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Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
Yachting – Classic and Modern Yachts
27 September, 5 October 2014
www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr - Übersicht
Tuesday 30 September 2014
STRAIGHT TO THE POINT!
Two boisterous races for the 15 m JIs
The Modern Wallys and J Class get embroiled in a bracing race
Tomorrow the Classics hit the racetrack
180 Modern yachts, IRCs, Wallys and J Classes, accompanied, just for once, by four Fife designs from the 15 m JI Class, were slightly caught off guard for the first day of Les Voiles. Indeed the still blazing summery sunshine on the previously clear bay took a real hammering today under the influence of an easterly wind, which really began to pack a punch from late morning, picking up a brutal train of short, deep chop. As such, the three rounds, that of the 15 m JIs under Portalet, that of the Wallys in Pampelonne, and that of the Modern craft towards Cavalaire, had a lively day packed with sporty manoeuvres in what was often reckoned to be a 2m chop, which dished up a wet and salty diet to both the competitors and the Race Committee teams. Boasting action and spectacle, the fully powered up yachts were really in their element as they created great plumes of sea spray. It would seem that Les Voiles de Saint Tropez is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary with panache! An anniversary which 120 additional yachts, all of them classic, will come and share tomorrow as they complete the festive programme that is set to continue through until Saturday.
Two races for the 15 m JIs
Great daring was displayed by the Britons on The Lady Anne (Fife 1912), whose range extends to over 22 knots, as they gallantly powered up from the minute the starting gun fired under their little asymmetric ‘blooper’ headsail. The most ‘modern’ of the four 15 m JIs competing in their Annual Trophy, she pipped her adversaries to the post, dominating from one tack to the next to win the day’s two races hands down. It was Mariska (Fife 1908), originally outed as a favourite, which managed to bolster her second place of the day ahead of the Spanish on Hispania, the latter benefitting from the retirement of Tuiga (Fife 1909), handicapped by mast damage. The flagship of the Yacht Club de Monaco sadly had to retire from racing.
Ranger a notch above the rest
The four J Classes, veterans or heirs to the grand yachts of the America’s Cup in the 1930s, played the two-metre waves with apparent ease, their course cleverly hugging the coast from Le Rabiou mark as far as Cavalaire and back. Throughout the 25-mile course, Ranger (a replica of the Vanderbilt family’s J Class designed by Starling Burgess and Olin Stephens), made her dominance look effortless, aerial even in the powerful swell, utterly overpowering Lionheart (Hoek 2010) and Shamrock V, the 1930’s Nicholson design. A veritable feast for the eyes, for the rest of the week these four giants are sure to treat Saint Tropez to the dazzling vision of the thinking, which fuelled the great innovators of the America’s Cup prior to the war.
28 miles in a little over two hours!
The large Wallys were out in force in Saint Tropez. Twelve of these sumptuous craft began to work themselves up in the bay of Pampelonne from late morning, invited by the Race Committee to compete on a large triangular course towards Cavalaire. The 28-mile circuit just about satisfied the racers’ appetites, though they wolfed down the breezy menu in a little more than two hours. The great appeal of the course seemed to be the variety of points of sail, from tight on the wind as they headed offshore, downwind towards the west before a long return sprint with sheets eased, which the Maxis lapped up with elegance.
Surprises and discoveries...
From tomorrow, Tuesday, spectators at Les Voiles will have the chance to discover the Spanish three-master Xarifa (JP Soper design 1927), destined to create a stir among the two sumptuous 50-metre gaff schooners designed by Nathanael Herreshoff in 1910: Elena (a replica of the winning schooner of the transatlantic race in 1928), and Eleonora (built according to a Westward design). Another much awaited appearance will be that by the two classic yachts of the Société Nautique, the stunning gaff yawl Rosalind (32m, Stowe design 1904) and the newly restored Bermudan yawl Hermitage (22m25, Primrose-Illingworth design 1965). Built in Chicago in 1913, Olympian is making her debut appearance at Saint Tropez.
Leopard in real time
The Super Maxi Leopard, queen of the Atlantic, skilfully played the boisterous Mediterranean to ensure that nobody beat her across the only finish line, which was set near Portalet for all the five IRC groups competing today. However, she really had to work hard to keep ahead of the two Maxi 72s, formerly referred to as Mini Maxis, Jethou and Robertissima III (ex Ran), which are capable of formidable speeds. Further down the fleet, it was two TP 52s, racing in the IRC C group, which were hot on the heels of the giants: Spirit of Malouen got the better of the other TP 52, Nanoq, whose crew included a certain James Spithill.
A Pitbull in Saint Tropez
Australian James Spithill, who bagged the America's Cup 2013, is in Saint Tropez sailing on the Italian TP 52, Nanoq. In 2000, and at just 20 years of age (born in Sydney on 28 June 1979), he was the youngest helmsman in the America’s Cup aboard Young Australia. He reached the semi-finals of the prestigious Louis Vuitton Cup in 2003 aboard the American yacht Oneworld. He did it again in 2007, this time at the helm of Luna Rossa Challenge. It is his Italian supporters, who gave him the nickname Pitbull, in recognition of his aggressiveness during the start phases. In 2010, he became the youngest winner of the America’s Cup with the victory by BMW Oracle Racing. Since 2012 he has adopted the role of skipper and helmsman on the AC 72 Oracle Team USA.
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
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
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 12noon
Prize-giving: Sunday 5 October, from 11:00am
Organisation:
Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, President: André Beaufils
Principal Race Officer: Georges Korhel
On the water organisation: Philippe Martinez
On shore administration and logistics: Anne Bogaert
Registration: Frédérique Fantino
Communications: Chloé de Brouwer
Website: www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr
Pictures:
Gilles Martin-Raget, www.martin-raget.com
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