There is absolutely no better place for a sailor to be than Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. Nothing compares with the feeling of sailing among the world’s fastest and most beautiful yachts.
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez once again proved why this is one of the most glamorous and spectactular sailing regattas. From 26 September to 4 October, the Gulf of Saint-Tropez welcomed 253 boats, 3,500 sailors in 20 racing categories.
The fleet united stunning classic yachts, powerful Maxis, J-Class giants, modern IRC racers and historic boats more than a century old. It was a magnificent celebration of yacht design, racing heritage and the unmistakable atmosphere of Saint-Tropez.
Classes at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
The regatta’s charm lies in its variety. The Moderns, Maxis and Tradition yachts do not simply share the same event; they represent different chapters in sailing history.
Here is a quick overview:
Modern yachts
The Modern fleet competed in five IRC categories: IRC 0-4. These classes included TP52s, Wally rockets, Ker designs, J Boats, Farr 30s, Swans and performance cruiser-racers.
Maxi yachts
The Maxi programme included: Maxi 1-4 and J-Class. The sight of the fast Maxis racing outside Saint-Tropez is one of the great spectacles of Mediterranean sailing. The fleet combines enormous sail plans and professional crews with the elegant lines that define the world’s most famous Maxi yachts.
Traditional yachts
The Tradition fleet included: Big Boats, Grand Tradition, Époque Gaffers and P Class, Époque Marconi A, Époque Marconi B, IOR, 12 Metre.This fleet ranged from a 65-metre schooner to historic One Tonners, 8 Metres, Q Class yachts, Fife designs and America’s Cup-related 12 Metres.
Final results: Modern yachts
Class Winner Second Third
IRC 0 Spirit of Lorina — TP52, Botin design Interlodge IV — Botin 44 Nanoq — TP52
IRC 1 Lisa R — Ker 46 Prétexte 2 — Nacira 47 Searcher 2 — Ker 46
IRC 2 J Wow — J/133 Not stated in the published final report Not stated in the published final report
IRC 3 Topaz — Farr 30 Pride — Swan 44 Letto di Pletto — Farr 30
IRC 4 Overdose Neo — Sun Fast 3200 Iskareen — Swan 391 Corto Maltese — First 34.7
The Modern fleet produced highly competitive racing. Spirit of Lorina, formerly Azzurra, won IRC 0 and the BMW Trophy after a superb week against TP52s and Wallyrocket 51s.
In IRC 3, Topaz held off the historic Swan 44 Pride. Pride is particularly significant because the yacht was involved in the original 1981 match race that inspired La Nioulargue, the predecessor of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez.
Final results: Maxi yachts and J-Class
Class Winner Model or design
Maxi 1 Jethou Judel/Vrolijk Maxi, originally 72 ft and later extended to 77 ft
Maxi 2 Lyra Wally 77
Maxi 3 Yoru Vismara 62
Maxi 4 Blue Oyster Dehler 60
J-Class Svea J-Class built in 2017 to Tore Holm designs
Jethou won the prestigious Edmond de Rothschild Trophy in Maxi 1 after a close battle with the 100-foot Wallycento V. V nevertheless won the 2026 IMA Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge, an award calculated from several major Mediterranean Maxi regattas.
In Maxi 3, Yoru won on countback from Why Not, a Mylius 60. In Maxi 4, Blue Oyster dominated with three race victories.
The J-Class fleet delivered some of the most exciting racing of the week. Svea defeated Rainbow and Hanuman after winning three of the six races completed. The close match racing, towering rigs and powerful crews made the J-Class boats one of the main attractions both on the water and in port.
Final results: Tradition yachts
Class Winner Second Third
Big Boats Elena of London — schooner Sumurun — ketch Lelantina — schooner
Grand Tradition Tuiga — 1909 Fife gaff cutter Viveka Mariella
Époque Gaffers / P Class Kismet — Herreshoff design Oriole — Herreshoff sloop Marilee — New York 40
Époque Marconi A Leonore — Q Class Falcon — Q Class Carron II — 8 Metre
Époque Marconi B Lak II — Bermudan sloop Harlekin One Wave
IOR Resolute Salmon — One Tonner Encounter — Frers 53 Ornella — One Tonner
12 Metre Kiwi Magic — 12 Metre French Kiss — 12 Metre France 1 — 12 Metre
In the Big Boat class, Elena of London won after an impressive contest with Lelantina and Sumurun. The Grand Tradition title went to 15-metre class Tuiga, the Yacht Club de Monaco’s historic 1909 Fife cutter, which was steered by Pierre Casiraghi.
The four P Class yachts also created a memorable duel. Olympian defeated Chips in a closely fought battle and won the Rolex Trophy. Among the Époque Gaffers, Kismet produced an outstanding performance with three race victories.
Centenary Trophy: a race through history
The Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy was one of the week’s most beautiful events. Eighteen yachts more than 100 years old competed in a pursuit race, starting at different times according to their handicaps for a spectacular finish.
The winner was Kismet, which defeated Tuiga. The format created a dramatic spectacle as the faster yachts chased the boats that had started earlier. It was competitive, but also deeply atmospheric: a fleet of historic yachts sailing together with the backdrop of Saint Tropez
Tarantella: Swan’s first yacht, celebrating her 60th anniversary
For Swan enthusiasts, one of the most significant participants was the legendary Tarantella, Nautor Swan’s first yacht and hull number one. Designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built in Finland in 1966, the Swan 36 is celebrating her 60th anniversary — and she is still racing hard in the IOR class.
Tarantella is more than a classic yacht; she is a legend. She represents the beginning of one of sailing’s most respected brands. Her participation brought the Swan story full circle, especially as other Swans—including Pride and Iskareen—also achieved strong results in the Modern fleet.
Her presence among One Tonners and historic IOR racers was a reminder that yacht-building history is not confined to museums. At Les Voiles, these boats are still sailed, raced and admired.
The largest and oldest boats
The largest yacht in the 2026 fleet was the spectacular 65-metre schooner Atlantic, an extraordinary 300-tonne sailing yacht competing in the Big Boat group against Elena of London (55-metre) and William Fifes Sumurun (34-metre).
The oldest participant was ** Sky of 1890 **. Her presence, alongside boats launched more than a century later, demonstrated the extraordinary span of yacht design represented at Les Voiles.
Challenging Weather at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
The weather added another layer of drama to Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. One day brought a stronger easterly breeze, combined with a confused, choppy sea that tested helmsmen, trimmers and navigators.
The following day, conditions changed completely. Light, unsettled winds and intermittent drizzle prevented the Maxis and J-Class fleet from racing, as the breeze failed to establish itself across the bay.
Despite these challenges, the race committee adapted the courses carefully and managed to complete an impressive programme. The regatta ultimately enjoyed several days of sunshine, steady breeze and excellent racing.
The spirit of Saint-Tropez
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is much more than a regatta. In the harbour, iconic classic yachts lie alongside cutting-edge carbon-fibre racers, while crews, owners, designers and sailing legends come together over rosé in the evening and playing pétanque at Place des Lices.
Out on the water, the contrast is breathtaking: a 65-metre schooner, a 1909 Fife cutter, a J-Class yacht, a TP52, a Wallycento and the first Swan ever built all share the same waters.
That mixture of serious racing, historic yachts, Mediterranean light and relaxed Saint-Tropez glamour is what makes Les Voiles unique. It is a regatta with genuine sporting intensity, but also a celebration of sailing in all its forms.
Save the date: 25 of september till 3 of october 2027
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