The 2010 edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez concluded with the prizegiving at La Citadelle, the 16th century fortress set imposingly overlooking the white-capped Golfe de Saint-Tropez. More than 1000 competitors and supporters gathered as Andre Beaufils, President of the Les Voiles Organizing Committee presented awards with other dignitaries from Saint-Tropez and event sponsors.
Leading their classes in the Tradition division going into today’s final race – and tied for the Rolex Trophy – were Graham Walker’s NYYC 40 Rowdy in the Epoque (Classic) Marconi 1, and Yves-Marie Morault’s 12 metre, Ikra in Grands Classiques.
At Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez., the ‘grand epoque’ big boat class that included Thendara, Altair, Elena, Sunshine, Milena, and Iduna got off the starting line around 3pm and were sent on a 14 mile nautical mile course that had a short leg to a mark upwind and then a downwind reach to a turning mark off St Raphael and a beat back to the finish line off of Saint-Tropez.
Though generous earlier in the day for the Modern class with about 6-8 knots, the wind was not cooperative by midday for the first start and the first race of the week for the Tradition class yachts, dropping to 2-3 knots on the Golfe de St Tropez.
Les Voiles de Saint Tropez 2010 will play host to nearly 300 traditional and modern competitors, which equates to over 3,500 crew members gathering together in the bay of Saint Tropez for a week of racing and festivities. The event will see 15 countries represented, 15 registered Wally sailing yachts, and 15 traditional hundred year old sailing yachts on the Var region’s race zone.