Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez: Sailing festival unites 125 years of yachting history

At the latest when the 55 metre long "Eleonora of London" glides out of the Vieux Port of Saint-Tropez to the sound of bagpipes played by a crew member in a kilt, saltbucketers and celebrities alike become enthusiastic about this majestic sport under sail. When the classic boats set sail, there is a constant crowd on the quay, with people clapping their hands, taking photos and marvelling at the graceful wooden beauties.

A village celebrates itself and the sport of sailing

When the bay is covered in sails and white and beige-coloured cloths mingle with black laminate fabric, it can only mean one thing: It's time for Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. Classics, modernity and everything in between - like no other regatta, the end of the season in the Mediterranean is able to bring together what belongs together: racing yachts from all eras, each of which is brought out to the maximum.

The replica "Atlantic", measuring 69 metres from the tip of the bowsprit to the stern of the yacht, competed there for the first time. Opposite the giant racing schooner were various racing goats or sports cruisers from the largest class, known as "modern", such as Melges 32, TP52 or eleven Tofinous measuring 9.70 to 12 metres in length.

The range is enormous and includes . The 36 metre long Summers & Payne gaff ketch "Cariad" was launched in 1896 with a spoon bow and scaffolding. She was restored in Thailand and sailed to the Mediterranean on her own long keel. It was only this year that the radical T-keel took on water. Wallyrocket 51a projectile made of full carbon fibre that seems to float above the water.

All together - 125 years of yachting history

At this year's Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, the 245 entries were divided into five maxi, five modern and nine (!) classic groups - and this is where the inclusive and diverse approach of Les Voiles becomes particularly clear. Accordingly, three race organisers acted independently of each other and over 200 volunteers were deployed.

The majority of the races were started across the Vieux Port and not far from the "Sea Cloud Spirit", which was moored at anchor. The three-masted full-rigged ship, 138 metres in length, served as a base for the participants of the YACHT readers' trip, who switched to a catamaran for a regatta support trip. And experienced glorious weather. The second day of racing brought an initially weak thermal breeze, which stabilised in the afternoon to a good ten knots of basic wind and ensured races in all groups.

Only the maxis were missing in the bay

Only the three maxi classes with the Spirit 111 "Geist" were not in front of the eyes and lenses. As on the previous day, they were sent into the Bay of Pampelonne and sailed across from Le Club 55, without which and its patron, Patrice de Colmont, the event would probably not exist. This was the finish line of the first La Nioulargue, which was contested in 1981 by a French 12 and the Swan 44 of a US owner without remuneration. It is thanks to De Colmont's efforts that the initially sceptical maxi scene came to the Saint-Tropez after the Porto Cervo and celebrated the end of the season there.

A final report on Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2025 will follow.