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.
Marc Pajot will be at the helm of the Classique 12 m JI French Kiss, 37 years after his Australian epic, while Lionel Péan will be aboard Hermitage and Philippe Monnet on Lys. Maxime Sorel, one month away from his second Vendée Globe, will be lending a hand to the crew of the Moderne Nacira 47 Swell. Jean-Pierre Dick, meanwhile, will be on the starting line with his JP 54 Notre Méditerranée-Ville de Nice, the boat with which he won the last edition of the Route du Rhum in the Rhum Mono category.
But his passion for regattas and yachting extends far beyond the circle of pros. Britain’s Pete Townshend, guitarist of The Who, and singer Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran will be taking part in the regattas aboard magnificent 1930s Marconi sloops. WillDenmark’s King Frederik X, last year’s winner of the BMW Trophy on the TP 52 Nanoq, retain his crown this autumn in Saint-Tropez?
These encounters between sailing enthusiasts from very diverse backgrounds contribute to the unique atmosphere of Les Voiles, where challenges, solidarity and conviviality come together.
Epoque Aurique” yachts take center stage at the Rolex Trophy
This year, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez will honor the Epoque Aurique class for the Rolex Trophy. This prestigious distinction will be awarded for the nineteenth time by the watchmaking brand, which has been a partner of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez since 2006, a loyalty that testifies to its unfailing passion for classic yachting in all its forms.
This category includes century-old yachts, mostly built on the American East Coast in the early 20th century. Joyant, the last of these to be restored in Camden, Maine, rivals Chips, Corinthian and Olympian. Highly-roofed and at ease in light airs, these complexly-rigged yachts require unrivalled manoeuvring skills.
Entertainment at sea and ashore: regatta by day, party by night
Regatta by day, party by night– that’s the motto of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez.
For the second year in a row, the new Village on the Môle Jean Réveille will provide a spectacle on the water as well as on land, allowing Tropezians and the general public to be at the heart of the event. The harbour breakwater is a very strategic place to follow the boats as they come in and out of the harbour.
The regattas are easy to follow from land, especially from the most elevated spots such as the Citadelle or the church of Sainte-Anne. The start of the classics is given from the Tour du Portalet, at the foot of which stands the Bar des Voiles, the legendary venue for the week’s regattas.
The race kicks off at 9 a.m. on Monday : don’t miss Father Jean-Paul Gouarin’s blessing from the terrace of the Hôtel Le Sube, overlooking the harbor.
The Sardinade evening, presented by the Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer, takes place at the red lighthouse on the Môle Jean Réveille on Tuesday evening… as always, in a friendly atmosphere. On Wednesday evening, the famous boules competition will take place in the shade of the plane trees on Place des Lices.
The highlight of the on-shore entertainment will be the burlesque parade of crews in the most astonishing costumes, on Thursday evening at 7pm. The jury, set up on a platform in front of the harbour bars, is made up of a mix of Tropezians – including members of the municipal staff and shopkeepers – and captains. They’re proud to be sailors!
PROGRAM of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2024
Saturday, September 28: 2 p.m. – Sailboat welcome at the Port, followed by live music.
Sunday, September 29: Opening of the “Objectif Voiles” photo competition, welcome, inauguration of the Village des Voiles at 5pm | 6:30pm – live music | YCF Autumn Cup prize-giving ceremony (by invitation)
Monday, September 30: 9am – Blessing of the boats by Father Jean-Paul Gouarin | Maxis Yachts then Moderns races | 6:30pm – Live music
Tuesday, October 1: Traditional yacht races, including the Rolex Trophy, Maxi Yacht races, then Modern yacht races | 6:30 pm – SNSM sardine party
Wednesday, October 2: Traditional yacht races including the Rolex Trophy, Modern yacht races. 18h – Boules competition on Place des Lices | 18h30- Live music
Thursday, October 3: Challenge Day | Historic Club 55 Cup and Club 55 Cup 2023 | Maxis Yachts Races | Gstaad YC Centenary Regatta | 6:30 pm – Live music | Crew parade | Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy awards (by invitation)
Friday, October 4: Traditional yacht races including the Rolex Trophy, Maxi Yacht races and Modern yacht races | 6:30 pm – Live music | 8 pm – Crew party
Saturday, October 5: Traditional yacht races including the Rolex Trophy, Maxi Yacht races then Modern yacht races | 18h – “Objectif Voiles” photo competition prize-giving ceremony | 18h30 – Live music and Maxi Yacht prize-giving ceremony for participants only
Sunday, October 6: 11 a.m. – Sailboat prize-giving (by invitation only) | 5 p.m. – Closing of the Sailing Village
Read also > [Luxus Magazine] La Maison Charriol celebrates its 40th anniversary in St Tropez
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
