From September 28 to October 6, 2024, Saint-Tropez is set to live to the rhythm of Les Voiles, celebrating its 25th edition this year. Centuries-old rigs will rub shoulders with futuristic yachts in the Gulf of Var. Sailing icons, professional sailors, enlightened amateurs and Tropezians will all be on hand for this exceptional event.
A devotee of the Nioulargue, the regatta that gave birth to the Voiles, Eric Tabarly used to say that strolling along the quays of Saint-Tropez during the event was like “strolling through the pages of a maritime history book”.
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is a unique celebration of classic and modern sailing. They bring together on the same stretch of water some of the world’s most spectacular old rigs, maxi yachts and ultra-modern sailing yachts, true to their original fair-play spirit of “the finest racing on the water and the best atmosphere on land”.
For the twenty-fifth year running, 250 yachts and their 3,000 crew will be taking part in this exceptional event. It’s definitely worth a look!
Classics and old riggings are like classic cars that take part in a few rallies a year, but don’t go out very often, because they’re so fragile. So it’s a moment eagerly awaited by their owners, who arrive from the four corners of the globe. They enjoy racing among gentlemen, with crews made up of sailors who are loyal to the event. The crews are a confidential milieu of enthusiasts, a little mercenary, with the air of acrobats. They’re also here to celebrate Saint-Trop’!
Alongside these old gentlemen of yachting, the Modernes form an architectural counterpoint. All the Mediterranean’s prototypes, TP 52s and mini-Maxis come together for high-level regattas dedicated to performance. These boats rub shoulders with the Maxis, the third lifeblood of Les Voiles, which compete with force to breathe life into the event. This class of sailboats over 60 feet in length, includes the marvellous Wally as well as super-yachts manned by crews of 25 or more. With their futuristic lines and high-tech equipment, they put on quite a show in the harbor.
On Wednesday, October 2, only the two Maxis, My Song, winner in 2023, and Capricorno, will compete in the Club 55 Paul Watson Maxi Yachts Cup over a course of around 12 miles, as will Belle Aventure and Il Moro di Venezia on Thursday, October 3 for the historic Club 55 Paul Watson Cup. Following the custom initiated at the first Nioulargue in 1981, these gentlemanly clashes will conclude with a friendly meal organized and hosted by Patrice de Colmont at the Club 55.
Not to be outdone by the Classics, the Trophée Gstaad Yacht Club des centenaires, organized by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez race committee, will take place on the same Thursday, with staggered starts from 12.30pm.
An exceptional line-up for the 25th anniversary: Marc Pajot, Maxime Sorel, Jean-Pierre Dick …
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is also about exceptional encounters and familiar faces. We discover a mix of crowned heads, CAC 40 bosses, rock stars, stars of the big and small screens, Olympic medallists, America’s Cup experts, world regatta champions and prodigies of the greatest ocean races.
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Featured Photo: The regattas are easy to follow from the Village des Voiles, on the Môle Jean Réveille, from the Citadelle or from the Chapelle Saint-Anne ©Gilles Martin-Raget / SNST
