The 36th edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez has officially opened its doors, welcoming 245 yachts and over 3,000 crew members to the stunning Gulf of Saint-Tropez. The Village des Voiles was inaugurated on Sunday afternoon, following a morning of busy preparations as participants fine-tuned their vessels for the upcoming races, including the Yacht Club de France’s 36th Autumn Cup from Cannes to Saint-Tropez.
Glorious sunshine and favorable winds promise to accompany competitors throughout the week, as volunteers and staff work tirelessly to ensure the event is both seamless and spectacular. “It’s a marvellous spot where people can move about with ease amidst multiple public and private spaces to create a welcoming, high-end event,” said Pierre Roinson, President of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez.
A Refreshed Race Village
Returning to the Jean Réveille jetty, the Village des Voiles has been redesigned for 2025 with improved registration facilities, a revamped reception stand, and an upgraded lounge area. Sustainability is a key focus, with reusable structures and eco-friendly materials incorporated wherever possible. Sylvain Bretagne, Vice-president of Sailing at SNST, explained: “From one year to the next, we try to reuse equipment…for partitions, we favour fabrics rather than materials that are less easy to recycle.”
A Week of Racing and Entertainment
Beyond the sailing, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is famed for its vibrant social program. From tonight, the Village transforms into a lively hub with music from DJ Rich Taylor, followed by performances from Pashang, Les Phacochères, Kaaz, Bleu Mon Jules Java Bleu, and AMX. Highlights of the week include the traditional ‘sardinade’ on 30 September, a boules competition at Place des Lices, the crew procession on 2 October, and a fireworks display by the town on 3 October.
Race Highlights
The event will feature a full schedule of races:
- Sunday, 28 Sept: Registration & arrival of the Yacht Club de France Autumn Cup (Cannes–Saint-Tropez)
- Monday, 29 Sept: Racing for Maxi and Modern yachts
- Tuesday, 30 Sept: Maxi, Modern, and Classic yachts, including the Rolex Trophy
- Wednesday, 1 Oct: Modern and Classic yachts, Rolex Trophy; Maxis day off
- Thursday, 2 Oct: Club 55 Cup, Wally Rocket 51 Match Race, Gstaad YC Centenary Trophy, Modern & Classic Challenge Day, Maxis racing
- Friday, 3 Oct: Maxi, Modern, Classic racing, Rolex Trophy
- Saturday, 4 Oct: Maxi, Modern, Classic racing, Rolex Trophy; Maxis prize giving
- Sunday, 5 Oct: Modern and Classic yachts prize giving, Rolex Trophy
For more information, visit: www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr
