Less than a month to go to 8th edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth

by Barby MacGowan on 22 Mar 2017 There is now less than a month to go until the kick-off of the eighth edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth.

To date, 66 teams have signed up for the event, which bodes well for an exceptional vintage, made more special by the fact that Lionel Péan has agreed to be official patron of the race, an honorary position held by several famous international yachtsmen in the past, including USA’s Ken Read (2016), Jim Swartz (2013), and Jimmy Buffett (2011). Péan is one of only two French sailors (Franck Cammas is the other) to have won the famous Volvo Ocean Race, formerly known as Whitbread Round the World Race.

Péan will be casting an expert eye over the event that occurs 10-15 April. A seasoned and talented sailor, he boasts one of the most prestigious track records in French sailing, with victories logged in the Solitaire du Figaro in 1983, then the Whitbread (a crewed around-the-world race with stopovers) in 1986. He also won a World Championship title in the 12 JI in 2001, and has a string of records (North Atlantic in crewed configuration on Mari Cha III in 1998 and the Tour de la Corse in 2014) as well as podium places in the major international races (Sydney Hobart Race, third in 1993 and second in 1994; Route du Rhum, third in 1986).

“To be patron of this edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth is a wonderful honour for me,” Péan said, reminiscing about the history of friendship that binds him to the organisers of the race and stretches back some 20 years. “When Luc Poupon and François Tolède began to think about and then dream up Les Voiles de St. Barth, I was among those who said to them: ‘Really go for it guys!’ They had all the necessary ingredients to make this a great event and they've pulled it off. I'm happy to see what they've managed to create and delighted to have the chance to take part.”

Péan also explained that he competed in the first two editions of Les Voiles in 2010 and 2011, aboard Sojana, alongside Sir Peter Harrison, then again at the helm of SFS, ex VOR 70 Green Dragon, in the Maxi 2 category last year. And again this year he will compete, skippering the Volvo 70 SFS II. “A great many VOR 60s and VOR 70s will be competing this year. It's going to be really nice to rediscover so many collector boats on the same start line. These oceanic yachts have coloured the history of crewed ’round the world races and it will add a little something special to what is already a top-quality line-up at Les Voiles,” said Péan assuredly. He will head to Gustavia on 7 April for his first on-location training sessions.

2017 Poster by Street Artist Cyril Kongo
With the organisers choosing a renowned patron for this 2017 edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth, it was only natural to extend this star quality to the event poster. As such, it has been designed by none other than the street artist Cyril Kongo, who painted a sail in his signature style at the race village during last year's event. The self-taught painter has made a name for himself over recent years in the world of art and culture, collaborating with a series of prestigious companies such as the French glassworks Daum and more recently Richard Mille, main partner to Les Voiles de St. Barth. An eye for composition and an exuberant colour palette all give Kongo his unique edge.

The poster for the 2017 edition recaptures the painting Kongo created last year. “It really respects my work and I'm very proud of it,” said Kongo. “Through my family and my entourage, I have strong links to the sea and to the Caribbean. The insularity brings calm, pause and serenity. In St. Barthélemy during Les Voiles de St. Barth, I've rediscovered the balance I feel in the West Indies…. Far from the city walls and the agitation through which my painting is expressed, I feel particularly inspired.”