The 900 Nautiques de Saint-Tropez is a race of enthusiasts, launched in 2010 by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. This format brings together amateurs and professionals on the largest offshore course in the Mediterranean: Saint-Tropez, Balearics, Sardinia, Corsica and back. In five years, the format has evolved since then, monohulls and multihulls, crewed or double-handed, face together a sea feared by the most daring, at the end of winter. Now that it has become the kick-off event for the IRC Offshore Racing Championship, the sailors must put on a show!
In 2015, the 900 Nautiques de Saint-Tropez will celebrate its 5th anniversary and it is still amateurs who will compete with "tour-du-mondiste", "figariste" and other ocean racing champions. On March 21, the first day of spring, the boats will start at noon and will have to beat the record of 3 days, 8 hours and 2 minutes held in the VOR 70 SFS category in 2014.
Georges Korhel, race director, Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez explains "It is a sailing competition where everyone has a chance, because in an open sea race in the Mediterranean that lasts a week, with all the factors to be taken into consideration âeuros the multiple options, the changing weather, the effects of sites, sea and navigation conditions, etc. âeuros it is a race that is never won in advance, for anyone. It is a race that is hard, but it is also a race that is safe, since the competitors are never very far from shore, 100 or 150 miles maximum."
Lionel Péan, whose the VOR 70 SFS had been totally in a fire in Port Cogolin in January, will be back on board a new SFS 2 .
What you need to know about the 900 Nautiques de Saint-Tropez
The race starts from Saint-Tropez and two courses exist: Course 1 under the island of Menorca (Balearic Islands), south of Sardinia (Italy) and north of Corsica, before reaching Saint-Tropez. Route 2 goes through the south of Sardinia (Italy), the island of Ponza (Italy) and the north of Corsica before reaching Saint-Tropez.
The race is run with a minimum crew of two people and is open to IRC boats and Multi 2000 multihulls.
There are between 5 and 10 boats per class and the 3rd place in each category receives a cash prize: 2500 euros for the 1st place er 1500 for the 2 e and 500 for the 3 e . Finally, the first boat, all categories included, wins the sum of 2000 euros.
Program
- Thursday 19 and Friday 20 March: reception of the competitors
- Friday, March 20: skippers' briefing & crew party
- Saturday, March 21: race start at noon
- Sunday, March 29: Awards Ceremony
- Thursday, April 2: end of the regatta (time limit)
