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Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011: Exceptional Yachts and Crews

March 29, 2011

There will be more than fifty of them: yachts of every size and class from all over the Caribbean, competing at Les Voiles de St. Barth. For the second year, the St. Barth Yacht Club and their partners have come up with a spectacular program for this international yachting event that runs from April 4 – 9. Some of the most notable yachts with their experienced crew will be on hand for a week of racing on the fantastic sailing waters of the Caribbean. Maxi yachts, multihulls, and classic yachts have answered the call to compete at Les Voiles de St. Barth, where competitors can look forward to challenging sailing among the surrounding islands and where, back ashore, they can be certain of a friendly welcome.

Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011

Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011

While the island of St Barts is a tranquil place for a quiet holiday, the waters around it guarantee that even the most reserved yachtsman will be thrilled. In any case, the yachts registered for the second edition of the Les Voiles are not going to have a quiet time of it. This is proven by the crew lists, which note the presence of some of the top skippers and crew from the international yachting world.

The 97-foot canting keel maxi Genuine Risk, a Dubois-designed boat that recently won the Pineapple Cup Montego Bay Race will have the Swede Hugo Stenbeck at her helm. A successful ice hockey player, Stenbeck led the Swedish America’s Cup team, Victory Challenge, in Valencia in 2007. He will head an international all-star crew with a wealth of experience, including the American Ralf Steitz, who crewed for Dennis Conner during his America’s Cup campaigns. The Frenchman, Laurent Delage, who was the sail designer for Victory Challenge, has two Olympic medals in the 470 class and will be offering a French touch to the Swedish team, though it also includes Danish tactician Rasmus Kostner, who previously sailed with Mascalzone Latino in the 2007 America’s Cup.

Former America’s Cup helmsman, New Zealander Gavin Brady will be onboard the TP52 Vesper/Team Moneypenny (ex-Quantum Racing). Brady will be co-helming with owner Jim Swartz (Park City, Utah), and will be relying on the skills of Ben Beer, Jamie Gale, Brett Jones, Ken Keefe and Matt Waikowicz.

Sailing yacht Sojana and Moneypenny (Photo by Christophe Launay Les Voiles de Saint-Barth)

Sailing yacht Sojana and Moneypenny (Photo by Christophe Launay Les Voiles de Saint-Barth)

Another American competitor that everyone will be watching is the 2010 Les Voile de St. Barth Maxi class winner George David, who will be onboard the Juan Kouyoumdjian-designed Rambler 100 (ex-Speedboat), which recently won the RORC Caribbean 600. Short daily races will provide a change for the crew which is made up almost entirely of members of the Puma Ocean Racing team led by American Ken Read (Newport, RI). At Les Voiles, they will have to deal with close quarters buoy racing, where strategy is often more important than sheer speed. For their second go at Les Voiles, Read and his crew, from six different nations, are taking this event very seriously and see it as part of their preparation for the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race. “After all,” Read explained, “Rambler 100 is just a more powerful version of a Volvo 70.”

As for French sailors, Lionel Péan has been enlisted by the British owner, Peter Harrison, to race onboard the 115-foot sailing yacht Sojana. The Farr-designed ketch is a perfect example of first-class yachting and was designed for cruising and speed. The well-known French fashion photographer – and last year’s godfather of Les Voiles – Patrick Demarchelier will be racing again aboard his impeccable Swan 45, Puffy, in the Racing class. There he will come up against some other Frenchmen including Régis Guillemot and his Pogo 40, in what is likely to be a closely fought contest in the Racing class, 50 feet and over.

All of these world-class sailors will come together on Monday, April 4 at Les Voiles de St. Barth’s official registration and the opening ceremony, to mark the start of a week of exciting racing.  The event will offer spectators an amazing sight with a great fleet of boats enjoying the tail end of the sailing season on the blue-green waters off Saint Barth.

Key information:

Les Voiles de St. Barth will be hosted from April 4 – 9 2011 by the St. Barth Yacht Club, which is affiliated with the French Sailing Federation and the Caribbean Sailing Association.

“More than 50 yachts have registered for Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011 and they will be split into five classes:

SUPER / MAXI YACHT: a prototype or boat produced in limited numbers measuring at least 21 metres (69’) in length.

CLASSIC: referred to as classic or traditional yachts, these boats must be at least 35 years old.

RACING: racing monohulls, designed specifically for coastal or offshore racing.

RACING/CRUISING:  mostly series boats, which are designed for cruising and for racing.

RACING-MULTIHULLS: Racing multihulls, including trimarans and catamarans, between 30 – 60 feet in length, which are very light and fast.

Les Voiles de St. Barth will officially begin on Monday April 4, 2011 with the registration and the official opening of the Race Village on Quai du Général De Gaulle in Gustavia.

The Race Committee, led once again by principal race officer, Luc Poupon, will signal the start of the first race at 1300 (local time) on Tuesday, April 5. Racing for the rest of the week (Wednesday – Saturday) will begin at 1100. Thursday, April 7 will be a lay day, which will give the crews a chance to relax and enjoy themselves with a full and varied program of events planned at St Jean Beach. The closing ceremony and fireworks will follow the awards

Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

Dubois Cup 2011 to Carbon Offset

March 15, 2011

Hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo, The Dubois Cup will take place between 4-6 June 2011. Dubois has announced that, in partnership with Yacht Carbon Offset, it has balanced the estimated carbon footprint of this year’s regatta, which includes an allowance for participants’ air travel to Sardinia.

Dubois Cup 2011 to Carbon Offset

Dubois Cup 2011 to Carbon Offset

 “We are delighted that the estimated carbon emissions of the Dubois Cup have been offset! Yacht carbon offset is such a good idea and we believe it is the duty of our industry and indeed our sport to support this concept.  We are most grateful and truly delighted that we have Yacht Carbon Offset as a sponsor and partner in the Dubois Cup 2011.” commented Ed Dubois

 “It is an honour to partner with Dubois for what promises to be a spectacular event. The Owners of several large sailing yachts have committed to carbon offset policies, and it is great to welcome Dubois alongside them. We believe that the Dubois Cup is the first superyacht regatta to offset its carbon footprint.  We thank Dubois for taking this practical step that fits perfectly with the beautiful setting of the Costa Smeralda, and the natural grace of the competing sailing yachts.” said Yacht Carbon Offset’s Managing Director Mark Robinson

The Dubois Cup 2011

The Dubois Cup is once again organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in collaboration with Dubois and takes place this year between 4-6th June. This exciting Regatta brings together many Dubois-designed superyachts, and includes two race days as well as a lively social programme, just before the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta at the same venue. The Dubois Cup is a non-profit event which aims to raise funds for the vital research programs developing treatment for the childhood cancer, Neuroblastoma.

So far, there are eight yachts confirmed for participation at the Dubois Cup 2011, including three of the most important Dubois designed superyachts launched last year; 58.4m sailing yacht Kokomo, the 57.5m Twizzle yacht and 49.7m S/Y Zefira .  Sailing yacht Twizzle announced its own carbon offset programme in September 2010, also in partnership with Yacht Carbon Offset.

Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011: An unforgettable experience in St. Barth’s Shoulder Season

March 08, 2011

When the stage lights are switched on for the second annual Les Voiles de St. Barth, it is a sure bet that the production, set for April 4-9, will deliver an unforgettable experience for its participating sailors, their friends and families.  After all, what other regatta claims Jimmy Buffett as its “godfather” or the world-famous French fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier as one of its devotees?  And what other regatta reaps the benefits of being held on an unspoiled yet sophisticated island, during its off-peak tourist season, no less, when fine French food and wine are in abundance without the wait at popular harbor-side restaurants and where accommodations at boutique hotels and private villas—the most stylish of which are coveted by celebrities in the high season–are easier to come by and, better yet, less pricey? 

Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011 - Photo Credit Christophe Jouany

Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011 - Photo Credit Christophe Jouany

“The Les Voiles de St. Barth is about the whole island of Saint Barthelemy in the shoulder season and how it represents a West Indian paradise like no other,” said Donald Tofias, a Newport, R.I. (USA) resident who ships his two W-76 yachts White Wings and Wild Horses to St Barts every year in late October and, like Buffett and Demarchelier, has established himself as more than just an accidental tourist here.  “It is about the island’s personalities, the local bands playing every night on the docks, the top chefs and wine cellars being involved, and the entire community being involved in the experience of a friendly, easy-going regatta.”

Last year, Tofias, whose W yachts have claimed a bundle of trophies from victories in New England, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean, won his class skippering Wild Horses, and will steer White Wings this year with a “United Nations of crew” comprised of 15 or more from the United States, St. Barth, St. Martin and Antigua.

As for Demarchelier, he also will steer his own yacht, the Swan 45 Puffy, in the regatta.

Since the late 1970s, Demarchelier has photographed covers for nearly every major fashion magazine in the world, including Vogue and Elle, and has—better than anyone perhaps–brought global attention to the island’s idyllic settings by his own through-the-lense infatuation with them.

“I have not too much time to do other regattas, so this is special to me,” he said about his upcoming get-away from his busy schedule and studio in New York.  “The conditions are always fantastic, with 15-20 knots, blue sky and beautiful waters.”

Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011 - Photo Credit Christophe Jouany

Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011 - Photo Credit Christophe Jouany

With a mix of professionals and island locals included on Puffy’s initial crew roster, it will not surprise anyone if the President of St. Barth, Bruno Magras, showed up to sail, since he did so last year with Demarchelier and has gone on record as being fully committed to raising the status of Les Voiles de St. Barth as a premier sailing event in the Caribbean.

James Dobbs of Antigua, who races and lives aboard his J/122 Lost Horizon in the Caribbean in the winter, will be one of Demarchelier’s main competitors, as he won his class here last year (the same one in which Puffy sailed), and he has every intention of doing so again this year.  Even with only just one year under its belt, the Les Voiles de St. Barth is already a fixture on Dobbs’ competitive racing schedule.  “For me, it is on the way back to Antigua,” said Dobbs.  “I enjoy it because it has a different French flair to it.” 

That is not to mention the intimate harbor of Gustavia serving as regatta central or the magnificent Caribbean Sea, which serves up dependable trade winds and stunning vistas with every new tack—those are at the very core of every racing sailor’s best dreams.

“The regatta got a great start last year, and you will see a whole range of sailors and boats that typically race in Europe, New England and the Caribbean showing up here,” said Donald Tofias.  “Word has gotten around, people love coming here, and all the right things are in place.  Soon it will be the size of some of the other Caribbean events; that is my prediction.”

And where will Jimmy Buffett be in all this? Suffice it to say, he owns a home in St. Barth, is an avid sailor, and often jams with local musicians.  His blessing of the regatta is inherent in his “godfather” title, so other than that, the organizers are being hush-hush.  Like fine wine, some things uncorked are better if they sit for a bit before being savored with the main meal.

The regatta has thus far signed up 50 yachts in five classes: Super Maxi, Racing, Racing/Cruising, Classic, and Racing Multihull. Among other notables registered are Mike Slade’s (UK) 100-foot Farr design sailing yacht Leopard 3, George David’s (Hartford, Conn.), Rambler 100, Richard Balding’s (UK) Swan 60 Fenix, Jim Swartz’s (Park City, Utah) Vesper/Team Moneypenny and Lloyd Thornburg’s (Santa Fe, N.M.) multihull Phaedo.

Antigua Sailing Week 2011: Grand finale of the Caribbean yacht racing season

March 07, 2011

In less than two months, Antigua Sailing Week, the Caribbean’s longest
running and best-known regatta, will be in full flow and there is still time to experience one of the top sailing regattas worldwide. Competitors will be
flocking to Antigua from all over the world, sailors and yachts from well-over a dozen countries are coming to the magical island in the central Caribbean. 



English harbour Antigua Sailing Week - Photo Credit Ted Martin

English harbour Antigua Sailing Week - Photo Credit Ted Martin

Preparations are gathering pace for the grande finale of the Caribbean yacht racing season and it is going to be an occasion not to be missed. This year
the bigger boats that are attracted to the event from all over the world, will be joined by Dragon sailors, dinghy sailors and those who just want to
come and experience the fantastic shore side activities.



The sailing grounds around Antigua are rightly described as some of the best
in the world. This was very much in evidence during the recent RORC
Caribbean 600, which provided some spectacular sailing. Antigua boasts some of the best hotels, beaches, restaurants and bars in the Caribbean and
Antigua Sailing Week will be enhancing these outstanding facilities with
some memorable parties and occasions.



The hub of all the activities will be in the historic surroundings of
Nelson’s Dockyard. The 18th century dockyard will be the home of the Event
Village, a brand new concept. The Beer Tent in the Event Village will be the
heart of the party, open to everyone daily after racing and well into the
evening. Food and drink will be available at reasonable prices, it will be a
place for all to rub shoulders and enjoy live music and entertainment as
well as the days’ results and action via great photography and videos. The
Chivas VIP lounge will also be located in Nelson’s Dockyard, a private venue
for invited guests to chill out in comfortable surroundings.



Antigua has some of the most spectacular beaches anywhere in the world with
superb restaurants and bars, taking
advantage of the breath-taking vistas across the azure blue ocean. Antigua
Sailing Week provides the opportunity to experience the best of Antigua. There are parties scheduled for Galleon Beach, Shirley Heights, JollyHarbour and Dickinson Bay. Lay Day this year will take place in Falmouth Harbour with some hi-jinx aquatic events designed to add some sidesplitting
fun to the day and through into the night. The activities will start in the
afternoon, leaving plenty of time to chill out in the morning on one of
Antigua’s world famous beaches or to enjoy a myriad of other activities.



This year, Antigua Sailing Week will not be just for the keelboats and
multihulls. A number of International Dragons and RS Elite dinghies are
available for charter at very competitive rates with or without
accommodation packages, allowing aficionados of different aspects of the
sport to join in the fun at the Caribbean’s most famous regatta. 



During Antigua Sailing Week thousands of visitors will be experiencing one
of the highlights of the worldwide yacht racing scene.

The Dubois Cup 2011 at the YCCS in Porto Cervo, Sardinia

March 06, 2011

The Dubois Cup is an exciting regatta that brings together many Dubois designed yachts, owners, crew industry associates and media alike. The event immediately precedes the Loro Piana Superyacht regatta with one racing rest in between.

The Dubois Cup - Organised in conjunction with the YCCS in Porto Cervo

The Dubois Cup - Organised in conjunction with the YCCS in Porto Cervo

The Dubois Cup 2011 to be held at the YCCS in Porto Cervo

The Dubois Cup 2011 to be held at the YCCS in Porto Cervo

As in previous years, there will be two days of racing at the Dubois Cup from 4th – 6th June, 2011 and the evening events will include the owners and guests’ dinner and a prize giving party to follow the close of racing on the 6th.

The Dubois Cup

The inaugural Dubois Cup took place in Palma in 2007 after Ed Dubois agreed with a client who suggested the idea of a regatta solely for Dubois yachts.  As the idea grew, the Dubois Cup was established – becoming a great opportunity for owners to enjoy their boats, to put them through their paces and to meet other Dubois owners and friends.

The second Dubois Cup took place in 2009 at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Sardinia.  The third Dubois Cup will again take place at the Yacht Club Costsa Smeralda (YCCS) from 4th – 6th June, 2011.  This regatta promises to be bigger but will still retain the wonderful ethos and atmosphere that is at the heart of the Dubois brand.

There are currently eight yachts confirmed for participation. Included in the line up are three of Dubois’ prominent launches from the last year. Superyacht Kokomo (58.4m) sailing yacht Twizzle (57.5m) and yacht Zefira (49.7m)

Superyacht Kokomo will participate in the 2011 Dubois Cup Regatta - Credit Alloy Yachts

Superyacht Kokomo will participate in the 2011 Dubois Cup Regatta - Credit Alloy Yachts

Carbon Policy

Dubois, in partnership with Yacht Carbon Offset, has decided to balance the estimated carbon footprint of the Dubois Cup, including an allowance for participants’ air travel to Sardinia. 

Greenhouse gas emissions from the event have been offset by equivalent emissions reductions achieved by independently verified green energy projects. 

The Dubois Cup 2011 is understood to be the first major Superyacht regatta to neutralise its carbon footprint in this way.

Yacht Carbon Offset provides a specialist service to superyacht clients; both motor and sail, and has Lloyds Register Quality Assurance Certification.

Charity

Ed Dubois has a very personal interest in supporting the work of charities dedicated to research into childhood cancer.  The Dubois Cup is a platform for fund-raising and creating greater awareness.  The first two events supported CLIC Sargent and Sparks respectively and have cumulatively raised in excess of €200,000.

The 2011 Dubois Cup Regatta will, once again, aim to raise a significant sum for the ongoing research into childhood cancers, with a very specific aim of increasing survival rates for the rarer types of childhood cancer such as Neuroblastoma.  In the same way that survival rates for childhood Leukaemia have increased dramatically over the last twenty years, Ed Dubois is committed to making this happen in other areas, by funding specific research programmes, peer-reviewed by specialists in this field.

A fund has been created at the well-established medical research charity SPARKS.  All funds raised will go directly to this registered charity for specific projects in the area of childhood cancer research agreed by Ed and Honor Dubois.

Yacht Club Costa Smeralda

The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda is based in Porto Cervo in the Costa Smeralda area of Sardinia, known for its beautiful scenery and strong traditions. The Costa Smeralda,  an archipelago with abundant wind, sunshine and racing areas offers ideal sailing conditions for the Dubois Cup.

Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in Porto Cervo

Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in Porto Cervo

Adjoining the YCCS building, the Piazza Azzurra is at the heart of the Club’s sporting and social events.  Prize giving’s are held in Piazza Azzurra as well as parties for owners and crew.

Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011: One Month to Go

March 04, 2011

An enthusiastic Ken Read (Newport, R.I.) got the 2011 sailing season off to a resounding start on board the new Maxi Yacht Rambler 100 in the Caribbean 600. The American skipper, who leads the Puma Ocean Racing project, has just won the event, leaving his rival Leopard 3 a long way behind and in so doing also grabbing the race record. Winner of last year’s inaugural running of the Les Voiles de St. Barth as skipper of George David’s (Hartford, Conn.) 90-footRambler, Read was naturally entrusted with the helm of Rambler 100 (the former Speedboat) when David took command of it earlier this year. Very excited by Rambler 100’s performance so far, Read is looking forward to the race program that lies ahead in the coming weeks. The second edition of the Les Voiles de St. Barth is next on the schedule (April 4-9), and with a mere mention of Read’s victory at the 2010 event, he admits without hesitation that he took advantage of “the best conditions ever experienced in my whole career….”

Les Voiles de St Barth 2010 © Christophe Jouany Les Voiles de Saint-Barth.

Les Voiles de St Barth 2010 © Christophe Jouany Les Voiles de Saint-Barth.

The prospect of once again facing their main rival Leopard 3 (owned by Great Britain’s Mike Slade) at Les Voiles de St. Barth–in closely fought contests on a variety of windy courses–is something that Read and David are extremely happy about. The Americans will bring along the whole of Read’s Puma Ocean Racing team, comprised of 15 top class professional sailors that will join seven other experienced crewmen to sail the powerful carbon Maxi Yacht.

“Don’t change a thing!,” said Read about the Les Voiles des St. Barth format, which features short daytime race courses that will have Rambler 100 and Leopard 3 facing off for the first time with that type of racing. “Rambler 100 and Leopard 3 are two huge monsters,” he said, explaining that both boats are entered in the Atlantic Ocean Racing Series, which reaches its climax in June with the 2011 Transatlantic Race from Newport, Rhode Island to The Lizard (UK). “They are record-breaking boats designed for long ocean races and major offshore courses; however, for our crew, it is vital to be able to compete in inshore races like those that will be held in St Barts. Our battle against Leopard 3 will be very demanding for the crews and fascinating to watch, as we will be alongside each other for a lot of the time and it is bound to offer a maximum level of excitement.”

The Caribbean 600 represented an intermediate format for Ken Read and his crew, and it very quickly turned to the advantage of Rambler 100, which led the way from start to finish in what were typically Caribbean conditions, with strong trade winds windward of the islands and tricky currents, particularly at night. “Sailing along at 26 knots under the stars, we had some great moments aboard Rambler 100, a boat that offers a completely new dimension to racing,” concluded Read. Peter Harrison’s (Great Britain) 115-foot Farr-designed sailing yacht Sojana, which stood out in the Les Voiles de St. Barth last year and will be back again this year, also took part in the Caribbean 600 alongside Genuine Risk, the 90-foot Dubois design that has registered for the Les Voiles de St. Barth for the first time and may also thwart the favorites’ plans.

Les Voiles de St Barth 2010 © Christophe Jouany Les Voiles de Saint-Barth

Les Voiles de St Barth 2010 © Christophe Jouany Les Voiles de Saint-Barth

“In St. Barth, each day is different,” said Read. “The race committee has done an excellent job coming up with courses around the islands that are spectacular and at the same time very demanding from a tactical perspective, as they mean we have to sail at every point of sail. The Les Voiles de St. Barth is also physically very tiring, as the strong regular winds that sweep across the islands at this time of year allow us to get the most out of the boat, implying frequent sail changes with each change of tack. Technically, this is a really interesting event, which is a fantastic complement to the Atlantic Ocean Racing Series.”

Key information:

With one month to go until the start of racing, the Les Voiles de St. Barth has registered no fewer than 49 yachts, divided according to their size and class in the following five divisions:

SUPER / MAXI YACHT: A Maxi yacht refers to a prototype yacht or one that is produced in limited numbers measuring at least 69’ in length: 8 boats registered

CLASSIC: Classic Yachts or traditional boats are boats that are at least 35 years old and fit into various categories: 5 boats registered

RACING: This division brings together racing monohulls designed specifically for coastal or offshore races: 15 boats registered

RACING-CRUISING: The Racing Cruising division includes chiefly series boats, fitted out for cruising as well as for racing: 17 boats registered

RACING- MULTIHULLS: This division includes racing multihulls, be they trimarans or catamarans, with a length between 30 and 60 feet and which are very light and fast: 4 boats registered

The Les Voiles de St. Barth officially begins on Monday, April 4, 2011 with the traditional registration process and the opening of the Voiles Village, Quai du Général De Gaulle in Gustavia. At 1300 hrs (local time) the next day (Tuesday, April 5), the Race Directors, under the leadership of Luc Poupon, will signal the start of racing on some exciting and varied race courses set up according to the weather conditions. Racing continues Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, with Thursday, April 7 set aside as a lay day, with a full list of festive events lined up, allowing the crews to rest and enjoy themselves along with the people of St. Barths. The closing evening on Saturday, April 9 will include the prize-giving ceremony.

Wally Superyacht Regattas and Boat Shows in 2011

February 08, 2011

Wally has a busy 2011 calendar attending a total of 8 Superyacht Regattas and Boat Shows during the 2011 yachting season. The regattas include Palmavela, The Nespresso Cup, The Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta, The Giraglia Rolex Cup, The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Les Voiles de Saint Tropez and the two boat shows include the Cannes Boat Show, and the Monaco Yacht Show.

Wally Superyacht Regatta’s and Boat Show’s in 2011 - Credit Wally Yachts
Wally Superyacht Regatta’s and Boat Show’s in 2011 – Credit Wally Yachts

The calendar opens with the Wally Class first appointment of the racing season: Palmavela, a four-day competition that runs from April 21-24, organised by the Real Club Nautico of Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

The Wally racing fleet will then gather in Portofino, Italy, from 6 to 8 May for the Nespresso Cup, the only regatta exclusively for the Wally Class.

The Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta is held in June 7-11 in Porto Cervo, Italy, and organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. 

The Giraglia Rolex Cup is the classic offshore race of the Med season. The start is in St Tropez on Wednesday June 15, and finishes in Genoa after sailing 245 miles and the round of the Giraglia rock, north of Corsica.

After the summer cruise, the Wally Class will return to Porto Cervo for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup that runs from September 4-10, one of the most spectacular super yacht regatta in the world. 

Wally will exhibit at the Cannes Boat Show, September 7-12, with several boats of the Wallypower range that will be available for sea trial.

A large display of yachts is scheduled also at the Monsco Yacht Show (September 21-24), the most important event in the World for large yachts.

Les Voiles de Saint Tropez (September 25-October 2) ends the Wally Class racing season with its unique gathering of classic and modern yachts in the old harbour of the glamorous French town.

Les Voiles de St. Barth: Super Maxi Sailing Yachts Leopard 3 vs Rambler 100

February 08, 2011

Registrations are going well for the second edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth (4 – 9 April 2011), with 40 boats having signed up in the five categories competing (Super Maxi, Classic, Racing, Racing-Cruising, and Racing-Multihull).

Les Voiles de St. Barth Super maxi sailing yachts Leopard 3 vs Rambler 100

Les Voiles de St. Barth Super maxi sailing yachts Leopard 3 vs Rambler 100

As well, the impending top-level battle between the two Super Maxis Leopard 3 and Rambler 100 is sure to turn some heads and bring an extremely high standard of racing to this major Caribbean yachting event. These two splendid racing yachts — the former a 100-foot Farr design belonging to Mike Slade (GBR) and the latter a 100-foot Kouyoumdjian design chartered by George David (USA) — have added the 2011 Les Voiles de St. Barth to their ambitious 2011 sailing programmes, which will reach a climax in July with the New York Yacht Club’s Transatlantic Race.

Les Voiles de St. Barth, with its superb windy courses, offers the possibility of a different course each day, thanks to the imagination of Race Director Luc Poupon who will be providing these two giants with an opportunity to measure up against each other for four days in the blazing sunshine on the fantastic swell of the Atlantic Ocean.

Super Maxi Sailing Yacht Rambler 100

Super Maxi Sailing Yacht Rambler 100

George David, holder of the Richard Mille Trophy since his win here last year on board Rambler 90, is back again this year after modifying Rambler 100 (formerly Speedboat and Virgin Atlantic) for his 2011 programme, which will focus on the Atlantic Ocean Racing Series. “In many ways, Les Voiles de St. Barth represents a sort of mini programme for us this year,” said David. “No other place in the world, other than St Barth, brings together such a concentration of the elements that are required to make races successful, with moderate to strong variable winds, a long regular swell, some spectacular backdrops and such a friendly welcome from the inhabitants.”

With a canting keel and a mast towering 44 metres, Rambler 100 will once again require all the talent and experience of American skipper Ken Read and his crew from the Puma Ocean Racing Team, who are preparing for the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race.

Super Maxi Sailing Yacht ICAP Leopard 3 © Rick Tomlinson

Super Maxi Sailing Yacht ICAP Leopard 3 © Rick Tomlinson

Their challenger, sailing yacht Leopard 3, will certainly put up a fight, as her boat captain Chris Sherlock has brought together an international all-star team that includes Mike Slade, Ian Budgen (GBR), Robert Greenhalgh (GBR), Mike Joubert (RSA), Gordon Maguire (IRL), Luke Molloy (AUS), Jeremy Robinson (GBR), David Rolfe (NZ), Guy Salter (GBR), Mark Thomas (AUS) and Jim Turner (GBR). Thirty metres long, with a mast height of 47 metres, Leopard 3 also benefits from being equipped with a canting keel. The boat showed her amazing capabilities in 2008 when she shattered the trans-Atlantic crossing record held by Phocea with a time of 7 days, 19 hours and 21 minutes, averaging 15.5 knots with a peak speed of 37.4 knots.

The class of Super Maxi yachts alone brings together no fewer than six outstanding 75 –115 foot yachts for Les Voiles de St. Barth, and with still two months to go before registration closes, there are plenty of otherwise remarkable entries coming from around the Caribbean and across the United States, including Atrevida (BRA), a 105-foot Herreshoff-designed schooner; the 76-foot W-Class boat White Wings (USA); and Patrick Demarchelier’s Swan 45 Puffy (USA).

Certain now that they will be able to offer a strong line-up, both in terms of quality and quantity, the whole of the Les Voiles de St. Barth organising team can now concentrate on applying finishing touches to ensure that this will be a friendly, festive occasion. The races begin on Tuesday 5th April, with Thursday 7th April being a layday, enabling the crews and those accompanying them to enjoy themselves and discover the magic of the island.

The race village, a hit last year, will be even bigger and better for the 2011 event. Each day, it will play host to the island’s top chefs, who will present their skills and know-how in their culinary presentations, as well as several wine cellars which will offer wine tastings. Live music also will be a daily feature along with the day’s races shown on a giant screen.

BVI Spring Regatta: 40th Anniversary

January 31, 2011

The BVI Spring Regatta is celebrating several important milestones at this year’s event (March 28 – April 3, 2011), including the regatta’s 40th anniversary and many wonderful years of support from its oldest sponsors, Mount Gay Rum, Heineken and their distributor Road Town Wholesale (RTW), a Tortola-based food and spirit distributor. These dedicated sponsors have a long heritage of supporting the BVI Spring Regatta and their partnership has helped create two of the sport’s indelible icons: Mount Gay’s “red hats” and Heineken’s “greenies”, as the brewery’s distinctive green bottles are known amongst salty dogs.

BVI Spring Regatta - Credit BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival

BVI Spring Regatta - Credit BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival

“Since the very first regatta, RTW has been a strong and loyal supporter of the BVI Spring Regatta,” said Delma Maduro, RTW’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our founder, Mr. Peter Haycraft—an avid sailor—was also a founding member of the BVI Spring Regatta. Over the years, we secured sponsorship deals with several of RTW’s exclusive brands. Mount Gay has been, and remains, a loyal sponsor from the very early years of the regatta. For about the past two decades Heineken came on board as a Gold sponsor.”

At first, sailors returned home from the BVI Spring Regatta with suntans and stories, but by the late 1980s, the now-ubiquitous Mount Gay hats appeared, forever changing regatta wear. But unlike regular caps, Mount Gay hats are earned, not merely purchased. “The brand has never sold a red cap and it never will!” said Mount Gay’s Raphaël Grisoni. “There is no other way to get one than to sail in the regatta. They have become a sign of recognition among real sailors.” In keeping with tradition, each participating boat will receive several hats in their skippers bags; for many skippers, deciding which crew members get these prized lids will be one of the week’s hardest calls.

While the Mount Gay hats are rationed, the flow of “Greenies” will exceed demand, as Heineken has been a Gold-level sponsor long enough to understand the needs of thirsty racers. “Most sailors look forward to relaxing with their friends and a few ‘Greenies’ after long day of racing in the Caribbean sun,” said Bob Phillips, Regatta Chairman. “We’re grateful to all our sponsors for their continued support, and we look forward to some great racing and fun parties this spring.”

And while all sailors and their guests are encouraged to party hard and sail harder, the BVI Spring Regatta strives to ensure that empty bottles don’t get discarded. In 2008, the event organizers started a full-scale recycling program and became the first regatta to be awarded a Silver Certificate from Sailors for the Sea, a Boston-based non-profit dedicated to making sailing a lower-impact sport in 2009. Since then, their efforts have expanded to include dispensing refillable water bottles, using biodegradable cups at the bar and serving containers at all food stalls and conserving paper. Look for these eco-friendly initiatives, as well as a team of volunteer “Green Rangers”, a group of young students, who will help with the recycling stations so that the regatta can “Keep it Green” for all the sailors, and to protect their future crystal-water sailing playground.

Warm Water — Hot Racing. Guaranteed.

The Neptune Regatta: A Race to the Equator

January 31, 2011

The idea of a race to the equator has been floating around for a few years but it took a concentrated effort by John Tudor and his friends to bring it to reality. As the power boats don’t have organised events, it was decided to incorporate them into the fold as well. So the inaugural Neptune Regatta was born and the team got excited about organising the World’s only sailing regatta and motor yacht rally, that centers around a race to the equator and back. Using various social networks and creating a web site quickly raised a lot of interest in the Singapore boating community, which sees 9 sailing yachts in two classes and 4 power boats of various sizes entering the inaugural event. Several early entries have withdrawn for various reasons.

The Neptune Regatta A Race to the Equator

The Neptune Regatta A Race to the Equator

Everything centers around the Nongsa Point Marina Resort in Batam, Indonesia and the event has been endorsed by the Indonesia Sailing Federation with huge support from the Indonesian Navy and other individual vessels for the committees use. A number of reccee’s were conducted to determine the accuracy of the charts, check the tidal currents, meet with island communities and choose suitable gates and anchorages in the prevailing weather conditions. The very experienced Jerry Rollin (Principle Race Officer) and Alex “Ferret” Voss (Safety Officer & Naviguessor) were appointed to make a tentative program and conduct the race.

After extensive research they came up with a course for the PY Class and Powerboats from Batam, Indonesia, down the Riau Straits overnighting at Karas Besar and Pulau Buaya before proceeding to the Equator to endure King Neptune’s wrath. The Racing class yachts will do windward/leeward courses on the first day and then proceed to the equator in one shot on Day 2 before joining the others at the Pulau Buaya anchorage. At the Equator a finish gate will be set on one side of the committee vessel and after King Neptune’s welcome to the Southern Hemisphere, skippers can choose when to restart on the other side of the vessel for the return leg. Further celebrations will be held afterwards on Neptune Island just south of Pulau Buaya (Crocodile Island) were the local fishing village is the closest form of civilization will ferry crews ashore and provide some cultural entertainment.

The return voyage to Batam for the PY Class and Powerboats is in two stages and the reverse order of the outbound leg. The racing class will return in one shot and have two further windward/leeward races of Nongsa Point Marina to finish their program. As this is the inaugural year Alex “Ferret” Voss is quick to remind us that changes will be made to suit the conditions along the way and for future years.

Nongsa Point Marina is situated at 01 degree 12 minutes North which is 72 nautical miles from the equator as the crow flies. Several passing gates will be set along the way were courses can be shortened if needed. Ever since the last race of the Singapore Straits the heavens above have opened up and virtually non stop rain has dampened the spirits and caused some inland flooding. However as this report is being compiled the sky has cleared and the wind has returned to hopefully blow the rain away before start time tomorrow.

The five entrants in the IRC class are Sarab Jeet Singh’s Sydney 40MOD Windsikher, Hellmut Schutte’s First 45 Aquavit 5, Adriaan Smit’s X99 Power Partners, David Ross’ Kerr 32 Kukukerchu and Stewart Mclaren’s Archambault 35 Men at Work completes the lineup.

Four boats in the PY Class include Chris Schuler’s Westsail 32 Mico Verde, Simon Piff’s Lavranos 10.3 Rainbow Dream, Simon Morris classic staysail schooner Sirius 1935 and Daniel Whittington’s Ericson 28 WYSIWYG.

Motor Yachts include Drew Gardenier’s Buehler 71 Hooligan, Madhupati Singhania’s Pershing 80 M.Y. Mantra, Leen Janse’s Sea Ray 47 Nehalennia and James Harris’ Sunseeker Manhattan 60 Something Special.

Tim Wilson’s 20m cutter rigged ketch El Oro was built for Baron Bich in 1972 as a cruising version of the famous French Whitbread RTW winner – Kriter, is skippered by Simon Blundell and crewed by Myanmar nationals will be serving as the start/finish boat and accommodating the media with all the trimmings of air conditioning and comfortable cabins for the duration of the event. So we can’t wait to get going…

By AsianYachting MultiMedia

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