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There?s something quite delightful about seeing a First 31.7 tacking on the same stretch of water as a Class J. On one hand, there?s a sailboat that many of us are familiar with?one we run into at the dock or race against. On the other, those immense silhouettes under sail that seem to belong to another dimension of yachting.
And yet, out on the water, everyone does the same thing. We look for wind pressure, keep an eye on the gusts, execute our tacks carefully, and curse that tack?which, as it turns out, definitely wasn?t the right one. Whether you?re on a small or large boat, the sea quickly makes sure everyone?s on the same page.
We?re racing seriously here, but without forgetting why we came. One race a day, and that?s just fine. No need to cram in too many starts. There?s still time to head back to the harbor, replay the race with perfectly unapologetic bad faith, go admire the neighbors, and catch up with those we?ve just competed against on the water.
Because Les Voiles continues even after the boats are moored. On the docks, crews mingle, tales of the sea are shared, and the party gets back into full swing.
This friendly atmosphere doesn't take anything away from the competition. It might even make it more exciting.
Saint-Tropez reminds us of one simple thing: we can love regattas, want to cross the finish line ahead of everyone else, and still be able to look up and admire a beautiful sailboat.
And tomorrow, we'll do it all over again. But just one round. We still need to save some time for the evening.
