Les Voiles de Saint Tropez 2010 is less than a month away and is already looking to be an exceptional event. In spite of the intentional restriction on the number of participants, the Société Nautique is preparing to play host to nearly 300 traditional and modern competitors, which equates to over 3,500 crew members gathering together in the bay of Saint Tropez for a week of racing and festivities. The year 2010 will be marked by the number fifteen: 15 countries represented, 15 registered Wally sailing yachts, 15 traditional hundred year old sailing yachts on the Var region’s race zone.
Les Voiles de St Tropez 2010
Modern: a record number of Wally sailing yachts!
Combining exceptional performance, uncluttered design and unique styling, the Wally Yachts still form one of the major attractions of Les Voiles de Saint Tropez. No less than 15 Wally Yachts are registered this year, making it one of the season’s largest gatherings of yachts built by Wally. Several boats launched in 2009 will be tacking about Saint Tropez for the first time: the Wally 80 Sailing yacht Bagheera, the 90ft luxury sailing yacht Highland Fling and the 100ft superyacht Indio, to name but a few. The suspense still remains unresolved as regards finding out who will succeed the 2009 winner, the 100ft sloop Y3K. Sail yacht Magic Carpet Squared made a very strong impression by winning this year’s Palmavela in Palma and the Nespresso Cup in Portofino, whilst InK, dio stood out in the Loro Piana races at Porto Cervo.
100ft Wally Sailing yacht INDIO
Among the largest sailing yachts at the Les Voiles de Saint Tropez, including the gigantic masts of the J classes, classic superyacht Shamrock V and classic yacht Velsheda, we will be able to see the highly elegant silhouette of the ketch that holds the Atlantic record under sail, superyacht performance sailing yacht MARI CHA III.
Not as long but just as aesthetically pleasing, the Tofinou 9.50sailing yacht from the Latitude 46 yard, which blends classic lines with a modern hull, carbon fittings and a teak deck, will be out in force with over 15 participating boats. Such a line-up that will enable them to enjoy a specific ranking and race in elapsed time.
Also much awaited at Les Voiles de St Tropez are sailing yacht Black Bird and Black Legend, two examples of the brand new “code zero” built by the Blackpepper yard in the Arcachon basin with the participation of the renowned sailor Yves Parlier.
Tradition: 15 competing hundred year olds
With the honour going to the old boats, it’s sailing yacht Partridge who will this year steal the thunder from the largest traditional craft by celebrating her 125th birthday with grace and elegance. With her plumb bow, her massive bowsprit and her beautiful extended counter stern, the classic beauty Partridge is a small copy of the historic yacht Galatea, the English America’s Cup challenger in 1886. Recovered from a mud berth, her restoration took nearly twenty years of passion and determination to rediscover her original sailing capabilities and the charm of her characteristic outline.
Among the amazing stories of traditional yachting, Skal doubtlessly takes the prize for resurrection. This 16m gaff cutter, designed in 1930 by the American architect Philip Rodes, successfully participated in two transatlantic races, before gradually losing her original lines in the UK as she passed from one owner to the next. Purchased by her current owner in 2003, the boat suffered a major peril of the sea during a delivery trip to France, which resulted in her sinking following an engine failure off the Raz Blanchard. The Stagnol yard was then contacted to organise her refloating by the SNSM (the French equivalent of the RNLI) and divers from BSM29. It was a miracle that the boat could be rescued in this way. The disaster seriously damaged the structure, but extensive and delicate restoration work enabled her to be returned to her original configuration.
Added to this, the 2010 Les Voiles event is likely to see the arrival on Saint Tropez’ race zone of sailing schooner Atlantic, the replica of Charlie Barr’s famous 70 m schooner. From the moment she was launched in the United States in 1903, the yacht from the New York Yacht Club was noted for her striking beauty and speed, which she demonstrated during her first sea trials by reaching 20 knots. At that time nobody could have guessed that, just two years later, she would set a record for traversing the North Atlantic which was to remain unbeaten for nearly a century. The replica of Atlantic was launched in March 2009 at the Van Der Graaf yard in Holland, after a two year build, before being rigged in La Rochelle. This year will mark her very first season in the Mediterranean.
Sailing Yacht Atlantic - Photo credit to Kees Stuip
All the traditional yachts measuring over 16 metres will, for the fifth year running, be eligible for the Rolex Trophy, which was won in 2008 and 2009 by the very elegant New York 40 Bermudan Cutter, sailing yacht Rowdy.
CLASSIC YACHTS
Sunday 26th and Monday 27th September: Reception and scrutineering
Sunday 26th September: arrival of the Yacht Club de France’s Autumn Cup from Cannes
Tuesday 28th September, Wednesday 29th, Thursday 30th(J. Laurain Day, Challenge Day, Club 55 Cup), Friday 1st October and Saturday 2nd: Coastal course, 1st start 1200 hours
MODERN YACHTS
Saturday 25th September – Sunday 26th: Reception and scrutineering
Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th, Wednesday 29th, Thursday 30th(J. Laurain Day, Challenge Day), Friday 1st October and Saturday 2nd October: Coastal course, 1st start 1130 hours
General prize-giving for all
Sunday 3rd October, from 1100 hours
DRAGON SAINT TROPEZ
Monday 4th, Tuesday 5th: Reception, launches and scrutineering
Wednesday 6th, Thursday 7th, Friday 8th, Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th: Racing in the bay
Early evening on Sunday 10th: prize-giving
