(Gustavia, St Barthelemy)- All the elements were in place to make the
sixth edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth an exceptional event: a
magnificent fleet of 70 boats, including some that are quite out of the
ordinary; varied and challenging race courses; perfect weather
conditions; suspense right to the last tack in the last race for many
classes; and a roster of various shoreside events that were fun for the
sailors as well as the local population. A recap with François Tolède,
managing director of the regatta:
François, what is your final take on this sixth edition?
“It is super positive. This year we had 70 boats of all different
categories and we divided them into 10 different classes, which provided
a fabulous spectacle on the water. Over the course of the previous
editions, we noticed that the performance level was getting higher and
higher. The crews are proving to be more and more interested in racing
here and on larger and larger boats, some of which are so high-tech they
make quite an impression. We hosted such “machines” as Comanche and
Rambler 88 this year, which demonstrates that we are attracting
sailboats designed to set transatlantic records… This is very positive
and nice recognition for us. Conditions on the island impose certain
logistics and a relatively large budget, but the regatta offers a
multitude of benefits thanks to its “fun-race” format. Those who come to
race arrive with their friends and families. They come before the race
begins and remain for a few days after the awards ceremony in order to
enjoy the island’s legendary “French-touch” lifestyle. Overall, this
sixth edition was not only successful for racing but also an economic
success, a success in terms of media coverage, and the boats put on a
beautiful show. That’s exactly what Luc Poupon and I were hoping for
from the very beginning, when we created Les Voiles de St. Barth. And
that’s exactly why we really want to set ourselves apart from
traditional regattas.”
The first responses from sailors are extremely positive. That must be very satisfying for you…“Yes, we have had some really great response, from the sailors, the owners, and the locals. The race village was open permanently with free access for everyone. Our desire was to make sure that people felt comfortable there, and that was certainly the case. We had a great mix of people. And we tried to create a varied schedule of events including live music, fireworks, and a day off that the sailors really enjoyed. Today, we don’t see any reason to change a formula that works. The only question we ask ourselves is, “How do we make things even better?”
The last day’s single race for each of 10 classes sailing at Les Voiles de St. Barth determined overall winners and left an indelible impression on all the sailors. It was simply a spectacular day, strong 15-20 kt winds from the East shifting from 88 to 110 degrees across the race track since most of the course took place in the leeward portion of the islands off the southwestern tip.
In
both CSA Spinnaker Racing 1 and 2 classes, minor collisions impacted
boat performances. In Spin 1, Greg Slyngstad’s J/125 HAMACHI was hit on
the second start after the first general recall. They retired from the
race but, sadly, were not granted YMP points for the incident. As a
result, after starting off with a promising 3-2 they had to count an OCS
penalty and a DNF to finish in 4th place overall.In CSA Spin 2 class, Rick Wesslund’s J/122 EL OCASO had a 3-2-1-2 scoreline and finished just 2 pts out of first place overall. Their team was beginning to learn the vagaries of the winds that whistle around the headlands of St Barths, not a bad showing for their first time at Voiles de St Barths! Finally, in CSA Spinnaker 3 class, the J/109 POCKET ROCKET from Ireland skippered by David Cullen and the women on the J/109 La’Feminine had a rough go of it as the smaller boats on a much bigger boat start line- often having to fight for clear air most of their first beats. The Voiles des St Barths summary sailing video. For more Voiles de St Barth sailing information
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