Supermaxi Luxury Yacht & Superyacht News

Rolex Capri Sailing Week Volcano Race 2013, May 16 – 24

April 17, 2013

Set to run from May 16 to 24, this year’s Rolex Capri Sailing Week Volcano Race, marking the opening of Rolex’s Mediterranean yachting calendar, is expected to host an international fleet of Maxi yachts. Open exclusively to yachts over 18.29 metres or 60-feet in length, the race is organized by the International Maxi Association (IMA), in partnership with the Yacht Club Gaeta EVS as well as the Yacht Club Capri, and comprises three distinct segments, each with their own, individual characteristics.

Sailing yacht Jethou - Overall Winner of the 2012 Rolex Volcano Race - Photo by Rolex/Kurt Arrigo

Competing yachts will be divided into different classes: Mini Maxis (from 18.29m-24.08m), Maxis (from 24.09m-30.5m) and Supermaxis (upwards of 30.5m). Proceedings on the water commence on 18 May when the fleet attacks a 100-nautical mile race from Gaeta on the Italian mainland to the island of Capri. Competitors will then have time to appreciate the captivating island during two days of tactical inshore racing on 20 and 21 May. The final segment, and the most challenging, lends its name to the title of the event: a 300-nm journey around the UNESCO-protected, volcanic, Aeolian Islands, commencing on 22 May at 13:00 CEST.

Dockside at the Marina Grande in Capri - Photo by Rolex/Kurt Arrigo

Around twenty Maxis – representing eight countries – are expected to take part. Among the entrants is last year’s overall winner sailing yacht Jethou, Sir Peter Ogden’s impressive, primarily British-crewed Mini Maxi. Jethou was the third fastest boat on the water in 2012, finishing behind line honours winner superyacht Nilaya and the 30.48m German Maxi charter yacht Kim (ex Y3K), owned by IMA President Claus-Peter Offen, which is another entrant scheduled to return for the 2013 event.

Superyacht Nilaya with Capri in the background - Photo by Rolex Kurt Arrigo

Also participating will be Andres Soriano’s brand new, Mills-designed Mini Maxi yacht Alegre, set to launch at the end of April with this event scheduled as her first competitive outing. The previous Alegre, with which Soriano secured line honours and the overall win at the inaugural Rolex Volcano Race in 2011, has been entered by current owner Alex Schärer under the name Caol Ila. Spanish Maxi yacht Plis Play, a Swan 80 that raced at the 2012 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Middle Sea Race, is another highlight of the entry list.

Luxury yacht Nilaya - Photo by Rolex/Kurt Arrigo

The 2013 Rolex Capri Sailing Week Volcano Race promises an impressive programme of activities both on and off the water, upholding a decade-long tradition of Rolex’s involvement in Capri’s international yachting calendar.

Prize Table at La Canzone del Mare - Photo by Rolex/Kurt Arrigo

Event Schedule

Thursday 16 May, Gaeta
12:00 – 18:00 Registration, Measurement and Inspection

Friday 17 May, Gaeta
09:00 – 18:00 Registration, Measurement and Inspection
18:30 Briefing

Saturday 18 May, Gaeta
11:00 Opening Ceremony
15:00 Race 1 (Gaeta – Capri)

Monday 20 May, Capri
12:00 Race 2 (Inshore Race)

Tuesday 21 May, Capri
12:00 Race 3 (Inshore Race)
20:00 Rolex Dinner and Prizegiving for Races 1, 2, 3 at La Canzone del Mare

Wednesday 22 May, Capri
13:00 Race 4 Volcano Race (Capri-Aeolian Islands-Capri)

Friday 24 May, Capri
18:00 Time limit for Volcano Race
19:00 Prizegiving for Race 4

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2013 to host strong international fleet of yachts

April 16, 2013

Cowes Week Limited (CWL) is pleased to announce that nearly 20% of the entries that have signed up for the 2013 Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week to date, are from overseas.

Australian sailing yacht Secret Mens Business 3.5 - yacht with the longest journey to Cowes

It’s no coincidence that in “odd” years, when the Rolex Fastnet Race starts immediately after this historic regatta, international participation increases. However, this year boats have been much earlier submitting their entries and regatta organisers are pleased to be welcoming back familiar faces, as well as some exciting newcomers to the world’s best-known regatta.

The boat with the longest journey to Cowes is the Australian Secret Mens Business 3.5, which was winner of the 2010 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race. Owner and skipper, Geoff Boettcher has competed in a total of 23 Sydney to Hobart Races but has never raced in either Cowes Week or the Fastnet Race.

Commenting on their entry into the regatta, Geoff said: “The crew are ecstatic about taking part as both events have a reputation not only for great sailing but great onshore events too. The only time I have raced in Cowes was as crew on an Australian entry in the 1996 Etchells Worlds. I loved the place then and my ambition was to come back with my own yacht. I’m now fulfilling that ambition!”.

Geoff’s Australian crew consists of the team that have raced with him in the Sydney to Hobart and they’ll be joined by UK sailors Will Best & Andy Meiklejohn who Geoff believes will be great assets. For the last 17 years Geoff and his team have sailed most of the Australian regattas including Hamilton Island Race Week and Geelong Week and they’re now ready to venture out!

The Mini Maxi sailing yacht Bella Mente is travelling from the USA to take part in the special three-day Big Boat Series (Tuesday 6 – Thursday 8 August), and will face the Slovenian entry, superyacht Esimit Europa 2 (both of whom are racing in UK waters for the first time), the Spanish X612 Hansa, as well as regular Cowes Week competitor Niklas Zennström with his British Mini Maxi yacht Rán.

The country to have best representation so far, outside the UK, is the Netherlands, and a contingent of familiar faces from the country have confirmed their attendance at this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week with regulars Harry Heijst (with Winsome), Peter Vroon (with Tonnerre De Breskens 3), and Wouter Hermsen (with Luctor et Emergo II) once again taking their places on the start line on Saturday 3 August.

Commenting on how entries are shaping up for this year’s event, CEO Stuart Quarrie said: “We’re delighted to report a strong entry for this year’s regatta so far, and are really looking forward to an exciting regatta. We’re particularly pleased to be welcoming such an international fleet and so many new faces, many of whom will be taking part in Cowes Week prior to the start of the Fastnet”.

This year’s event takes place over the traditional dates of 3 – 10 August. Those yet to enter are reminded to do so before midnight on Monday 27 May in order to benefit from the discounted Early Bird entry fee. Discounts also apply to bookings made with the main accommodation agencies in Cowes and for vehicle ferry bookings made with Red Funnel prior to the end of April.

Final day of racing at Les Voiles de St. Barth 2013

April 13, 2013

Today, April 13, saw the last day of competing at the Les Voiles de St. Barth 2013, marked by lively conditions for the fleet, with 20+ knots of wind whipping up four- to six-foot seas.

Classic Class winner - HEROINA© Les Voiles de Saint Barth / Christophe Jouany

The race committee sent the Maxi/Racing, Maxi, and Spinnaker 1 and 2 classes on a 17 nautical mile course along the western side of the island, somewhat protected by the lee of the land but nevertheless providing shifty conditions. Spinnaker 3, Melges 24, Classic, Non-Spinnaker, and Multihull classes sailed a 26 nautical mile course around the islands off the north and east side of St. Barths, fully exposed to the fresh beeze and ocean swell.

The conditions took their toll on a few boats, starting with Team Island Water World (SXM), Fritz Bus’s Melges 24. The Dutch boat was leading its class on the first downwind leg but dismasted when the backstay let go, ending the St. Maarten team’s chances for winning. Several boats blew out spinnakers and headsails, and the 51-foot Augie Neilsen-designed ketch Saphaedra (USA), raced double-handed by skipper Jamie Enos and first mate Amanda Sparks, retired with the skipper explaining, “Too much wind for an old boat!”

Maxi Racing Class winner VESPER© Les Voiles de Saint Barth / Christophe Jouany

In Maxi/Racing, Jim Swartz’s TP52 Vesper extended its string of bullets to win the class. Swartz said, “This week has been pretty typical: constant wind, 15-17 knots, predictable but shifty, with challenging and nice waves on the backside of the island. Kind of a sailor’s paradise; the race committee does a great job, the people are terrific.”

In the Maxi class, the Swan 80 superyacht Selene continued its winning ways, sweeping ahead of charter yacht Whisper and luxury yacht Idea of London (and the Swan 100 superyacht Varsovie, which retired from the regatta after damaging its headstay on the first day of racing).

In the Spinnaker 1 class, the standings going into today were close. Steve Cucchiaro’s Marten 49 Defiance (USA), which had a 1-1-2-2 score line, was feeling the heat from Music (RSA), the Swan 53, which posted two wins in yesterday’s racing to trail by a point. Today’s conditions and course suited the heavier Swan; however, the longer reaching legs did not. She finished fourth today to take second overall, conceding overall victory to Music, which won the race. The other Swan 53, Patrick Demarchelier’s Puffy (USA) – with Marc Guillemot, offshore solo sailing legend, helming – reveled in the breeze and posted a third place but settled for sixth overall in the end.

Spinnaker 1 Class Winner - MUSIC © Les Voiles de Saint Barth / Tim Wright

Dockside post-racing, James Blakemore, Music’s South African skipper, was delighted to find out that Music had saved its time by over a minute to win the day’s race and their class in the regatta. “One of the successes we had was to go around the course without any major mishaps,” said Blakemore, “and so we sailed the course well with a really good all-round performance. Good conditions for us today, because we are a heavy boat and we prefer the stronger winds. We powered up really well and had a good downwind run at 9 – 12 knots.”

Sergio Sagramoso’s J/122 Lazy Dog (PUR) returned to form, posting a first today to finish three points ahead of Rohan Eamonn’s First 40 Ramanessin (IRL) in Spinnaker 2. The ebullient Puerto Rican sailor said, “This was probably our best season in the Caribbean: we won the Heineken Regatta, BVI Spring Regatta, were 2nd at International Rolex Regatta, and we’ve won this!”

About their competition on Ramanessin, he added, “They were very good. In fact they’ve been giving us headaches, and yesterday they beat us in one race, so we had to be on guard. They are Melges sailors, and they were learning more about the boat every day!”

Spinnaker 2 Class Winner - LAZY DOG © Les Voiles de Saint Barth / Tim Wright

In the Multihull class, Erick Clement’s 40-foot Dauphine Telecom tried to spoil the 63-foot Nigel Irens-designed yacht Paradox’s (USA) party, and in fact came within one point of the overall leader but Paradox went home with the silver.

Multihull Class winner - PARADOX© Les Voiles de Saint Barth / Tim Wright

In the Classics, Tim Rutter’s 74-foot Frers-designed luxury yacht Heroina (USA) romped around the course all week. The cold-molded boat, built in the mid-1990s by German Frers as his personal yacht, seems to have racing in its lineage with a mast that was given to Frers from America’s Cup challenger Il Moro de Venezia (it was the team’s spare and effectively determined the boat’s size) and a winged keel from Stars and Stripes 1987. The keel was perfect for the shallow draft of Heroina’s home waters on the River Plate in Argentina.

Spinnaker 3 Class winner - CREDIT MUTUEL MARTINIQUE PREMIERE© Les Voiles de Saint Barth / Tim Wright

This evening there was a prizegiving dockside in the Les Voiles de St. Barth race village, on the Quai Gral de Gaulle in Gustavia harbor. Race organizers presented top-three finishers in each class with trophies, champagne and other prizes.

Event Sponsor Richard Mille presented Vesper, the winner of the Maxi/Racing class, with a Richard Mille RM028 special edition “Les Voiles de St. Barth” watch.

Non Spinnaker Class winner L'ESPERANCE© Les Voiles de Saint Barth / Christophe Jouany

Event partner Gaastra presented winners with a voucher for team crew gear.

Luxury villa rental management specialist, West Indies Management Company (WIMCO) presented winners in 8 classes (Maxi/Racing, Maxi, Spinnaker 1-2-3, Non-Spinnaker, Classic, Multihull) a week’s stay in a luxury villa in St. Barth. Winners also were presented with magnums of Taittinger champagne and Mount Gay 1703 rhum.

Les Voiles de St. Barth Premium Partners include: Banque des Antilles Français, Collectivité de St Barthélemy, Association des Hôteliers, Comité Territorial du Tourisme, LIERAC, Champagne Taittinger, Rémy Cointreau, St Barth Yacht Club, Air France, Fédération Française de Voile, Domaine Ott, San Pellegrino.

2014 Event Dates:
Next year, Les Voiles de St. Barth will be held from April 7 – 12, 2014. To maintain the high level of racing, Event Director Francois Paul Tolède announced that entries will be capped at 80 boats.

Luxury charter yacht ATLANTIC enters 2013 Camper & Nicholsons Trophee Bailli de Suffren

April 12, 2013

Organisers of “The Mediterranean’s most beautiful yacht race” announced that the majestic 56-metre (184-foot) charter yacht Atlantic has officially entered the 2013 Camper & Nicholsons Trophée Bailli de Suffren. The event represents a three-leg offshore race for classic yachts from Saint-Tropez to Malta, via Sardinia’s Porto Rotondo and Trapani in Sicily.

Sailing Schooner ATLANTIC

Sailing yacht Atlantic is a faithful replica of William Gardner’s classic, winner of the transatlantic ‘Kaiser’s Cup’ in 1905 with the famous Captain Charlie Barr at the helm. Covering 3,000 miles from Sandy Hook, USA to the Lizard in Cornwall in 12 days, 4 hours and 1 minute, she set a record that was not bettered by a monohull until 1997.

Sailing Schooner ATLANTIC - Formal Dining

“The name Atlantic is legendary among classic racing yachts, on the same level as the famous J Class yachts,” said Sean Purdy, C&N Marinas’ Marketing Director. “With 18,500 square feet of sail she will make a magnificent sight on the Bailli de Suffren race course this June.”

Sailing Schooner ATLANTIC - Salon Seating

Atlantic yacht’s captain, Ed Kastelein added, “Atlantic sailed this race in 2010 and our charterers loved it then. I expect this time will be even better.” Throwing down the gauntlet to other big boats in the classic fleet, he continued, “I look forward to taking on a few other big racing yachts. If they’re up to it!

Sailing Schooner ATLANTIC - Twin Cabin

The original luxury charter yacht Atlantic’s sailing career ended with World War II, and she was eventually broken up in 1982, but in 2009 the modern replica was launched. At 62m (203 feet) overall, including bowsprit and mizzen boom, and with a permanent crew of 11 and accommodation for 12 guests she is without doubt one of the most impressive sailing yachts afloat.

Rolex Fastnet Race 2013 to host record number of 380 yachts

April 12, 2013

The Rolex Fastnet Race represents one of sailing’s greatest contests. The 45th edition of Europe’s oldest offshore race will take place in August, with a gripping and punishing 608-nautical mile journey from Cowes, Isle of Wight to Plymouth via the Fastnet Rock, off the southern tip of Ireland. An amazing and record number of 380 yachts is expected to participate in the biennial race this year.

Spectacular Solent at the start of the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race - Photo by Rolex /Carlo Borlenghi

In response to the immense demand and popularity of the event, the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) increased the limit for this year’s fleet after the entry list was filled within 24 hours of opening. Over twenty countries and territories from five continents will be represented, with crews comprising both fully professional and amateur.

The Rolex Fastnet is a genuine rite of passage for any sailor. Conditions can be harsh and are always changeable. The race is as notoriously difficult to finish, as it is to win. The competition is democratic: the handicap system applied to the main body of the fleet means the overall winner can spring from any size of yacht. Niklas Zennström’s 21.94m/72-foot British Mini Maxi sailing yacht Rán 2 is the defending champion and is seeking to make history by becoming the first boat to win the race three times in a row: an achievement that would border on the miraculous.

The Rolex Fastnet Race Fleet at the Solent - Photo by Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Current race record holder, the Volvo Open 70 yacht Abu Dhabi from the United Arab Emirates, skippered by Ian Walker, will set out to defend her line honours title and to better the benchmark monohull time of 42 hours, 39 minutes she set in 2011. Abu Dhabi will be wary of her competition. Igor Simcic’s 30.48m/100-ft pan-European Maxi superyacht Esimit Europa 2, the undisputed fastest boat in the Mediterranean, is taking part for the first time. Mike Slade’s primarily British crewed 100-ft Maxi charter yacht ICAP Leopard, twice the event’s fastest finisher (2007, 2009), will be tough to beat given the right mix of conditions.

Rolex has sponsored the Rolex Fastnet Race since 2001 and recently extended its commitment until 2021. A dedicated Press Kit – available in various languages – explores the history of the event and previews the 2013 edition. A glimpse into the event’s iconic appeal is provided by an accompanying photo story.

2011 Rolex Fastnet Race Trophies - Photo by Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

The race start from the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes is scheduled for Sunday 11 August, with the first warning signal at 10:50 BST.

Dykstra designed luxury yacht ADELA wins St Barths Bucket 2013

April 11, 2013

In the Mademoiselles class of this year’s St Barths Bucket Regatta, the 55-metre luxury yacht Adela, designed by Dykstra Naval Architects, constructed by Pendennis and helmed by Dennis Conner, maintained her regatta-long position at the top of the scoreboard. Sailing yacht Adela was announced as the regatta’s overall winner.

Adela Yacht designed by Dykstra Naval Architects - Winner of St Barths Bucket 2013 - Photo by Tim Wright

This Bucket was a historic event for the J Class, as it was the first time five of them raced together since 1937. Sailing yacht Hanuman, designed by Dykstra Naval Architects and built by Royal Huisman, proved unbeatable throughout the three Bucket days, winning handily over the line and on corrected time in the first two of three races held and the J Class race on March 28th . 4 out of the 5 J’s that raced where Dykstra Naval Architects designed J Class Yachts.

Four Dykstra designed J-Class yachts at St Barths Bucket 2013 - Photo by Tim Wright

Dykstra Naval Architects designed yachts that raced this year’s St Barths Bucket are: Adela, charter yacht Maltese Falcon, Hanuman, sailing yacht Rainbow, charter yacht Ranger (performance refit) and superyacht Velsheda.

St Barths Bucket 2013 Winner sailing yacht HANUMAN with mast supplied by Rondal

April 10, 2013

Rondal congratulates sailing yacht Hanuman on her overall victory in the J-Class series of the St Barths Bucket 2013, the event which has been called, by some, “the most important super yacht regatta in the world.”

Luxury yacht Hanuman with mast by Rondal competing in St Barths Bucket 2013 - Photo by Carlo Borlenghi

Luxury yacht Hanuman scored a superb 4 : 0 victory in the most memorable post-1937 J-class fleet series regatta to date, competing in the St Barths Bucket over the Easter weekend.

Sublimely, Hanuman yacht won three out of four races on line honors and all four races on corrected time under the most exhilarating and challenging conditions, in the event which had a historic number of five J-class sloops competing.

St Barths Bucket Regatta Day 4: J CLASS Yacht Hanuman Photo: Carlo Borlenghi

A magnificent result for helmsman Ken Read and Captain Greg Sloat and the rest of their very skilled Hanuman crew!

St Barths Bucket Regatta Day 2: Superyacht Hanuman Photo: Carlo Borlenghi

Earlier this year, Rondal supplied new spreaders to accommodate new continuous standing rigging suiting the existing carbon Rondal mast on board superyacht Hanuman.

Luxury yacht Hanuman - Photo by Carlo Borlenghi

Apart from the new, lighter and smaller spreaders, the Rondal experts together with the highly knowledgeable permanent crew of Hanuman yacht managed to create extra weight savings on electronics and other mast gear. This entire weight saving exercise definitely helped the outstanding tactics and boat handling of Ken Read and his crew to put this impressive result on the scoring boards and into the history books of J-class sailing.

Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2013: Day 1

April 10, 2013

This morning the Gustavia Harbor saw the start of the Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2013, with the trade winds blowing, blue skies prevailing, as well as large cumulus clouds scudding overhead. With the first warning signal at 11 a.m. (10 a.m. for the rest of the week), there was time for the crews to finish preparing their yachts, and catch up with friends.

The atmosphere was relaxed and thoroughly Caribbean-style, though it belied somewhat the competitive spirit found in a good part of the fleet. Through just about all classes, sailors were scouting their competition, checking ratings and looking to see what modifications had been made since their adversaries last competed on the water.

The fleet of 59 boats is spread over eight classes, and within each of those there is ample competition. Onboard the Baltic 45 Jolt 2 (GBR), owner/skipper Peter Harrison is racing at Les Voiles de St Barth for the first time. Harrison is also on-site as CEO of Richard Mille Europe, sponsor for the event.

“We have been out a few times trying to work out all the local secrets, which has been very difficult! We are really pleased as a team and as a company to support the event. It is great to see such a varied fleet of professional and amateur crews. There is a nice group to sail against – Arethusa (USA), Defiance (USA), Hamachi (USA), and Music (RSA) – so exciting racing ahead. We have quite a nice course for today, reaching most of the way back, and we hope it will be good for our boat; she is good downwind.”

Downwind sailing at the Voiles de Saint Barth on Day 1

Indeed, St. Barths served up perfect conditions with a 15-20 knot southeasterly breeze. Early on, there were mechanical issues for two boats, including Jack Desmond’s White Rhino (USA), which had a problem before the start with the mast partner that necessitated returning to the dock. Shortly after the Maxi class start, the headstay on the Swan 100 superyacht Varsovie (CAY) parted, though with quick crew work it did not damage to the mast.

Classes were sent on three different courses, ranging in length from 24-33 nautical miles, which took the fleet counter-clockwise in the lee of St Barths, around the southern end of the island at Pointe a Toiny, where boats encountered a four-to-six-foot swell. Occasional squalls brought rain (fresh water rinse!) and big variations in wind pressure, which ratcheted up the pressure on tacticians to pick the best course.

The Volvo 60 Cuba Libre sailed in the non-spinnaker class with two local teenagers on board, one on a race boat for the first time. Skipper Benedikt Clauberg had high praise for the teenager who served as his bow man, saying, “It’s his first day on the boat, and he performed like a professional bow man. We had a lot of sail changes when a jib halyard snapped – we had some action, but it was wonderful!”

Cuba Libre racing in the Non Spinnaker Class on the first day of racing at Les Voiles de Saint Barth© Les Voiles de St. Barth / Tim Wright

For the Melges 24 class, it was a spirited day. Local St. Maarten sailor Frits Bus is back for his second time. Bus won his class (Spinnaker) last year on his Melges 24 Team Coors Light, in a closely fought week of racing with Lazy Dog (PUR), winning the final deciding race by 20 seconds on corrected time.

This year the Melges 24s have their own class with six boats. Sunburned and a bit weary after sailing the 24-nautical mile course on Island Water World, an enthusiastic Bus said, “We had a great day today with shifty conditions at the start. We made big gains on the big shifts that came in; we managed to catch up from third place at the first mark to finish by two boat lengths, overtaking Budget Marine Gill (AHO) and Amcom Express (TRI) on the last upwind leg to the finish. The course was long, but it was a great day of sailing.”

“We had a few new people on the boat, so we went out early to do some practice. The day was long, but it was beautiful sailing, and the course was great: all kinds of conditions, with big swells, low winds, then no winds under the cloud cover in the squalls. Everything was there, the perfect day’s sailing!”

Jolt sailing in the Spinnaker 1 class at Les Voiles de Saint Barth on the first day of racing© Les Voiles de Saint Barth / Tim Wright

Phil and Wendy Lotz on the Swan 42 Arethusa are racing here for the first time. “We heard a lot of good things about the regatta; it’s a little bit of the European flair down in the Caribbean,” said Phil Lotz, who steers the boat. “We come down about every two years and do about three regattas. We hadn’t done this, and we wanted to check it out. With the Swan Cup that preceded it by a few weeks, it fit into a nice schedule; we’ll go on from here to Antigua Sailing Week.”

Arethusa has some tough competition in their class with Steve Cucchiaro’s Marten 49 Defiance (USA) and James Blakemore’s Music, a Swan 53. About today’s race, Lotz added, “It was fun…a long race, pretty much full-on the whole time, a lot of gear shifting. Occasionally there were more waves than wind.”

The event enjoys the continued support of watchmaker Richard Mille as well as sportswear brand Gaastra. Other event partners include leading St. Barth villa rental agency WIMCO, which offers a gorgeous portfolio of private villas for rent on St. Barth. WIMCO’s sponsorship includes presenting eight Les Voiles class winners with a complimentary week in one of their top villas, inclusive of a concierge ready to attend to every request.

Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2013: Over 60 yachts preparing for tomorrow’s start

April 08, 2013

With winter weather persisting in northern parts of the U.S. as well as Europe, sailors could be envied for heading to the popular yacht charter destination – the Caribbean to extend their racing calendars. As it is, more than 60 yachts and crew are presently on the island of St Barths, in the French West Indies, getting ready for tomorrow’s start of Les Voiles de St. Barth 2013.

Race Fleet dockside in Gustavia Harbour © Tim Wright / Les Voiles de St Barth

The fourth edition of this regatta will offer up four days of racing on a mix of courses and a social schedule equally as demanding, with dockside entertainment each evening and a lay day (Thursday) full of activities at Nikki Beach on St. Jean Bay.

As it has for its prior three editions, Les Voiles de St. Barth again has drawn a competitive mix of international yachts and crews from the UK, USA, France, Italy, Ireland, The Netherlands, Belgium, and South Africa, as well as a strong Caribbean contingent from Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Anguilla, Antigua, and Trinidad.

The inaugural event in 2010 drew 27 boats, and since then, entries have steadily grown as the media and sailing’s coconut telegraph helped spread the word. Event Director François Paul Tolède was enthusiastic as yachts tied up stern-to at the Quai General de Gaulle in Gustavia.

Jim Swartz, Godfather of the 2013 edition of Les Voiles de Saint Barth and owner of Vesper © Christophe Jouany / Les Voiles de Saint-Barth

“The atmosphere is great on shore and the weather looks perfect,” he said. “With 62 boats entered so far (registration closes at 5 p.m. today) and considering the current economic climate, the turnout shows what great regard the yacht owners have for the Voiles de Saint Barth.”

Tolède continued: “Luc Poupon (Course Director) has come up with some new courses, slightly longer in some cases, as many of the sailors wanted to spend more time on the water, and so racing will start a little earlier. We expect anywhere between 15 to 20+ knots of wind this week – ideal conditions for the fleet, which ranges from 24 feet (Melges) to 100 feet (the Swan 100 superyacht Varsovie).”

The fleet is divided into eight classes: Maxis; Spinnaker 1, 2, and 3; Melges 24; Non-Spinnaker; Classics; and Multi-hulls. Organizers can chose between 28 course variations, from 11 to 40 nautical miles. Racing begins tomorrow, Tuesday April 9, with the first signal at 1100.

Jim Swartz, owner/skipper of the TP52 sailing yacht Vesper, is the anointed “godfather” of this year’s regatta. An enthusiastic competitor, he has participated in all four editions. For Swartz it is a do-not-miss event. “The conditions are fabulous,” he said. “Sailing around this island is beautiful – the winds are always predictable, they are always a lot of fun, particularly when we get a good breeze on the back (windward) side of the island.”

François Paul Tolède, Organisation Director and Nils Dufau, VP of the Collectivity of Saint Barth and President of the Tourism Committee © Tim Wright / Les Voiles de St Barth

Sailing onboard Vesper will be former America’s Cup sailors Gavin Brady (tactician), Rob Salthouse (jib trim), Kazuhiko Sofuku (mid bow), and Jamie Gale (navigator), past Volvo Ocean Race crew.

After Vesper competed in the TP52 Worlds in Miami last month, the boat was shipped to St. Thomas to get it race ready and then delivered to St. Barths this week. “Les Voiles is always on our calendar,” Swartz said, “It’s the atmosphere – the racing is great, the people are great, as is the organization. It all runs very well. And the dining and shopping (for the ladies)…all that St. Barths is about, we enjoy the same thing!”

Over half the boats and skippers are return competitors. Notable new editions this year include Jens Kellinghusen’s Ker 51 yacht Varuna, which has raced in the year since its launch at Kiel Week and Les Voiles de St. Tropez; the Volvo 60 Cuba Libre (ex-Heineken) in Non-Spinnaker (while the V60 Ambersail will be in Spinnaker 1); Phil Lotz’ Swan 42 Arethusa, which is fresh off winning the Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean; Jolt 2, a Baltic 45 that has already stretched its legs on the recent RORC Caribbean 600; in the Classic class, Heroina, a 74’ cold molded Frers design build in the ‘90s; and the 51’ Aage Nielsen-designed ketch Saphaedra, a seasoned ocean racer.

At this morning’s media briefing at Hotel Carl Gustaf on the hill overlooking the harbor of Gustavia, Nils Dufau, Vice President of the Collectivity of St. Barth’s and president for the Tourism Committee, said, “Les Voiles de St. Barth has become a formidable communication tool for our island as an up-market destination. This event conveys to all the “state of mind” of an island that has built up over time and which today has become a haven of peace and stability – the very basis of its reputation.”

Jens Kellinghusen, owner/skipper on board Ker 51 yacht Varuna © Christophe Jouany / Les Voiles de Saint-Barth

In a further nod to this relatively new event, the Caribbean Sailing Association named Les Voiles de St. Barth and the BVI Spring Regatta “Best Events of 2012.”

This evening is the Skipper’s Briefing after which event organizers will kick off the week with the Opening Ceremony and party in the Race Village on the Quai General de Gaulle.

WIMCO’s sponsorship includes presenting eight Les Voiles class winners with a complimentary week in one of their top villas, inclusive of a concierge ready to attend to every request.

An amazing 2013 Caribbean racing season for SW100 RS Yacht CAPE ARROW by Southern Wind

April 08, 2013

After her 8th place at RORC Caribbean 600 in IRC Zero Class and 2nd place at Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous in Division A, the breathtaking SW100 RS yacht Cape Arrow by Southern Wind has placed fourth at the recently concluded St Barths Bucket Regatta in Division ‘Les Gazelles des Mers’.

SW100 RS Yacht Cape Arrow by Southern Wind at St Barths Bucket 2013 - Photo by Carlo Borlenghi/Sea Way

Southern Wind would like to congratulate to the SW100 RS superyacht Cape Arrow for her 2013 Caribbean Regattas performance!

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An amazing 2013 Caribbean racing season for SW100 RS Yacht CAPE ARROW by Southern Wind

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