Les Voiles de St Tropez

Sport

In keeping with the great tradition of the Nioulargue, the 25th edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez features a more compact 10-day format. The spirit of the event remaining unchanged, both on the water and ashore. There are 250  boats divided into three main categories – Maxis, Moderns and Traditions – themselves subdivided into classes grouping together boats of similar performance and speed.

During the first week from September 29 to October 8, 2023,  the event welcomes Maxi yachts, classic boats, with no size limit, and modern boats, up to 18m28. The usual program remains unchanged with the award ceremony scheduled for Friday evening 6 October for Maxis and Saturday evening, October 7th  for the Modern and Classic yachts.

From Sunday October 1 to Saturday 7th October 2023, all the regattas take place.

Sunday 1 October the regatta for the Maxis take place, followed by the Maxi and Modern Yachts on Monday 2 October. Tuesday 3 October has regattas for all fleets and Wednesday 4 October Modern and Classic yachts and Lay Day for the Maxis, Maxi Club 55 Cup. Thursday 5 October has Challenge Day and Club 55 Cup for Modern and Classic yachts, and regattas for the Maxis.

There are 250 boats  taking part.

Georges Korhel, the Principal Race Officer has said “The day before each regatta day, the Race Committee will inform the competitors of its intentions, taking into account the weather forecasts. We could imagine the fleet of large moderns racing around the buoys, and the fleet of small moderns doing a short coastal run or racing with the Maxis.  One can envisage a multitude of possibilities.” Thanks to the use of geopositioned electric course buoys that have no impact on the seabed, the Committee will also be able to set up courses in the race zone in front of the beaches of Pampelonne, respecting this area adjacent to the Port-Cros National Park managed by the Marine Observatory of the Communauté de Communes of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.

For the 25th edition: the ephemeral race village of Les Voiles moves in right next to the regattas, on the Môle Jean Réveille seawall! This essential meeting place, open to participants and the general public alike, will be the beating heart of the event for the duration of the Voiles. “One can see the sea from one side, on the other Saint Tropez’s iconic church tower” Pierre Roinson, President of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, sums up the incredible location and all its advantages, thanks to the technical prowess of its design and construction: “Beyond the novelty, this will give a different dimension to the Voiles, the tents visible from the port announcing a space accessible to all, including a stage where musicians can perform”  Particular attention is planned for the signage.

On the entertainment front, the pillars of the Voiles’ success will be in place, with evening performances by groups in the Voiles race village, as well as the not-to-be-missed highlights of the Wednesday evening boule competition, and the famous crew parade that lights up the port and adjacent streets on Thursday evening.