J Class at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez - Day 4: Double bullet day for Svea
by J Class Association 2 Oct 12:25 PDT
28 September - 3 October 2026
Double bullet day for Svea sees them back on terms for Saturday decider
Swedish flagged Svea won both of today's close, exciting races for the J Class at Les Voiles de Saint Tropez to set up what promises to be an engaging showdown with Rainbow for the prestigious annual regatta's final race Saturday.
Competition between the three teams today was the closest yet, as highlighted by Rainbow claiming a penalty on Svea at the top mark of the second round of the second race of the day. It was green flagged - disallowed by the umpire - but is clear evidence of how much tighter the three teams are, as the Rainbow and Hanuman groups learn to sail their boats faster and more efficiently.
After not finishing two races on Tuesday with gear failure Svea's wins today get them back on terms with Rainbow. Now they both go into the final race tomorrow locked together on seven points apiece while Hanuman are in the match, two points adrift at their first ever J Class regatta together as a team.
Svea started well in both races and were generally just a little better in each area, as might be expected of a core team which has been racing their boat since 2022 and who have also put in many, many hours - days indeed- of training laying the foundations of their superior level.
In both races Rainbow got themselves into positions to ask serious questions of the benchmark boat of the moment. On the first race they managed to climb up to just start to leebow Svea, but it was a little too late as the race leaders could still tack onto lay line and lead around the first turn.
Conditions were perfect, very conducive to close, powered up racing - 11-14kts of breeze - placing a premium on precise, smooth boat handling and Svea showed their class, leading at every mark of both today's races. And, uniquely, with both of Svea's co-owners Niklas Zennström and Filip Engelbert alternating race about on the helm their bonus was one winning gun each today.
Svea's American tactician Tony Rey was delighted with how enthralling the racing is perhaps even ahead of his satisfaction at their performance today, admitting the Svea team feel they are under real pressure now to find gains to stay ahead of the improving duo: "It's closer and closer."
Rey smiled,"I mean, the races are getting closer and closer. We just had a chat asking ourselves how do we continue to gain, because the rate of gain is what's going to determine tomorrow and the next regatta, next season. We have to keep our rate of gain. We have to keep finding the nuggets of speed and handling, how we continue to be more efficient in how we sail these incredible boats. They are still a mystery. A lot of us have sailed these for years. But we learned things today we couldn't have learned earlier this week. Every time we go upwind against another boat or downwind, we're getting better at sailing our boat. And we know they are, too. That's what's motivating us."
He details, "Today we learned a little bit about our upwind modes and we were first to the mark. But we are close."
At the second start Hanuman started on port from the left, not trying to ace the fleet but wanting to get to the course right while saving a tack. And it nearly worked.
Rey acknowledged, "Rainbow are sailing the boat better and better and they pushed us hard and we managed to wriggle our way out of it. The rule was in our favour there at the top mark. But Rainbow did a great job of making it hard for us. We managed to get around them, green flag, but then it was close on the run too."
And so tomorrow's finale is full of promise. Both teams started their respective seasons with clear pledges not to get into the possible jeopardy of match racing, so it will be fascinating to see if on the last race of 2026 for the J's they stick to that ideal. And of course neither team are short on match race skills and past successes, least of all Ed Baird the quiet, measured silent assassin who is Rainbow tactician.
Rey grins, "We know Ed Baird, he's one of the best match racers that's ever walked this dock. But it's going to be great fun no matter what. Honestly. I mean, we're just lucky to be here!".
Rainbow's America's Cup winning mid-bow Carlo Husiman recalled, "There was even a bit of match racing going on today which is quite funny as we all started the season saying 'right no match racing at all this season and there we were...it's fun it's good, keeping it safe of course. These boats with 35 crew it takes time to develop as team and to develop the boat. But this is only our first year and so we are learning together which is great."
Winners of Race 3 of the regatta Hanuman continue to show marked improvements and have every chance of finishing on a high note, just two points behind.
One final race is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday 3rd October.
J Class Les Voiles De Saint Tropez Results:
Race 4
1 J-S1 Svea
2 J-H2 Rainbow +1m10s
3 J-K6 Hanuman +2m25s
Race 5
1 J-S1 Svea
2 J-H2 Rainbow +32secs
3 J-K6 Hanuman +1m32s
Standings after five races including one discard:
1 J-S1 Svea, 1, DNF 4, (DNF 4), 1, 1. 7pts
2 J-H2 Rainbow, (2) 1, 2,2,2. 7pts
3 J-K6 Hanuman, (3), 2, 1, 3, 3. 9 pts