La Vie en Rose. Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez  – New dates, New Format!

Les Voiles de St Tropez 2020 will take place over two weeks – from 26^th September to 10^th  October 2020.

 The legendary meeting on La Cote d’Azur is upping the ante. Organisers of Les Voiles de St Tropez,  Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez will continue to host the largest meeting of classic and modern sailing yachts in The Mediterranean with an updated format. From this year’s edition onwards sailing yachts over 24 metres will benefit from their own dedicated event from 5th – 10th October, Les Voiles Super Boats.

This new event will be popular with the global fleet of sailing superyachts active on the racing circuit . Les Voiles Super Boats will command attention on the 2020 superyacht regatta calendar together with The Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta and The Perini Cup both organised by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and  The Superyacht Cup Palma.

Organisers are keen to boost their capacity for accommodating very big boats, a programme which extends from modern boats – Wallys, Maxis and Super Maxis in IRCA, to classic boats – the Large Schooner Class and Grand Traditions.

By extending the event by three days and dividing the groups by size this 20-year old event can grow into a bigger, bolder more commercially attractive version for the next decade.

“We envisage splitting the fleet into two groups,” explains Tony Oller, President of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez “For boats up to 24 metres or so – except for specific classes – the dates and the programme remain unchanged, aside from the prize-giving, which will take place on the evening of Saturday 3 October.

For Georges Korhel, Principal Race Officer, the cards will also be reshuffled in terms of the programme. “By separately managing the fleets with very different potentials, we’ll be able to offer other types of much longer courses, geared specifically around these types of boats, with starts and finishes off the breakwater. Similarly, by quickly and efficiently dispatching the current participants at Les Voiles, we would be in a position to welcome around 250 boats in the first week and between 30 and 40 in the second.

Therefore, the Maxis, Superyachts, large schooners, J Class and three-masters will take centre stage from Monday 5 October. All the starts and finishes will be in front of Saint Tropez itself which media, sponsors and spectators will appreciate.

SUMMARY OF NEW FORMAT & CLASSES

From the 26th September to the 3rd October 2020 :  Modern boats of the IRCB, IRCC, IRCD, IRCE and IRCF classes and the traditional boats of the CMA, CMB, CMR, EAA, EAB, EMA, EMB, EMC, EMD and “GUEST” classes.

 From the 4th to the 10th October, 2020  WALLY Class, of the IRCA class of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2019 namely, IR1(LORO PIANA), the different categories of the International Maxi Association IR2, IR3, IR4 but also the Schooners and the Big Boats(GTR) in the category of the traditional boats.

 

Provisional Programme for Les Voiles de St Tropez 2020

First Week: Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez  26^th September – 3^rd October

Saturday 26^th and Sunday 27^th September: Registration for boats up to 24m (some exceptions in certain classes)
Monday 28^th September: Races for the modern boats
Tuesday 29^th, Wednesday 30^th September, Friday 2^nd, Saturday 3^rd October:

Races for the modern and classic boats
Thursday 1^st October: Challenge Day
Saturday 3^rd October: Prize-giving

Week 2: Les Voiles Super Boats 4^th– 10^th October
Sunday 4^th and Monday 5^th October: Registration for the big boats IRCA, Wally, Grand Traditions, IMA classes, etc.
Tuesday 6^th, Wednesday 7^th, Friday 9^th and Saturday 10^th October: Races for Big Boats
Thursday 8^th October: Spare day
Saturday 10^th October: Prize-giving

If you would like to experience the best-of-the-best of sailing on the French Riviera and enjoy Les Voiles de St Tropez 2020 drop me a line. I have some great ideas for superyacht and classic yacht regatta charter packages including luxury accommodation, VIP travel and transfers and tailor-made social programs. St Tropez is always a good idea darling!

 

Photo Credit: @Giles Martin Raget

By Alice Widdows

www.alicewiddows.com