The traditional presentation of the Prizes and Trophies at the Citadelle of Saint-Tropez brought this extraordinary festival of international yachting, the Voiles de Saint-Tropez, to a close under a radiant sun. Nearly 4,000 skippers, captains, sailors and owners are now returning to their daily lives in the four corners of the sailing world, a little dazed by so much festivity and maritime splendour displayed throughout the week in the setting of the Var gulf. The 2017 edition once again delighted them on the water and on land, and now we’re going to have to be patient as we wait a whole year to rediscover the friendship and conviviality so typical of the Tropez event in 2018. And let’s not forget the seafarers’ complicity, which was particularly evident this year between Saint-Tropez and Saint-Barth: all sailors, all united. What remains are the memories, and the thousands of dazzling images of extraordinary, timeless regattas, showcasing the world’s most beautiful yachts.
André Beaufils, President of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez
“Naturally, we’ll be remembering the fine weather conditions that ensured the success of this year’s event. 2017 was a good year. Every year I ask myself how I can innovate to amaze on land. I have a few ideas for the 20th edition next year. The parade of crews seems to be running out of steam. We need to think about reviving this festive aspect of the event. The feedback from the sailors, both crew and owners, is excellent. It’s great to hear. The only reservations concern safety on the water with regard to spectator boats. I’m also delighted to see the level of media interest locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, with over 200 French and foreign journalists and 20 film crews present at the event. Var Matin graced us with front-page stories and extensive coverage every day. Our partners seem to be delighted.”
Georges Korhel, Principal Race Officer: “Very fine conditions all week apart from Monday, which were a little rough at times in some people’s opinion, but the wind was there! We didn’t have any serious collisions. On the other hand, there were around ten falls overboard. Fortunately, there were no consequences! I’m very satisfied with the Committees, the teams on the water and the safety, which was extremely stretched on the water by the presence of countless spectator boats that weren’t always very disciplined or respectful of the yachts racing. We reinforce our teams every year, and try to use educational methods to warn yachtsmen of the risks of getting too close to the yachts in the race. There’s a lot of education to be done. The safety of the competitors is paramount. Otherwise, everyone worked well together. There were very few complaints to the jury, which proves that everything is working well!”
They were at Les Voiles: Loïck Peyron, Franck Cammas (Babsy), Patrizio Bertelli (Linnet) Sébastien Audigane (Mariska), Sébastien Destremeau (Ikra), Christian Ponthieu (Mariska), Alain Fédensieu (Nagaiana), Antoine Carpentier (Black pepper 2), Pablo Santurde (The Lady Anne), Jochen Schuman (Open Season), Ben Ainslie (Blitzen), Marc Pajot (Tango), Marcel van Triest (Magic Carpet3), Alexia barrier (Nada), Brad Butterworth (Rambler), Jan Dekker (Rambler), Dimitri Deruelle (Team Vision), Sime Fantella (Nahima), Flavio Favini (Magic Blue), German Frers (Fjord III), Torben Grael (Linnet), Erwan Leroux (Genie of the lamp), Philippe Monnet (Lys), Thierry Péponnet (Tango), Luc Poupon, Sébastien Col (Renata), Marie Tabarly (Mariska), Bruno Troublé (Chips), Nicolas Troussel (Daguet), Vasco Vascotto (Cannonball), Tom Whidden (Magic Carpet), Pierre Casiraghi (Tuiga)…
Standings: Wally The Wallys, on their dedicated wet round off Pampelonne, put in 6 great races, alternating between ‘banana’ courses and pretty coastal stretches. 14 of these superb futuristic machines were in the running this week. The predicted battle between the 4 Wallycentos lived up to all its promises, with Magic Carpet3 in a position to win for a long time against the formidable Open Season. However, it was the ‘little’ Wally 77 Lyra that put everyone on the same wavelength, with two fine heat wins in particular 1- Lyra – Wally 77: 12 pts 2- Open Season – Wally 107: 14 pts 3- Magic Carpet3 – Wallycento: 15 pts
Modern The 5 IRC groups have all completed 4 races this week, in a very varied wind range, which has produced some fine winners. IRC A Cammas at ease in the VOR 70 Franck Cammas has forgotten nothing about handling the VOR 70. He won in the company of Lionel Péan aboard the sistership of his Groupama IV, and beat off the Maxi 72 Cannonball and the giants Rambler and My Song, making the most of the week’s windy conditions. 1- Babsy – Franck Cammas 17 pts 2- Cannonball – Dario Ferrari : 24 pts 3- Rambler – Georges David : 25 pts IRC B 1-Music – James Blakemore 12 pts 2 – Daguet – Frederic Puzin 14 pts 3- Flo d’Orient -Bernard Coquelet : 16 pts IRC C 1- Renata – Orel Kalomeni : 8 pts 2- Alizée – Laurent Camprubi : 10 pts 3- Arobas – Gerard Logel : 14 pts IRC D 1- Takaoama3 – Pierre Chartier : 18 pts 2- Vito 2 – Gian Marco Magrini : 20 pts 3- Al Dente- Hubert Lombardo – 23 pts IRC E 1- Alice – Simon Henning – 11 pts 2- Heat – Max Augustin – 13 pts 3- Expresso 2 – Guy Claeys – 16 pts
Classics: Every day, the Classic yachts were able to validate some spectacular races in the Gulf. Competing in the Rolex Trophy, the four 15 m JI signes Fife ont, quant à eux, disputé 7 courses. Grand Tradition 1- Moonbeam III — Erwan Noblet : 8 pts 2- Halloween – Inigo Strez : 15 pts 3- Elena of London -Steve McLaren : 17 pts Groupe époque Aurique A 1- Spartan – Charles Ryan : 9 pts 2- Olympian – Marc Audineau : 9 pts 3- Kelpie – Olive Pelham : 11 pts Epoque Aurique B 1- Linnet – Patrizio Bertelli : 4 pts 2- Tilly XV – Joeri Moessnang : 8 pts 3- Oriole – Laurence Rames de Moers : 20 pts Epoque Marconi A 1- Rowdy – Riendan Mc Carthy : 10 pts 2- Blitzen – Peter Morton : 11 pts 3- Enterprise – Hans Christian Schrijvers : 17 pts Epoque Marconi B – les 8 m 1- Cholita – Bruno Catalan : 8 pts 2- Carron II – Jean Luc leveque : 9 pts 3- Jour de Fête – Pascal Oddo : 18 pts Epoque Marconi C 1-Cippino II – Daniel Sieleki : 7 pts 2- Fjord III – German Frers : 11 pts 3- Comet – Marc Marciano : 16 pts Epoque Marconi D 1- Sonda – Eric Leprince : 5 pts 2- Nagaiana – Alain Fédensieu : 14 pts 2- Java – Schengili : 15 pts Classique Marconi A 1- Lys – Philippe Monnet : 8 pts 2- Eugenia V : 13 pts 3- Yanira – Andre de Leon : 13 pts Classique Marconi B 1- St Christopher – Daria Cabai : 9 pts 2- Aigue Blu – Fabrice Garau : 20 pts 3- Palynodie II – Henri Ferbus : 16 pts Classique Marconi R 1- France – Thierry Verneuil : 9 pts 2- Ikra – Sebastien Destremeau : 10 pts 3- Sovereign – Nicolas Berenger : 10 pts Groupe Invités 1- Maria Giovanna II – Jean Pierre Sauvan : 7 pts 2- Alibaba II – Jorge Blanco : 9 pts 3- Windhover – Olivier Poulain : 12 pts Marconi Moderne 1- Camomille – Jean Louis Nathan : 12 pts 2- Jolt – Peter Harrison : 17 pts 3- Aetos – Nicolas Sihouris : 13 pts 15 M JI 15 mJI après 7 courses. Mariska is declared the winner on the basis of the number of heat wins, in this case four. 1- Mariska – Benjamin Redreau : 14 pts 2- The lady Anne – Le may Richard : 14 pts 3- Tuiga – Pierre Casiraghi : 20 pts 4- Hispania – Jose rabane : 23 pts
Yacht Club de France Autumn Cup 12 m JI : 1- Ikra – Sébastien Destremeau Groupe Aurique 1- Tilly XV – Joerg Moessnang Groupe Classique : 1- Maria Giovana II – Jean Pierre Sauvan Groupe marconi : 1- Argyll – Griff Rhys Jones Groupe Marconi B 1- Cippino II – Martin Billoch Groupe Tofinou 1- Pitch – Patrice Ribaud
Les Trophées : Trophée Rolex : Mariska – Christian Niels – 15 m JI Trophée Edmond de Rothschild : Renata – Orel Kalomeni – IRC C Trophée BMW : Wally 77 Lyra – Jaimie Anderson – Wally Tropheminin : Stele – Pascale Ligier Trophée de la Ville de Saint-Tropez : Renata –Orel Kalomeni – Modernes toutes catégories Défilé : Asana Concours de boules : Java Bleue Trophée du Yacht Club de France : Tilly XV – Joerg Moessnang Trophée Loro Piana : Babsy – Franck Cammas – IRC A Trophée Kappa : Music – James Blackmore – IRC B Trophée Enata : Tokaoma3 – Pierre Chartier – IRC D Trophée Marines de Cogolin : Alice – Simon Henning IRC E Trophée Le Byblos : Spartan – Charles Ryan Epoque Aurique A Trophée Pommery : Linnet – Patricio Bertelli Epoque Aurique B Trophée Jetfly : Rowdy – Brendan Mc Cathy Epoque Marconi A Trophée SNSM : Cholita – Bruno Catalan Epoque Marconi B Trophée esprit Village : Cippino II – Daniel Sieleki Epoque Marconi C Trophée Air France : Sonda – Eric Leprince Epoque Marconi D Trophée Mercantour : Lys – Philippe Monnet Classique Marconi A
Partners of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez ROLEX BMW GROUPE EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD WALLY KAPPA HOTEL BYBLOS MERCANTOUR EVENTS LES MARINES DE COGOLIN L’ESPRIT VILLAGE DE SAINT-TROPEZ POMMERY JETFLY DANONE SUZUKI MARINE LORO PIANA ENATA MARE NOSTRUM AIR FRANCE CHEVALIER TORPEZ (LES VIGNOBLES DE SAINT TROPEZ) SUN 7 GRAPHIC Organisation : Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, Président : André Beaufils Principal Race Officer : Georges Korhel Moyens sur l’eau : Philippe Martinez Gestion financière : Delphine Reusse Inscriptions : Frédérique Fantino Communication : Chloé de Brouwer Rédaction : Denis van den Brink Site internet : www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr Facebook : les Voiles de Saint-Tropez officiel Twitter : @VoilesSTOrg Relations Presse : Maguelonne Turcat Photos : Gilles Martin-Raget, www.martin-raget.com