Please select your home edition
Edition
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px-01 TOP

Oriole wins the 13th Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy

by Gstaad Yacht Club 3 Oct 09:15 PDT 3 October 2024
Oriole - 13th Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy © Juerg Kaufmann for GYC

Competition resumed on the water this Thursday, October 3rd, following a "Swiss Night" organized at the Place des Lices by the Gstaad Yacht Club, in a festive and convivial atmosphere.

Twenty centennial sailboats participated in the 13th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy, held as part of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez. The race took place in approximately ten knots of wind under beautiful summer sunshine. The winner was Oriole (1905), the first to cross the finish line in front of the Portalet Tower. The Herreshoff-designed boat triumphed ahead of the 10-Metre JI gaff-rigged Marga (1910) and the P Class Olympian (1913), rounding out the podium.

The grand old dames of the sea put on a splendid sailing spectacle off the coast of Saint-Tropez! After tacking through the gulf to the delight of the many spectators watching from prime viewing spots on the Môle Jean Réveille, the centenary yachts set off one by one on the 9-mile course. The race started in front of the Portalet Tower, with the competitors chasing after Sunbeam Dainty (1922). They passed the Rabiou buoy, then the Moutte buoy to starboard, before rounding a marker buoy outside the gulf and returning to the starting point, leaving the Moutte buoy to port. As with every year since its inception, the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy followed a "pursuit race" format, allowing all yachts to compete on an equal footing. The concept: boats cross the starting line based on their rating, and the first to cross the finish line wins the race.

The third boat to start, Oriole, quickly overtook its competitors who had set off a few minutes before, while managing to keep its pursuers at bay. The gaff-rigged sloop was the first to round the outer marker buoy and successfully maintained its lead to cross the finish line as the victor. "The regatta was fantastic. We sailed in light wind, but it remained consistent throughout the race. We are very happy; we sailed very well without making any mistakes. It was a calm but very interesting day. We really love this regatta," said Spaniard Juan Carlos Eguiagaray, owner of the boat, delighted to claim victory in his seventh participation in the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy, after first winning in 2015.

Marga (1910), helmed by Brazilian sailing legend Torben Grael, happily returned to the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy, finishing in second place. "Last year, I sailed on a boat that wasn't yet a hundred years old. I'm glad to participate again in the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy. I love this race and the pursuit race format. We only do one race. The rating adds a bit of complexity, but in the end, the first to finish wins. It's fun," said the five-time Olympic medalist, who has won gold twice.

"The assessment of this 13th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary is very positive. Each year, we are excited to welcome new boats as the fleet ages. Today, we opted for the shorter course because there wasn't much wind, which created superb conditions for the competitors and allowed for a great race," commented Daniel Heine, Sailing Officer of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy, who also participated in the regatta aboard the 8-Metre JI Silhouette (1910).

See you next year for the 14th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy.

Find more information and a gallery of stunning photos from previous editions on the Centenary Trophy website: gyccentenarytrophy.com

Related Articles

Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy preview
22 centenarians arrived in Saint-Tropez On Thursday 3 October, for the traditional Voiles de Saint-Tropez challenge day, twenty-two competitors will cross the start line of the 13th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy. Posted on 2 Oct
Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy - 10 days to go
The countdown has begun for the centenary yachts! In ten days, on Thursday, October 3rd, they will meet in Saint-Tropez during the Voiles de Saint-Tropez for the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy. Posted on 24 Sep
13th Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy preview
Join us on October 3rd in Saint-Tropez Join us on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024, in Saint-Tropez for the 13th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy. Posted on 20 Jul
NY50 Spartan wins Gstaad YC Centenary Trophy 2023
Scoring a double after her previous victory in 2016 The American Flagged New York 50 Spartan, wins the 12th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy, at the Voiles de Saint Tropez, scoring a double after her previous victory in 2016. Posted on 5 Oct 2023
Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy 2023 preview
Organizers are setting up to welcome crews and boats lining up for the 12th edition Back in 2011 the Gstaad Yacht Club launched a regatta, unique in its genre, reserved to boats that are one hundred or more years old, and over the years, the Centenary Trophy has grown to become a familiar "rendez-vous" at the Voiles de Saint Tropez. Posted on 26 Sep 2023
Kismet wins Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy
The traditional rendez-vous at the Voiles de Saint-Tropez for classic yachts aged 100 years or more British flagged Kismet won the 11th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy, the traditional rendez-vous at the Voiles de Saint-Tropez for classic yachts aged 100 years or more. Posted on 29 Sep 2022
Gstaad YC Centenary Trophy starts in one day
21 classic yachts eyeing the Mistral warily Back in 2011 the Gstaad Yacht Club launched a regatta, unique in its genre, reserved to boats that are one hundred or more years old, and over the years, the Centenary Trophy has grown and got a familiar "rendez-vous" at the Voiles de Saint Tropez. Posted on 28 Sep 2022
GYC Centenary Trophy welcome rookies & aficionados
There will be new entrants as well as well-experienced crews and boats lining up for 11th edition Back in 2011 the Gstaad Yacht Club launched a regatta, unique in its genre, reserved to boats that are one hundred or more years old, and over the years, the Centenary Trophy has grown and got a familiar "rendez-vous" at the Voiles de Saint Tropez. Posted on 25 Sep 2022
Gstaad Yacht Club's Centenary Trophy returns
Gathering some of the most gorgeous and best performing classic yachts The 11th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy is scheduled for Thursday, 29th September, the day traditionally reserved for the "Défis", the challenges between boats at the Voiles de Saint Tropez. Posted on 19 Sep 2022
10th Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy
Olympian's triple hat trick After her wins in 2014 and in 2019 the stunning Olympian did it again and won the 10th edition of the Gstaad Centenary Trophy in the waters of Saint Tropez on Thursday. Posted on 1 Oct 2021
Allen Dynamic 40 FooterSelden 2020 - FOOTERFestival of Sails 2025