chaired by Benoit de Froidmont. The large yachts took part in the following regattas in 2022: Palma Vela in May in Palma de Mallorca, the Rolex Giraglia in June, starting from Saint-Tropez, the Copa del Rey MAPFRE in July, and the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo in September. The big futuristic yachts will follow in early 2023 with the IMA Caribbean Maxi Challenge, which includes the RORC Caribbean 600, the St Marteen Heineken Regatta, Les Voiles de Saint Barth and Antigua Sailing Week. But it’s in Saint-Tropez, in the setting of Les Voiles, that the trophy for the winner of the 2022 Mediterranean season will be awarded next Saturday.<\/p>\n\n Longer coastal races… depending on the wind!<\/strong>
\nFrom midday onwards each day, with the exception of the ‘lay day’ on Thursday, the big Maxis will begin their debates either in the form of ‘bananas’ in the Gulf, or on inshore courses. The weight\/power ratio of the Maxis is such that the Race Directors, still under the direction of Georges Korhel, are naturally planning to design long coastal courses depending on the weather, which is forecast to be light this week. The finish could be judged at the entrance to the gulf, rather than at Le Portalet, should the wind prove more favourable outside the gulf. It should be noted that, in agreement with the IMA, it has been agreed that Thursday’s ‘lay day’ could be declared a regatta day.<\/p>\n\n 46 Maxis, 4 Groups, 4 starts for 4 Trophies<\/strong>
\n4 groups, Maxi 1 (North Sails Trophy), Maxi 2 (Galerie Bartoux Trophy), Maxi 3 (Besserat de Bellefon Trophy) and Maxi 4 (Torpez Trophy) will share the waters of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez throughout the week. They will be racing in their different classes on courses of at least 25 miles. A great spectacle at all levels! We’ll be keeping a particularly close eye on the French Spirit of Malouen X, a revitalised Wally 107 up against Jim Pugh’s giant Morgana, and the previously named Super Maxis, Jasi (Swan 115) Simba 108 (Hoek) and the McKeon Vitters 108 Pattoo (ex Missy). Group Maxi 2 will see the colossal clash of the 100-foot Wally Y3K, challenged by the three Wally Cento born of the box-rule launched by Luca Bassani in 2013: Magic Carpet3 and Galateia, the two units designed by John Reichel and Jim Pugh, completed by Tango, the design by the Californian architect based in Ireland, Mark Mills. The 100-footers came out in force, seven in all, as they did at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. It is also in this group that the ocean devourers Leopard3 (Farr 100) and Rambler88 will be competing.
\nGroup Maxi 3 will feature the European champion IMA Lyra (Wally 77), whose superb performance will surely be challenged by a fine armada of Mylius, Swan and other Wallys. Ryokan 2 and its very Francophone crew, winners in Saint-Tropez in 2020, will be closely watched again this year, as will the Manuard Black Legend 6 design.
\nA great battle is also expected in the Maxi 4 Group, with the much-anticipated duel between the 12mJs French Kiss and Kiwi Magic, facing off against the two venerable Swans launched in 1973 and 1975 respectively, Saida and Cassiopeia.<\/p>\n\n In figures…<\/strong>
\n46 boats, 14 IMA member yachts, 7 Wallys, 4 days of racing, one Club 55 Cup (Thursday)
\nMost recent : Black Legend 6 – 2021
\nOldest: Saida 1973
\nLargest: Jasi 35.11 metres
\nSmallest: Expression of London 18.32 m
\nLowest rating: Cassiopeia, Swan 65, 1.079
\nHighest rating: Flyingnikka,<\/p>\n\n International Maxi Association<\/strong>
\nThe overall aim of the IMA is to encourage the widest possible participation of monohulls over 18m28 in Maxi racing throughout the world. The association is very involved in regattas open to these boats. The IMA also aims to encourage the highest standards of race management, safety and measurement for Maxi Yacht events, both inshore and offshore, and assists in the standardisation of entries, notices of race and sailing instructions.
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\nAndrew McIrvine, IMA General Secretary
\n“This is the third year that we have worked closely with the Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Nautique de Saint-Tropez teams. We have reached an excellent level of mutual understanding and the organisation of the regattas is very much in line with the expectations of our owners and skippers. They’re all really looking forward to the last inshore race of the Mediterranean Trophy, a sort of grand final.<\/p>\n\n A foiler in Les Voiles!<\/strong>
\nThe very first flying Maxi with an articulated foil, inspired by the technology of the monohulls in the 36th edition of the America’s Cup, is in Les Voiles. FlyingNikka will be sailing in the Maxi 1 group. The foiler made its debut in the Porto Cervo regatta, and is coming to the Var with a higher level of preparation. Roberto Lacorte wanted a foiling yacht, not just to foil over long distances offshore, but to do so in inshore regattas. For the first time in Saint-Tropez, he will be lining up on the same starting line as the other competitors in his group.<\/p>\n\n Weather<\/strong>
\nA vast anticyclone is centred over France, stationary and only moving slightly. The result is a very light ENE’ly air flow along its southern edge, which directly affects the Gulf of Genoa and the shores of the Var. As a result, the racers are gearing up for light winds of between 4 and 9 knots, which will challenge their tactical senses and their ability to read the subtleties of the race zone in great detail.<\/p>\n\n Programme 2022<\/strong>
\nSemaine 2\u00a0: Les Voiles Maxi Yachts<\/strong>
\nMardi 4, mercredi 5, vendredi 7, samedi 8 : r\u00e9gates
\nJeudi 6 : lay day\/reserve day
\nSamedi 8 octobre\u00a0: remise des prix (semaine 2)<\/p>\n\n Partners of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez<\/strong><\/a>
\nROLEX
\nBMW
\nNORTH SAILS
\nWALLY
\nSUZUKI MARINE
\nMARSHALL
\nMERCANTOUR
\nBYBLOS
\nBESSERAT DE BELLEFON
\nTORPEZ (VIGNOBLES DE SAINT-TROPEZ)
\nBERNARD OPTIC
\nPEPINIERES PIERRE BASSET
\nESPRIT VILLAGE A SAINT-TROPEZ<\/p>\n\n VILLE DE SAINT-TROPEZ
\nPORT DE SAINT-TROPEZ
\nLES MARINES DE COGOLIN
\nFEDERATION FRANCAISE DE VOILE
\nYACHT CLUB DE FRANCE
\nINTERNATIONAL MAXI ASSOCIATION<\/p>\n\n Organisation :<\/strong>
\nSoci\u00e9t\u00e9 Nautique de Saint-Tropez<\/strong>
\nPr\u00e9sident : Pierre Roinson
\nPrincipal Race Officer\u00a0: Georges Korhel
\nResponsable R\u00e9gates : Fr\u00e9d\u00e9rique Fantino
\nResponsable technique : Philippe Martinez
\nCommunication et Attach\u00e9e de Direction : Chlo\u00e9 de Brouwer
\nR\u00e9daction\u00a0: Denis Van den Brink
\nSite internet :\u00a0www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr<\/a>
\nMedia site\u00a0:\u00a0www.snst-media.com\/<\/a>
\nFacebook\u00a0: les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Officiel\u00a0www.facebook.com\/VoilesDeSaintTropezOfficiel<\/a>
\nTwitter\u00a0:\u00a0@VoilesSTOrg
\nInstagram\u00a0: les_voiles_de_saint_tropez\u00a0https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/les_voiles_de_saint_tropez\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n