The Voiles de Saint-Tropez delivered a spectacular second day of racing as 251 crews took to the water under sunshine and a building breeze across the Gulf of St Tropez and the Bay of Pampelonne. With 77 Tradition yachts joining the fleet and the Rolex Trophy competition officially underway, this 28th edition of the celebrated regatta opened a glorious new chapter in fine style.
Conditions were ideal, and the three Race Committees made the most of them by launching the maximum number of races. The result was a sumptuous spectacle for crews and spectators alike, with only a handful of minor glitches across the entire day.
The Tradition fleet brought together 77 pieces of sailing history, ranging from the most senior participant, the 1890 Epoque Gaffer Sky, to the youngest entry, the 1976-built Resolute Salmon competing in the IOR class. Staggered starts saw the 12mRs and IOR yachts grouped together due to their similar performance potential, earning the honour of being first out on the racetrack. The Epoque Marconi yachts followed, while the four P Classes vying for the Rolex Trophy enjoyed their own dedicated start just before the Big Boats. Principal Race Officer Georges Korhel explained that the starting procedure for the larger vessels was extended to give yachts like Elena of London and Atlantic the necessary time to power up.
Battles raged across seven competing categories as the wind continued to build throughout the afternoon. A fierce duel unfolded between Varuna and Baruna, two Bermudan yawls separated by just a letter in name and precious little on the water at the windward mark. Among the 12mRs, South Australia and French Kiss staged a fine match race, with Marc Pajot on the latter trying to secure the inside lane all the way to the La Moute mark before ultimately conceding.
The Modern yacht fleet raced against a breathtaking backdrop. The world’s largest luxury sailing yacht, the all-new Orient Express Corinthian, and the replica three-master Seacloud Spirit sat at anchor, transforming the Gulf of St Tropez into a nautical stadium. With a favourable line to the left and better breeze beside the historic marine cemetery, finding the right corridor of wind to avoid shadows was the key tactical challenge.
In the opening slalom-style race, Nanoq got off to a strong start and fought valiantly against the other three TP 52s, including the tenacious Knutte. It was Knutte that narrowly pocketed the win on the line. Thomas Andersen’s German team, who had already secured a podium finish the previous day, moved to the top of the provisional overall ranking for the Trophée BMW. The American Botin 44 Interlodge, fourth the day before, was runner-up on corrected time.
In IRC 1, two Ker 46s earned podium places, with Lisa R scoring the bullet, while Jérémie Lagarrigue’s Nacira 47 Prétexte 2, winner the previous day, was not far off the pace in sixth. IRC 2 saw the Melges 32 Fremito d’Arja triumph ahead of the J133 Jwow, showcasing the remarkable diversity within a 25-strong category. In IRC 3, the three Farr 30s dominated the podium entirely, with the Swedish craft Letto di Pletto topping the leaderboard.
Among the Maxis, NorthStar III emerged as the star of the fleet. Mirroring the previous day’s action where the Maxis 2, 3 and 4 set off on a coastal sprint to Cavalaire, the race to watch in the Bay of Pampelonne was undoubtedly the Maxi 1 class, with 13 boats competing for the Trophée Edmond de Rothschild. Since the Worlds in Porto Cervo and the opening race in St Tropez, it had been clear that the Maxi GP NorthStar III excels in light airs. But today’s race in 15 to 20 knots proved she is equally formidable in stronger conditions.
The Judel-Vrolijk design held her own impressively against honed Maxis, sailing lower and faster downwind. After one lap of the course, Peter Dubens’ new 76-foot Maxi took command and never relinquished it, winning on elapsed time ahead of rivals carrying much higher ratings. The prototype, more reminiscent of a big TP 52 than a traditional Maxi, is proving devastatingly effective. Her strategist Wouter Verbraak explained the secret lies in a whole set of parameters, including a keel that maximises righting moment and generates intense hydro-mechanical lift without drag-heavy appendages, plus an aerodynamic package featuring a rotating mast and a vanishing deck. The longer but far heavier Wallycento V found some consolation by beating the other Maxi GPs, while Capricorno, another Judel-Vrolijk design, secured third. Three races were contested in all.
The J Classes provided drama of their own. The 15 to 20 knots of easterly breeze really churned up the water in the Bay of Pampelonne, thrilling spectators and photographers as the 180 tonnes of three J Class yachts sliced through the seas with their endless bows countering their pitching with breathtaking beauty. However, just after the starting gun, Svea’s genoa hook gave up the ghost, a stark reminder of the titanic loads at play behind such grace.
Following Svea’s retirement, the contest became a match race between Rainbow and Hanuman. On the three-mile upwind leg, the crews exchanged over twenty tacks in a relentless sequence of attacks and counter-attacks. Hanuman held the upper hand to the windward mark and throughout the downwind leg, where controlling the 600 square metre symmetrical spinnakers was a formidable challenge. But after a marking error at the leeward gate and a chaotic spinnaker drop, Peter Harrison’s team let Rainbow slip past for her first race victory. Hanuman exacted sweet revenge in race two. With three races over two days producing three different winners, these J Classes are showing absolutely no signs of age.
Paul Cayard, a familiar face at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, shared his thoughts on the regatta. The multiple America’s Cup finalist and 1997 Whitbread winner is calling tactics on the ClubSwan 80 My Song. Speaking in excellent French, the American recalled first racing here in 1993, helming Tuiga when the event was still known as the Nioulargue. He described it as a special regatta that mixes beautiful classic yachts with race boats, a wonderful late-season gathering for fine sailors in a perfect climate.
Cayard acknowledged the challenges of racing in Maxi 1, where My Song placed sixth. With big 100-footers like Magic Carpet e, Galateia and V racing together year-round, his 25-metre boat must sail differently to avoid getting boxed in. The presence of three Maxi GPs, which he described as thoroughbred racing machines better suited to inshore racing, makes the task even trickier. As tactician under the International Maxi Association’s owner-helmsman rules, Cayard said the onus is on making smart choices and sometimes going where you otherwise would not just to avoid colliding with faster boats.
The remaining schedule for the 2026 edition includes racing on Wednesday September 30 for Moderns and Classics including the Rolex Trophy, with a rest day for Maxis and the Club 55 Maxi Yacht Cup. Thursday October 1 features the Club 55 Cup, Gstaad Yacht Club des Centenaires Trophy, Challenge Day for Moderns and Classics, Wallynano37 Challenge, and races for Maxis. Friday and Saturday October 2 and 3 bring further racing across all divisions, culminating in the Edmond de Rothschild Trophy prize-giving for Maxis and the presentation of the Rolex Trophy on Saturday. Sunday October 4 hosts the prize-giving for Moderns and Classics, including the BMW Trophy and special trophies.
Organised by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez under President Pierre Roinson, with Principal Race Officer Georges Korhel directing proceedings on the water, the 2026 Voiles de Saint-Tropez continues to affirm its place as one of the most magnificent sailing events on the international calendar.
