{"id":5060,"date":"2024-10-05T21:58:36","date_gmt":"2024-10-05T19:58:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr\/the-wind-of-passion-blows-over-the-finale-of-les-voiles-de-saint-tropez"},"modified":"2026-09-19T01:28:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T23:28:39","slug":"the-wind-of-passion-blows-over-the-finale-of-les-voiles-de-saint-tropez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr\/en\/the-wind-of-passion-blows-over-the-finale-of-les-voiles-de-saint-tropez","title":{"rendered":"The wind of passion blows over the finale of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In Saint-Tropez today<\/strong><\/strong>, the 250 boats racing wrote the final chapter of this beautiful book of the Voiles, which could be titled 135 years of naval architecture<\/em>. Maxis, Moderns and Tradition yachts met under the sun, with a lovely breeze, for the <\/strong>climactic<\/strong> finale of an exceptional week. The crowd gathered on the Jean R\u00e9veille breakwater this summer Saturday was not mistaken: this anniversary edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez ended as it began\u2014beautifully! Provisional results pending the jury for the many classes, and sailors\u2019 reactions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Moderns: Between emotion and victory<\/strong>
The wind was still decidedly tricky when the first cannon shot rang out at 12:40 PM off the Portalet tower. The battle quickly took shape in IRC B (North Sails Trophy)<\/strong> between the TP52s, Ker 46s and other Club Swans. And at the end of a short 15-mile out-and-back completed in an hour and a half, it was the TP52 Vudu<\/em> that took line honours, delivering one of the finest progressions over four races. Not enough, however, to beat another TP52, Nanoq<\/em><\/strong>, skippered by King Frederik of Denmark. Already the winner last year in IRC C, the racers\u2019 class, his Nanoq <\/em>prevails once again this year\u2014without a single race win, admittedly, but with impressive consistency in the second half of the week, when she finished second twice.
In IRC C for the BMW Trophy<\/strong>, the provisional overall standings were extremely tight at the start this morning, with at least two boats capable of taking the win. In the end it was Shotgunn<\/em><\/strong>, owned by Britain\u2019s Wilson Micha\u00ebl, third today, who writes his name into the story of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. In this fiercely contested class, the best of the four Cape 31s entered, Give Me 5<\/em>, could do no better than last year and finished just off the podium.
No surprise in IRC D<\/strong> (Suzuki Marine Trophy) <\/strong>where Expresso<\/em><\/strong> of Gael Claeys once again won today\u2019s race. This JPK1010, already a winner in 2023, is the only boat in her class to have won every race sailed\u2014an eloquent measure of her dominance. \u201c It is a team victory,\u201d <\/em>said at the finish the Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Nautique de Saint-Tropez member. We can already say we will be back next year, because to my knowledge the hat-trick has never been achieved at the Voiles. It is a prospect that motivates us greatly! <\/em>\u201d
It was in IRC E<\/strong> (Marines de Cogolin Trophy<\/strong>) that the situation was the most confused today. With the wind shifting at the last moment, a handful of boats tried to squeeze in at the committee boat on port tack. As a result, yesterday\u2019s leader Flower Power<\/em> 2, forced to sail around the committee boat to restart after being OCS\u2014having tried to avoid collisions\u2014posted a poor race and handed the overall lead to Pride<\/em><\/strong>, the legendary Swan 44 of the Graves family. It is a first victory, and one born of loyalty, for this American crew who, by challenging the 12 m JI Ikra<\/em> in 1981, unknowingly gave birth to the Nioulargue, and made a grand return to Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez last year.<\/p>\n\n

Traditions: The Rolex Trophy to Marga in a breathless finale<\/strong>
Fine weather, a calm sea and a perfectly settled breeze: the Tradition fleet was in celebratory form for this final day of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. And the first start for the Auric Era yachts, competing for the Rolex Trophy <\/strong>was a picture-perfect moment.
In this category, since the disqualification of Oriole<\/em> for her collision with Lulu in Race 2 on Tuesday, the match for the overall win had pitted the 10 m JI Marga<\/em>, helmed by Brazilian Torben Gra\u00ebl, against the P Class Olympian<\/em>. A sporting duel, but also a clash of styles between these century-old yachts built to different rating rules, Marga<\/em> carrying nearly two tonnes more on the scales than the P Class yachts designed to Herreshoff\u2019s Universal Rule and shaped for New York Bay racing. Restored at John Anderson\u2019s yard in Camden, Maine, under the impetus of Frenchman Bruno Troubl\u00e9, the four P Class yachts unquestionably left their mark on Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2024. Formidable in light airs with their overlapping genoas, the P Class yachts nevertheless owe a great deal of time to Marga <\/em>: \u201c Exactly 5 minutes 10 per hour of racing!<\/em> \u201d explained C\u00e9cile Poujol, Olympian<\/em>\u2019s tactician, before the start this morning. \u201cSuffice it to say we will be on the finish line with a stopwatch today, because the prospect of beating Torben Gra\u00ebl once in your life is rather exciting <\/em>.\u201d They will have to come back, because after two hours of racing the gap between the two boats was no more than five minutes, and by a single point it was indeed five-time Olympic medallist Torben Gra\u00ebl who delivered victory to Marga<\/em>! <\/strong>A win that \u201c means a great deal<\/em>\u201d to her owner Matteo Tacconi: \u201c It is nine years of life\u2014sailing this boat, first to understand her and then to improve her year after year. This season, everything came together. After our podium in Antibes, winning tonight at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez feels like a dream<\/em>\u201d
No surprise, meanwhile, among the Grand Tradition<\/strong> yachts, where Belle Aventure<\/em><\/strong> won again today and took Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez without difficulty, with every race to her name. Same story in the 12 m JI<\/strong>, with an unyielding Crusader<\/em><\/strong> across the three races sailed\u2014hard-fought though they were. It was the fourth regatta of the year for Sir Richard Matthews\u2019 crew, a Voiles regular who has raced here several times aboard his Fife design Kismet<\/em>. \u201c I love coming to the Voiles. Crusader is already for sale, but if Great Britain wins the Cup, I commit to keeping her and coming back!<\/em> \u201d he said enthusiastically this morning as the lines were cast off. The British managed to hold off, on their scoreline, French Kiss<\/em>, on which Albert Jacobsoone\u2014one of the crew from the French Perth campaign of 1987\u2014says: \u201c These boats remain complex, and crew coordination matters more than pure performance; from that standpoint, Crusader was a notch above. I hope the momentum in this 12-metre class will continue. In France, Kookaburra III could join us; Kookaburra II is in Italy, where Italia is as well. Why not 7 or 8 boats of this generation at the Voiles next year?! <\/em>\u201d
No runaway win among the BIG <\/strong>but the consistency prize goes to Tuiga<\/em><\/strong>. Second today behind Viveka<\/em>, the Yacht Club de Monaco\u2019s 15 m JI wins her class and the superb match that set her, over three hard-fought races, against her counterpart Mariska<\/em>.
Among the Marconi<\/strong> yachts\u2014whether Era (before 1950) or Classic (after)\u2014the suspense was total this morning at the start off the Portalet tower, with the top two tied on points. Yet the leaders did not falter: Eugenia V<\/em><\/strong> won among the Classics, Stormy Weather<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>doing the same in Era B. In Era Marconi A, it was a textbook case: Blitzen<\/em> found herself tied on points with Carron II<\/em>. Each had won one race, and each had posted a third and a seventh once. A perfect tie, therefore\u2014but in such a case, the result of the last race prevails. And today, it was Blitzen<\/em><\/strong> who was ahead. The cup is hers!
To complete the Tradition results, it should also be noted that in IOR<\/strong>, Il Moro di Venezia<\/em><\/strong> wins. The same for Flica 2<\/strong><\/em> in 12 m JI Vintage<\/strong> and for Dainty<\/em><\/strong> among the Guests<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

Maxis: The favourites deliver<\/strong>
In the Bay of Pampelonne as in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, the wind took some time to settle in direction today, but each class was able to complete its programme: a coastal race for Classes A and B, and a windward-leeward for C and D.
In Maxis A (Byblos Trophy), <\/strong>it is Jethou<\/em>, who wins today on a course that will be remembered for the thunderous start by Black Jack 100<\/em> and the buoy being dragged by My Song<\/em> ! Sir Peter Ogden\u2019s 77-footer nevertheless concedes the overall win to Jolt<\/em><\/strong>, second today and clearly the dominant force at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez among the fastest Maxis.
Lyra <\/em><\/strong>was even more ruthless in Maxis B (La Mer Trophy)<\/strong>. She wins today and conceded victory only once in six races\u2014a great satisfaction for owner-driver Terry Hui, already a winner last year. \u201c <\/strong>This result is essentially down to my crew, who were outstanding. Everything feels simple and smooth with people like that, and our tactician Nicolai Sehestead once again made a real difference to performance <\/em>.\u201d Uncertain until this morning, the rest of the podium in this class ultimately sees second place awarded to Kallima<\/em>, the Belgian Swan 82, ahead of Geist<\/em>, the impressive 111-footer with a classic look, still in the hunt since Monday.
In Maxis C (Barons de Rothschild Trophy)<\/strong>, Wally\u00f1o<\/em> wins the day\u2019s only windward-leeward, but loses the overall by a single point to Yoru<\/em><\/strong>. Skipper of the grey Wally, Benoit de Froidmont\u2014also President of the International Maxis Association\u2014came within a whisker of the double and above all took away from this edition of Les Voiles \u201cthe exemplary quality of the hospitality and the organisation. Everyone is happy to sail in such mild conditions. The standard was high and the atmosphere excellent. It is certain we will return in even greater numbers next year<\/em> .\u201d
The success of the British Swan 65 Six Jaguar<\/em><\/strong> in Maxi D (Brig Trophy)<\/strong>, a newcomer to the class this year, is also among those likely to attract other owners to come and line up among the Maxis, whatever their characteristics or age.<\/p>\n\n

Spotlight<\/strong>
Of wood and steel.<\/strong>
A creator of loudspeakers that are true sculptures, known under the Octo brand, Arnaud R\u00e9galet designed this year the two trophies that will be presented by the Town of Saint-Tropez. The wooden one (limewood and frak\u00e9) will reward the top Modern yacht in the overall standings across all categories, while the steel one is intended for the overall Maxi winner.
While waiting to see them awarded this evening (Maxis) and Sunday morning (Moderns), two of the designer\u2019s pieces are on display at the Voiles bar and in front of the podium, at the foot of the giant screen.<\/p>\n\n

PROGRAMME for LES VOILES DE SAINT-TROPEZ 2024<\/strong> (the detailed shoreside programme is available online on the Voiles website<\/em>)
Sunday, October 6<\/strong>: Prize-giving for Modern yachts and Classic yachts<\/p>\n\n

Partners of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez<\/strong>
ROLEX
BMW
NORTH SAILS<\/a>
WALLY
SUZUKI MARINE
BRIG
MERCANTOUR EVENTS
BYBLOS
PEPINIERE DU GOLFE
LA MER
EKLE HOME<\/p>\n\n

Official Suppliers of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez<\/strong>
CHAMPAGNE BARONS DE ROTHSCHILD
CHATEAU SAINT-MAUR
DOMAINE BERTAUD BELIEU<\/p>\n\n

Institutional<\/strong> partners<\/strong> of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez<\/strong>
TOWN OF SAINT-TROPEZ
PORT OF SAINT-TROPEZ
LES MARINES DE COGOLIN
FRENCH SAILING FEDERATION
YACHT CLUB DE FRANCE
INTERNATIONAL MAXI ASSOCIATION
ESPRIT VILLAGE DES COMMERCANTS<\/p>\n\n

Organisation:<\/strong>
Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Nautique de Saint-Tropez, President: Pierre Roinson
Principal Race Officer: Georges Korhel
Racing Manager: Fr\u00e9d\u00e9rique Fantino
On-the-water resources: Gilles Doyen
Communications and Executive Assistant: Chlo\u00e9 de Brouwer
Editorial: Pierre-Marie Bourguinat
Websites: www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr<\/a>; www.societe-nautique-saint-tropez.fr<\/a>
Facebook: Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez officiel
X (formerly Twitter): @VoilesSTOrg
Instagram: les_voiles_de_saint_tropez

Press Relations<\/strong>: Maguelonne Turcat
Video:<\/strong> Images 6 G Production \/ SNST 2024
Photos<\/strong>: Kurt Arrigo<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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