Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Leonore wins the 14th Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy

by Gstaad Yacht Club 2 Oct 11:03 PDT 2 October 2025
14th Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy © Juerg Kaufmann for GYC

Following the now-traditional "Swiss Night" - a festive evening celebrating Swiss culture on Wednesday at Place des Lices - it was time to return to competition on the water.

On Thursday, 18 centenarian yachts took part in the 14th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy, organized by the Gstaad Yacht Club in collaboration with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez.

Held as part of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, the regatta followed the popular pursuit race format and was sailed in a light easterly breeze. After completing a 9-nautical-mile course, Leonore claimed victory in her first-ever participation, succeeding last year's winner, Oriole.

Olympian and Mariska completed the podium after a tightly contested race all the way to the finish line.

The 2025 edition of the Centenary Trophy lives up to expectations with 18 magnificent yachts on the water

The 2025 edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy delivered on all fronts, bringing together 18 splendid centenarian yachts for a spectacular race on the waters off Saint-Tropez. These exceptional vessels, true witnesses to the golden age of yachting—ranging from the ketch Sky (1890) to the Bermudian sloop Leonore (1925)—treated the crowds gathered along the Môle Jean Réveille to a stunning nautical display.

At 12:30 PM, Viola (1908) was the first to cross the start line opposite the Tour du Portalet, followed by each of the 18 participants in staggered starts. The fleet left the Rabiou and La Moutte marks to starboard, then rounded a red buoy positioned outside the Gulf of Saint-Tropez to port, before returning to the finish line, leaving the same two marks to port.

As with every edition since its inception in 2011, the Centenary Trophy was run under the pursuit race format, allowing yachts of varying ratings to compete on equal terms. Each boat starts at a specific time based on its handicap, with the goal of being the first to cross the finish line—making for a thrilling, real-time chase.

Leonore charges ahead to victory

Starting 7th, Leonore gradually made her way through the fleet, overtaking competitors one by one. First to round the red buoy ahead of the P-Class yachts Olympian (1913) and Corinthian (1911), the 49-foot Q-Class yacht, designed by Norwegian naval architect Johan Anker and launched in 1925, held onto her lead in a strong tactical performance. Marking her debut at the Centenary Trophy, Leonore, celebrating her 100th anniversary this year, claimed a remarkable victory.

Skipper Mauro Pelaschier reflected on the win: "It was a tough race, but the conditions were ideal for our boat, which performs very well in light and shifting winds. We're very happy—for the boat and the crew. We're also thrilled to be here in Saint-Tropez and to have taken part in the Centenary Trophy."

Olympian secures second place

A three-time winner of the Centenary Trophy (2014, 2019, 2021), Olympian was back for her tenth participation and finished second, having started in 13th position.Bruno Troublé shared his thoughts on the dock:

"We've won this trophy three times. We hoped for a fourth, but in the end, we finished second. Still, we're very happy. My Italian friends won—they're extremely good. I know Leonore well because I've raced against her many times with Jour de Fête. We were catching up, but not quite fast enough. It's a fantastic event—I've taken part in nearly every edition."

A vintage year for the Centenary Trophy

Once again, 2025 proved to be a vintage year for the Centenary Trophy.
"The Centenary Trophy is known around the world and very popular with the public. It's the flagship event of our club," said Manrico Iachia, Commodore of the Gstaad Yacht Club. "We're delighted to have welcomed 18 centenarian yachts from across the globe—particularly from the Mediterranean and the UK. We were especially pleased to see three yachts join the fleet for the first time: Leonore (1925), Black Swan (1899), and Cariad (1896). Next year, we expect more than 30 yachts to take part."

See you next year for the 15th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy.

Related Articles

Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy returns
Nearly twenty centenarian yachts, true floating gems, will set off in a one-of-a-kind regatta The Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy returns for its 14th edition on Thursday, October 2nd, as part of the prestigious Voiles de Saint-Tropez. Posted on 1 Oct
Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy returns
Gstaad Yacht Club will also kick off the festivities on land with "Swiss Night" The Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy returns on Thursday, October 2 for its 14th edition, as part of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez. Posted on 18 Sep
Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy Preview
Promising another colourful and memorable chapter in the history of this exceptional race The date is set for Thursday, October 2nd in Saint-Tropez for the 14th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy. This one-of-a-kind regatta is exclusively reserved for classic yachts that are at least 100 years old. Posted on 3 Jul
Oriole wins the 13th GYC Centenary Trophy
Twenty centennial sailboats participated in Saint-Tropez 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. Posted on 3 Oct 2024
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 2024
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 2024
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 2024
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
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignMcDYachts_Pyewacket-for-Sale_1456x180 BOTTOMPalm Beach Motor Yachts