Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez - A dreamy first race to Cavalaire for 132 modern sailboats

A dreamy first race to Cavalaire for 132 modern sailboats in Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2022 © Gilles Martin-Raget / www.martin-raget.com

A moderate W'ly wind of 15 knots, increasing to 25 knots with gusts of 30, generous sunshine and a lovely swell fringed with foam. Saint Tropez served up its much-fantasized conditions today for the 132 Modern yachts and their thrilled crews in this sporty opener to the 24th Voiles de Saint-Tropez.

As such, Cavalaire witnessed a procession of boats in tip-top condition from IRC Groups B to F setting a blistering pace, the race favourites already settled nicely into position at the head of the fleet. The bunched arrivals off Le Portalet, with all their spinnakers flying, were the absolute embodiment of racing at its finest on this opening day of competition.

Go West

With the W'ly wind building, Race Management was in no doubt that the 132 Modern yachts should be sent due West, towards L'Escalet and Cavalaire, to reap the benefits of the powerful downwind conditions synonymous with speed and spectacle on their homeward leg, their spinnakers and large gennakers a rainbow of colours. The seas remained gentle and perfectly manageable, which was particularly appreciated by the smallest craft.

As they made landfall at Cavalaire with its swirling winds, it proved to be one of the most boisterous episodes of the day for the crews, who promptly set to work on a series of manoeuvres and sail hoists to get round the mark before dropping down the gulf under spinnaker. Among the IRC Bs competing for the North Sails Trophy, Clive Llewellyn's Grand Soleil 50 Mad IV, a familiar face on the podium in Saint Tropez, was evenly matched against rival Ada Cuciac's formidable First 53 Yagiza.

Among the honed IRC Cs vying for the BMW Trophy, Frédéric Puzin's Ker46 Daguet3 was already at an advantage ahead of Hanno Ziehm's Marten 49 Moana in elapsed time. Discover all the results online in elapsed time on Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez's website.

Geostationary marks out on the race zone

Motorised and self-guided geostationary marks are being used during the racing at Les Voiles. Self-propelled using electric motors and GPS technology, they are able to make for a specific point on the racecourse and maintain their position without physical setting. As a result, the seabed is protected throughout as there is no longer a need for anchoring or chains.

From a competitive standpoint, this technological development also means that the Race Committees can quickly modify and adjust the start line and optimise a course according to the day's weather conditions so it's win-win for the competitors and the environment.

Tomorrow, Classics or Mistral?

Tomorrow, Tuesday, we're eagerly awaiting the 85 Classic yachts to join the fray in the quest for the highly prestigious Rolex Trophy, unless the very windy conditions forecast decide to colour play. George Kohrel, Principal Race Officer: "The wind has been constantly building since this morning and the Marine Storm Warning from Météo France is yet to be finalised. We're expecting 30 knots of N'ly wind in the gulf tomorrow, with predicted gusts of 50 knots off Pampelonne.

"If the wind drops off tonight, there will still be more than 20 knots tomorrow morning, so I reckon there's a 90% chance that they won't race. We'll hold a meeting tomorrow morning to decide about opening the village."

Today's partner: BMW

Thomas Donce, Event Project Manager says, "This is the 15th year that BMW has partnered Les Voiles. We're raising our game every year with a set-up that corresponds nicely with the event. We're targeting sailing enthusiasts as well as novices. We will have a strong presence during the first week with some brand-new vehicles on display in front of the Harbour Master's Office, opposite the entrance to the village. We're showcasing the fully electric BMW iX1 and IX, as well as the range's standard bearer, the BMW I7, with all the latest technologies. These electric vehicles boast a range of up to 620 km.

"We'll also be shining a spotlight on electro-mobility (myBMW app to interact with the car), and sustainability. Indeed, BMW is keen to reduce the carbon footprint of its manufacturing process by limiting our CO2 emissions. We'll also be out on the water with our 'Excellence Club' programme, which offers our clients the opportunity to get out on the water for a day aboard a Swan. Of course, we'll also be awarding the IRC C Trophy for the most competitive and most technological class."

Event website: www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr

A dreamy first race to Cavalaire for 132 modern sailboats in Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2022 - photo © Gilles Martin-Raget / www.martin-raget.com