Les voiles de Saint-Tropez offers boaters a week of regattas. An incredible mix of traditional sailboats that mingle with the craziest newborns like the Maxi or Wally. Loïc Peyron, who likes to race on sails, does not hesitate to say that it is "a century and a half of pleasure that evolves before the eyes of the spectators". To share this moment, we boarded a Bordeaux 60 in the "Modern" category for a regatta round on Friday.
A good sales tool
The spectacle of Les Voiles is splendid. The French fabric manufacturer Serge Ferrari understood this well and did not hesitate to share this moment with his customers. Each of the 10 days of regattas, he armed a Bordeaux 60 with a crew of 4 sailors, which he completed with customers accompanied by their sales representatives. A good idea to welcome 60 people during all the days of the race to let them enjoy the show and create a very personalized professional relationship.
Prohibited advertising
While the "Serge Ferrari" crew was nicely matched (white polo shirt, red jacket), it should be noted that any advertising connotation is prohibited on the sails: no marking on the sails or spis, no logo on the hulls. It's so rare today that you can see it as soon as you look at the fleet. The sails are white (or black for the most modern) and the spis are plain. It's sober, but, it must be said, restful for the eyes.
Petrol and molesse = delayed start
The "Modernes" departure area is located on the Verhuge plateau (South East of Moutte) about 6 miles from the carriage . It is with the engine that we reach the area for a departure scheduled for 11am. Light wind this morning in the Gulf, but fortunately no swell.
Due to the lack of an established wind, and with forecasts predicting a strengthening in the afternoon, it is finally at 12:30 pm that the first start is launched. This time the wind has settled and it is under 15-18 knots that we will start.
Dispute over the departure
The category among which we race (White Flag) includes the largest boats in the "Modern" fleet. So we will find ourselves facing the 12 m JI French Kiss helmed by Marc Pajot or Saida, a Swan 65 rigged in ketch. A Bordeaux 66 (and even a 76) are also on board. A total of 30 sailboats are starting with us.
And if the atmosphere is good before the start, things get very serious on the line and nobody agrees to leave a little water for the committee boat. We also had the right to French Kiss, too far ahead of the line, which decided to shoot down big to cross the fleet going up starboard towards the start. A very hot moment which shows that if the Sails are a show regatta, on the water the amateurs play the winner.
Given the intensity of this moment and the short distance between the boats, Serge Ferrari's guests, with a front row seat on the Bordeaux 60 bridge, were able to appreciate the moment at its true value.
A Bordeaux 60 more comfortable on a cruise than on a regatta
Luckily for us, the whole regatta took place in a strong wind. Our Bordeaux 60 not at all suited for the regatta with its washing machine, freezer and all the equipment very useful for the cruise had difficulty moving its 30 tons. Finally, we still managed to exceed 10 knots under a large spinnaker by moving a lot of water.
But the ranking is not the most important on this beautiful sunny day. Indeed, crossing the finish line in front of the Saint-Tropez seawall, pursued by a pack of traditional sailboats that had also just returned from their regatta, is a rare privilege that he is happy to experience.
A spectacular return to port
The sight of the start of the new season, when we were already moored along the seawall, is also majestic. Following the 55-metre schooner Elena to the sound of the biniou played by a member of the crew, or watching the 15-metre cannon fire of JI Tuiga when it arrives in the old port are all moments marked by grace and beauty.
