Sailing Yachts Gather for Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2017

By Rebecca Bradbury 26 September 2017

More than three hundred sailing yachts will be making their way to St Tropez this week in time for the 19^th edition of Voiles de Saint-Tropez, which gets underway on Saturday 30^th September.

An end-of-season regatta, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez features a week-long programme of racing for classic, modern and Wally yachts. Organised by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, the event is renowned for its incomparable atmosphere on and off the water.

Sunday 1^st October will see the arrival of sixty classic yachts taking part in the traditional feeder race from Cannes to St Tropez. Competing for the Autumn Cup, these yachts will participating in the Regates Royales this week before traversing the 24-mile race course along the French Riviera.

Racing in the Wally series begins on Monday 2nd October, with yachts competing off the coast of Pampelonne hoping to bring home the BMW Trophy. Excitement is brewing as a brand new Tango, launched in July, will be taking part in the multi-day competition.

sailing yachts competing at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez

Charter yachts competing at the regatta include the 55m/180ft sailing yacht ELENA, the 39m/128ft sailing yacht DORIANA and the 36m/118ft sailing yacht PURITAN. These three schooners will be racing alongside a fleet of more than 25 centurions in the classic yacht division, from Tuesday 3^rd to Thursday 5^th October.

The Rolex Trophy will be awarded this year to the best in the 15m JI class, made up of four gaff-rigged cutters representing the golden age of yachting and legendary architect William Fife. This race will get underway on Thursday 5^th October: the day of challenges.

Racing in the modern class, meanwhile, will take place on Monday 2^nd, Tuesday 3^rd, Wednesday 4^th, Friday 6^th and Saturday 7^th October. Courses will be decided on the day, but the racing of modern sailing yachts is usually located between La Moutte and Cavalaire.