Les Voiles

News of the forthcoming gathering of old and new in St Tropez

For this seventh anniversary, the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez is playing host to some of the world's most beautiful yachts for its main event of the year: Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez from 1-9 October. Due to safety reasons linked with the square in the port of Saint-Tropez and the surrounding ports, this year's event will once again be restricted to around 250 registered yachts.

The traditional close to the yachting season in the Var region of SW France, Les Voiles base their success on the unique mix of modern and traditional yachts doing battle around the bay throughout the week, as well as the festive atmosphere that reigns on shore. Though the programme was slightly modified last year as a result of the 75th anniversary of the Dragon boats, this year it is tucked back into its usual position in the calendar, the prize-giving of particular note on the Sunday in the Citadel. The Dragons will then take centre stage on Wednesday 12 October as they contend the Coupe de France of the Yacht Club de France, with the Société Nautique assuring the organisation on the water.

The organisers of Les Voiles have once again decided to open up entries to boats conforming to the IRC class measurement. The principal of the class measurement is to enable a fleet of different boats to race together thanks to the application of a handicap system.

This year the line-up of modern yachts racing in Les Voiles promises to be exceptional once again. Of particular note is a new demonstration of the Wally fleet including the 94' Open Season from the 2005 vintage, that will be making its debut at the regatta. There will also be a veritable armada from the Bénéteau yard, with no less than thirty or so yachts including the flagships of the First fleet, eight 40.7 and four 47.7. To this already considerable fleet will be added no less than eight Swan 45s, three 601 (with possibly Paul Cayard sailing) and the very first 53.

Though the year will be marked by the return of several yachts to the circuit like the infamous gaff cutter Tuiga – 23 metres, Fife 1909 -, at the Monaco Yacht Club, or the large schooner Mariette – 42 metres- Herreshoff 1915 -, the J-Class Shamrock V – 36.50 metres will be a very welcome sight fresh out of the Camper and Nicholson yard, its 45 metre mast dominating the old port. Among the oldest yachts, we eagerly await the arrival of the recently restored Peggy Bawn, an 11m cutter driven by Iain McAllister and designed by George Lennox Watson in 1894.

Although renovation and restoration is prevalent amongst the fleet, the keen interest and passion for traditional yachting is still very much in evidence as can be witnessed in the increasing number of replicas present: Eleonora, a 41m gaff schooner designed by Herreshoff and built in 2000, Demeter VII, a 10m cutter designed by Fife and built in 2001, as well as the 31m gaff schooner Sunshine, designed by the same architect and built in 2003. This will be its first visit to Saint-Tropez and a much awaited arrival.

Flags at half-mast : The family of traditional yachts is mourning the premature loss of Julien Lembo, who died accidentally in July in Sicily whilst on a family cruise aboard the Oiseau de Feu.

The new formula for the Coupe de France has every chance of success with the Dragon class. A new formula then – with the fleet made up entirely of Dragons for the first year ever – originality and spirit at the forefront of proceedings with: International regatta racing, top level competition and teams of three boats.

In order to maximise the number of participants in this event, staged by the Yacht Club de France in Saint-Tropez since 2003, careful work has gone into designing the event's format.

After an initial stage of fleet racing – open to everyone – from 13 to 16 October, the very best boats from each country will be grouped into threes to make up their national teams in a bid to contend the Coupe de France of the Yacht Club de France. Those Dragons not selected will take part in a final race for the Coupe of the Président du Yacht Club de France.

Though the official programme has been available for several months, the organisers of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez have some surprises in store for the participants once again. Among the novelties on the menu is the first ever presence of the "Classic cars of Saint-Tropez", with forty or so prestigious classic cars gracing the port on Thursday and Friday evening.