|
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
Yachting – Classic and Modern Yachts
27 September, 5 October 2014
www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr - Übersicht
Monday 29 September 2014
THEY ‘RE HERE !
- Running at full capacity at Les Voiles
- The Y.C. de France’s Coupe d’Automne; Mariska in real time
- The Modern boats form tomorrow’s line-up
- Welcome to the Maxi 72 Class
Wind and sunshine coloured the opening day at Les Voiles de Saint Tropez! With the stylish, elegant arrival of 62 classic beauties from Cannes within the context of the Yacht Club de France’s Coupe d'Automne, the line-up for Les Voiles de Saint Tropez is once again full and readying itself for a timeless week of sport and friendship for those who love stunning boats and fine racing. Based in the Var region of southern France, the little port appears dwarfed by the sunshine and the buzz of a motley crowd reminiscent of the long summer days. It has been emptied of its usual motor yachts to make room for the most beautiful Modern and Traditional yachts. Tomorrow, as is now customary, the Modern craft will have the honour of opening proceedings, whilst the classic boats proceed with registration formalities. Given that this is the fifteenth anniversary of Les Voiles, there will be a few slight twists to the week’s packed race programme. Indeed, the sublime Fife designs of the 15mJI class will also begin their much awaited ‘four-way jousting’ tomorrow, whilst the immense J-Class boats will share the same round as the futuristic Wallys off Pampelonne. A marriage of styles, a contrast of genres, a fusion of eras, the dazzling elegance of the grand yachting parade will come to the fore from tomorrow onwards in Saint Tropez.
The Yacht Club de France’s Coupe d'Automne
This morning, some 62 Classic yachts, split into 5 classes, set sail in a series of staggered starts from the bay of Cannes. Indeed, in line with tradition, the Yacht Club de France’s Coupe d’Automne makes for Le Portalet Tower in Saint Tropez as an enticing prelude to the upcoming races. The gentle 7 to 8-knot north-easterly wind, which has established itself in the Golf of Genoa over recent days, accompanied them all the way to the finish. And so it was that the 15m JI Mariska (Fife 1908) asserted herself in real time ahead of the huge gaff schooner Elena of London (Herreshoff 2009), after slipping along downwind for a little over 4 hours under large gennaker. Organised by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez with the technical means of the Yacht Club de Cannes, the Coupe d’Automne is open to Traditional Period Yachts, Classic Traditional Yachts, "Spirit of Tradition” Yachts and the Metric Classes (12m JI, 8m JI, 6m JI).
Modern in strength and style
The fleet of 180 Modern yachts signed up for Les Voiles sail according to the rules of the IRC measurement in five separate groups. Among them are the some of the loveliest ‘racers’ of the Mediterranean, and all the signatures of the most illustrious constructors in the world. In this way, in addition to the Wallys, the Maxi yachts really focus everyone’s attentions. From tomorrow, they’ll have the opportunity to showcase a sumptuous group of IRC As or Mini Maxis, VOR 70s, Swans and Naciras, all aiming for gold. Among these stunning yachts, it is worth highlighting the presence of Inouï, a 33.44m Philippe Briand design (2013), which is set to cross swords with Nomad IV, designed by Finot-Conq (2013) and Leopard, the famous record-breaking Farr 100 (2007). Another newcomer is Lady L (ex SFS), Lionel Péan’s VOR 70, whose famous skipper and winner of the Solitaire du Figaro (1983) and the Whitbread (1985), has just completed an express crossing of the North Atlantic in crewed configuration. The Ker 53 Dralion will be helmed by the World Match Racing Champion, and skipper of Desafio Espanol in the America’s Cup, Pole Karol Jablonski, who is heading an international crew grouping together no fewer than seven nationalities. Shamlor is an interesting newcomer with her two titles. In fact, this one-off Axel de Beaufort design built in 2012 earned the Maxi Dolphin Boatyard the ''Nautical Design Awards'' prize by Yacht & Sail magazine. As for the crew, under the leadership of its skipper Thierry Barot, General Manager of China Team for the America's Cup and based in Hong Kong, this will notably comprise a team of eight Chinese sailors. The objective of the Sino-French team is to return to Saint Tropez early next summer to compete in the Giraglia Rolex Cup, as well as the major international races like the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Transpac. Further forces to be reckoned with include the TP 52 Sorcha, with a new British crew, and Nanoq, which will play opposite Ran 4 and Spirit of Malouen VI, both chartered by the Paprec team, with a crew of youngsters.
Maxi 72 Class
It’s a term we’re all going to have to get used to… This year the Mini Maxis have merged into a single class referred to as the Maxi 72 Class. In a subdivision of the International Maxi Association it gathers together the fabulous 72-foot craft built as a continuation of Ran from 2009. Created from a genuine willingness on the part of the owners to bring an end to the price hike proportionate with boat lengths, this ‘Mini Maxi’ Class has given some of the greatest naval architects free rein to magnify the uncluttered lines of beamy, ultra-powerful yachts. Two Judel/Vrolijk designs, Jethou and Robertissima III will have the whole week to show off their fantastic potential around the Nioulargue.
A championship for the 15 m JIs, the 15 Metre Class Annual Trophy
Originating from the International Rule or Metre Rule created in 1906 in London to bring the rules between yachts from America, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, France and Switzerland in line with one another, the 15mJI plays the role of big brother to the 12mJI, known for its participation in the America’s Cup between 1958 and 1987. The category was even selected for the 1908 Olympic Games in London alongside the 6mJI, 7mJI, 8mJI and 12mJI, but the lack of competitors reduced the efforts to make this new series more dynamic to nothing.
It’s the Swiss boat Mariska, reigning champion, which has been dominating proceedings since the start of the season, ahead of Tuiga and Hispania. With the current leaderboard revealing that there is very little separating the boats, this annual Trophy augurs well for a superb final in Saint Tropez.
Today’s partner: SFS
SFS is an active and committed partner alongside the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, a fact you can judge for yourselves: partner to 900 Saint Tropez boat shows, partner to Les Dames de Saint-Tropez, partner to Lionel Péan’s VOR 70 Lady L and, of course, partner to Les Voiles de Saint Tropez…
SFS is a brokerage company specialised in construction insurance at the service of property professionals, building craftsmen and private individualsBoasting a network of 45 agencies across metropolitan France and overseas and insurance brokers (3,937 referenced brokers), the SFS Group is set up in France, with a presence in ten or so countries around the world. SFS Group is keen to be close to the people it liaises with at all times.
French author: Denis van den Brink
Partners to les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
ROLEX
BMW
GROUPE EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD
SFS (SECURITIES AND FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS)
WALLY
KAPPA
SILLINGER
GL EVENTS
HOTEL BYBLOS
LES MARINES DE COGOLIN
L’ESPRIT VILLAGE DES COMMERCANTS DE SAINT-TROPEZ
CCI DU VAR
PROGRAMME
MODERN YACHTS
Monday 29, Tuesday 30 September, Wednesday 1, Thursday 2 (J. Laurain & D. Jayson's day, Challenges day), Friday 3 and Saturday 4 October : Inshore race, 1st start 11:00am
CLASSICS YACHTS
Monday 29, Thursday 2: 15mJI championship, 1st start 11:00am
Tuesday 30 September, Wednesday 1, Thursday 2 (J. Laurain & D. Jayson's day, Challenges day, Club 55 Cup, GYC Centenary Trophy), Friday 3 and Saturday 4 October: Inshore race, 1st start 12noonPrize-giving: Sunday 5 October, from 11:00am
Pictures:
Gilles Martin-Raget, www.martin-raget.com
|
|
|