Brimming with new features in celebration of the 25th edition of Les Voiles de Saint Tropez, festivities will kick off tomorrow, Friday 29 September, and draw to a close late afternoon on Sunday 8 October.
First to take centre stage, the Maxi Yachts will be welcomed into the port in France’s Var region for confirmation of their registration. Designed for performance, over 40 of these boats are expected and they’ll begin jousting in the Gulf of Saint Tropez on Sunday, just as the majestic Classic yachts make their grand entrance. A particularly special vintage this year, Les Voiles extends a warm welcome to all those who relish wonderful racing and sumptuous sailboats for a week full of surprises, magic and conviviality, both on land and on the water.
Tomorrow at 09:00 hours, opening of the Village des Voiles on the Jean Réveille jetty
Friday at 09:00 hours signals the opening of the brand new Village des Voiles, which will make its debut appearance on the Môle Jean Réveille, a fabulous promontory facing the sea. It will close every evening at 21:00 hours through until Sunday 8 October, when the curtain is due to fall at 17:00 hours. To set the perfect festive tone for this timeless week outside the standard codes, the musical entertainment provided by the band Pash Gang will begin at 18:30 hours.
Modifications to the starting order
Though the Maxi Yachts will be lucky enough to have the gulf to themselves on Sunday, together with a race start off Portalet, from Monday onwards the number of registered boats out on the water and racing together will gradually plump up to reach 250 Modern or Classic sailboats. Always mindful of safety, Race Management, masterfully led by Georges Korhel, has this year elected to modify the starting order. As such, in another event first, from 11:00 hours each day the Classic yachts (Tradition group) will open play out on the water. 12:30 hours will herald the start of racing for the Modern yachts, under IRC rules, this time with the largest boats foremost (IRC B). From Tuesday onwards, the Maxi Yachts will then be invited to grace the waters off Pampelonne. “The problem we had last year,” explains Georges Korhel, “one that was echoed in the Rolex Giraglia, was that when you release the Modern yachts onto short courses because there’s no breeze and then the breeze picks up, the boats approaching the finish cross tacks with the boats just setting sail. In order to prevent the Modern yachts finishing quickly and crossing tacks with the slower Classic yachts, we’re getting the Classics to set sail first, followed by the Modern craft.”
A little port filled with charm, the most beautiful sailboats in the world, a summer that spills over into autumn, a festive spirit shared by visitors and sailors from right around the globe… Les Voiles is calling out to you with open arms. Let festivities commence!
2023 Programme: (details of the programme ashore are available online via Les Voiles website)
- Friday 29 September: Maxi registration (over 18.28m)
- Saturday 30 September: Maxi registration (over 18.28m) and registration for Classic and Modern yachts up to 18.28 meters
- Sunday 1st October: regattas for the Maxis, registration for Classic and Modern yachts up to 18.28 meters
- Monday 2 October: regattas for Maxi and Modern yachts
- Tuesday 3 October: regattas for all fleets
- Wednesday 4 October: regattas for Modern and Classic yachts,
- Lay Day for the Maxis, Maxi Club 55 Cup
- Thursday 5 October: Challenge Day and Club 55 Cup for Modern and Classic yachts,
- regattas for the Maxis
- Friday 6 October: regattas for the whole fleet
- Prize giving for the Maxis
- Saturday 7 October: regattas for Modern and Classic yachts,
- Sunday October 8: Prize-giving ceremony for Modern and Classic yachts
