The sun rose over Saint-Tropez this morning as the Village des Voiles swung open its gates, signalling the start of ten days where sailing, tradition and celebration share the stage. Many of the nearly yachts that are expected for the event have already converged on the harbour, with crews busy checking rigs, sliding into berths, and preparing for the first races to come. Today is not about competition but about welcome — a chance for sailors and spectators alike to settle into the rhythm of Les Voiles.
A harbour transformed
With the 36th Autumn Cup of the Yacht Club de France due to finish in Saint-Tropez today (Sunday 28 September), traditional yachts are already making their way toward the port. Around them, other entrants manoeuvre into position, filling the basin with varnished wood, carbon fibre and towering rigs. Clear skies and warm light promise to accompany the fleet of 245 yachts across the week.
Organisation is immense. More than 200 volunteers work alongside the permanent staff of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez to ensure every detail is ready. Their efforts extend from race management to hospitality, creating a seamless welcome for some 3,000 sailors.
The heart of the regatta is the Village des Voiles, rebuilt in 2023 on the Jean Réveille jetty with sweeping views across the gulf. This year’s layout has been refined again, balancing comfort with sustainability.
“It’s a marvelous spot where people can move about with ease amidst the multiple public and private spaces to create a welcoming, high-end event,” says Pierre Roinson, President of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. Vice-President Sylvain Bretagne notes the environmental push: “From one year to the next, we try to reuse equipment. Flooring and metal structures are stored by our service provider and for all the partitions, we favour fabrics rather than materials that are less easy to recycle.”
The village also hosts exhibitors, from rope specialists to sailmakers, with stands increasingly focused on the sea. For visitors, the combination of boats at berth, shops, and open bars makes the harbourfront buzz.
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2025: racing, glamour and history on the Riviera
The week ahead
Tonight the welcome turns festive with the first party. The Bar des Voiles becomes the social centre, a place where crews and locals mingle late into the night.
That pattern — racing by day, camaraderie by night — shapes the programme. Highlights include the SNSM Sardinade Party on Tuesday, pétanque at Place des Lices on Wednesday, the colourful crew parade on Thursday, and a fireworks display on Friday evening.
The regatta proper begins Monday, with Maxis racing off Pampelonne and modern IRC yachts setting out from the gulf. By Tuesday, the classics join in for the Rolex Trophy, while Thursday delivers a packed schedule with the Club 55 Cup, the Centenary Trophy and match racing for the new Wallyrocket 51s. Prize-givings on Saturday and Sunday bring the curtain down.
Les Voiles remains a Corinthian regatta — no prize money, just trophies and honour. As organisers put it, “The Corinthian spirit is not just about fair play… it reminds us that the regatta is a game and must remain so.”
The Rolex Trophy highlights the classics, this year focusing on the Big Boats, led by the debut of the schooner Atlantic. For the Maxis, the Edmond de Rothschild Trophy is at stake, while modern TP52-IRC 0 yachts compete for the BMW Trophy. The mix guarantees duels across every division, from century-old gaff ketches to the latest carbon-hulled racers.
A festival afloat
Yet the essence of the opening day lies not in results but in atmosphere. Crews swap greetings, locals wander the jetty, and the old town thrums with anticipation. Les Voiles is part theatre, part competition, part family gathering. Sunshine, music and the sparkle of polished hulls set the tone for a week where Saint-Tropez once again becomes the world’s sailing stage.
