Less than three months left until we find ourselves at the regatta that wraps the season up for the Mediterranean classic fleet. The clock is ticking for the organizers and the participants of the 14th edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez that includes the third edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy. The famous regatta has glitz and glamour suited to the impressive line up of these beautiful craft that get nurtured by teams of skilled hands to the thrill and pleasure of the respective owners.
Les Voiles De Saint-Tropez stems from a duel in 1981 between two yachts, the 12-Metre ‘Ikra’ and the Swan 44 ‘Pride’, who raced to an area offshore, 5 miles from the bay of Pampelonne, to claim the “Club 55 Cup”. Subsequently christened as the ‘Nioulargue’ (“Nioulargo literally translates to “Offshore Nest”), the regatta has gone from the start-up years, through tragedy, and onto ‘Les Voiles’ that continues to boast a huge fleet(122 listed as attending this year – and thats just the classic fleet!) and a big sponsor(Rolex).
On October 3rd the Centenary Trophy, organised by the Gstaad Yacht Club(‘a unique global yacht club away from the waters’), will gather one-hundred-years-and-more-old-yachts that will compete with an especially created handicap system in a pursuit race. Past winners are Italy’s 5-tonner Bonafide (launched 1899) that beat the strong competition in 2011, while in 2012 it was Richard Allan’s fore and aft cutter Marigold (1892) to receive the exclusive trophy, created by Wakely and Wheeler of London in 1911.
The event is a feast for the eyes, for participants and spectators alike, and with both classic and modern fleets vying for space both on and off the water it’s always gives epic closure to the end of the season.
