| France. Mike Sanderson skippers Mari-Cha IV at Voiles de Saint-Tropez |
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| Tuesday, 19 September 2006 | |
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Maguelonne Turcat: More than ever, les Voiles de Saint-Tropez will be something one will not want to miss: the 25th anniversary of the Nioulargue, more attractive race courses, a regrouping of all the Pen Duicks, along with races particularly designed for the Big Class, new honored monohull series, an enhanced program ashore, new partners, and reinforced security zones. The cup is already full and the 2006 edition promises to be the best of them all. Modern Classes: A dream becomes reality It’s the biggest of the modern class participants at 42.3 meters -- and its characteristic silhouette will once again be one of the many attractions of the fleet at St. Tropez. Her name is Mari-Cha IV, the Atlantic record-holding monohull, and she will be at Saint Tropez, skippered on this occasion by the recent around the world team racing champion, New Zealander Mike Sanderson. As far as prototypes go, as in every year, this will be an opportunity to see the newest Wally creation. These unique yachts are luxurious yet at the same time classy, with equipment worthy of “Boeing” and a perfected design embodying the pinnacle of navigation in the 3rd millennium. In 2006, there will be the chance to see in the Old Port and on the water, Saint-Tropez’ own Tango, the latest 80 foot Wally which has merged the Farr yacht design with Wally and Lanzzarini Pickering’s signature interior design. The concept is based around the large interior of a cruise ship, notably a skylight in the deck to allow for daylight to penetrate the cabin. This 24.30 meter yacht arrives as a champion in the Wally Class from Portofino, where the boat competed for the first time in a regatta. Bénéteau’s shipyards are responsible for the fabrication of 20% of the participants, making them the most represented in Saint-Tropez and confirming their position as the number one pleasure-boat builder in the world, notably because of their First 28, a perfect illustration of their predominant role in the recreational boating industry. The First 28 class is one of 11 different classes, including the A40’s, Tofinou, Swan 45, and the First 40.7 to name a few. Each class will receive its own trophy at the end of the regatta. The BMW Trophy of Innovation and Design, created in 2004, will once again be awarded. Last year the winner chosen by the jury, under the direction of Loïck Peyron, was the metallic-blue Swan 601 Artemis, which was skippered by the America’s Cup triple-champion Russell Coutts. Traditional Classes: A Myth Reconstructed The return to the water of Lulworth, after more than 50 years of absence and 5 years of restoration, marks an exceptional occasion. The biggest gaff cutter in the world – more than 46 meters high- was relaunched last spring in Spezia (Italy). Constructed in England in 1920 from the design of Herbert W. White, the giant Lulworth – with a working sail area of 855 m2 and a total sail area of 1,355 m2 – was one of the most fearsome Big Class yachts in its time. Half of its original structure and 80% of its interior fittings have been preserved, making Lulworth the most remarkable restoration of the century. The 2006 event will also be marked by the extraordinary arrival of the Pen Duick fleet, reassembled thanks to the Eric Tabarly Association, in the presence of Jacqueline and Marie Tabarly. The fleet will be reassembled in front of the Capitainerie – except for Pen Duick VI – which will be lying along the jetty because of its draft. A special send-off will be given to the Pen Duick’s for Thursday’s races. As expected last year, the quadruple winner of the America’s Cup, Dennis Conner, will present his jewel to Saint-Tropez: Cotton Blossom II, a Bermudian sloop based on the 1924 plans of Johan Anker. The boat came out of a meticulous and passionate restoration led by its illustrious owner for which he has won praise across the Atlantic. Cotton Blossom II is a Q class yacht, a class that had its heyday in the 1930’s. High expectations also abound for Eilidh, considered to be one of the masterpieces of the naval architect Alfred Mylne. The interior, which was specially designed in 1930 for an owner who was more than 1.9m tall, is particularly original, with a vast open salon in two parts, and an under-ceiling height that provides an exceptionally long deckhouse that runs just to the forward end of the boat. One can also mention Skylge, a spectacular marconi-rigged schooner of 36 meters, launched in 2006 by the Dutch builder Holland Jachtbouw, which claims the title of the largest sail boat in the “Spirit of Tradition” class presented at Saint-Tropez this fall – the main mast tops out at more than 40 meters, and the foremast at more than 25 meters. The hardest job will be for the jury of the Gaastra Elegance Trophy, which will come with the addition of the new special collection of clothing that will be used on land by more than 200 people and on sea by Lulworth among others. On Land: A Completely New Village Always looking for innovations that will allow for a better reception for both the participants and the public, the organizing team has seriously redone the look of the Village des Voiles, a key area in the running of the event. Their choice was for a new, mostly transparent, structure that covers an area of more than 1,500 m2. Note, that this year a new space will be integrated to welcome the press in a tent in the interior of the village. The set-up of the press tent, which will include work desks and permanent storage facilities, has been made possible due to the partnership with Rolex. Attention: the village is closed to the public on Sunday the 1st of October at 17h for an official inauguration. Program Traditional Yachts: Saturday 30th – Monday 2nd October: Welcome and testing Sunday 1st: Arrival of the Yacht Club de France’s Coupe d’Automne from Cannes Tuesday 3rd, Wednesday 4th, Thursday 5th (J. Laurain Day, Challenge Day, Trophée Mer et Bateaux (La Grande Classe), Club 55 Cup), Friday 6th and Saturday 7th: Coastal course, 1st start 1200 hours GMT Modern Yachts Saturday 30th – Sunday 1st October: Welcome and testing Monday 2nd, Tuesday 3rd, Wednesday 4th, Thursday 5th (J. Laurain Day, Wally Day, Challenge Day) Friday 6th and Saturday 7th October: Coastal course, 1st start 1130 hours General prize-giving Sunday 8th October, from 1100 hours Coupe des Dragon a Saint Tropez Monday 9th, Tuesday 10th, Wednesday 11th: Welcome, launching and testing Wednesday 11th: Training race (coastal) Thursday 12th, Friday 13th, Saturday 14th: Racing around the bay Saturday 14th: Prize-giving, 1630 hours Organisation: Société Nautique of Saint-Tropez, President: André Beaufils Website: www.snst.org |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 19 September 2006 ) |
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