A perfect day for sailing
Sunshine once again bathed Saint-Tropez on Friday as an easterly breeze swept across the bay, creating prime conditions for the 19 racing categories — Maxi, Modern, and Traditional. With only one race day left, tension is rising across the fleet, and every tack now counts toward the final podiums.
Classic yachts: elegance and intensity
“This was the most beautiful day of Les Voiles,” said photographer Guilain Grenier, fresh ashore after capturing Elena of London and the three-masted Atlantic duelling off La Sèche à l’Huile. With perfect light and a steady breeze, the spectacle was pure magic.
In the Rolex Trophy, Cambria and Elena of London remain separated by a single point, while Spartan extended her dominance in the Big Racer division with a third straight win. Kiwi Magic achieved the same feat in the 12-metre class, reinforcing her position as the standout among the Twelves.
Competition remains tight in Epoque Marconi B between Sonny and Dan, in the Cruiser category between Lelantina and Eugenia IV, and in IOR, where Matrero and Il Moro di Venezia are deadlocked on points.
Maxis: tactical calls and coastal sprints
The Maxis split their racing today, with Classes 3 and 4 completing two windward-leewards while the others tackled an 18-mile coastal course. In Maxi 1, Ken Read’s tactical sharpness helped Karel Komarek’s Wallycento V open up a valuable points cushion in the Edmond de Rothschild Trophy standings.
In Maxi GP, Django still leads overall, but Vesper’s win today narrowed the margin to a single point, setting up a thrilling showdown for Saturday. Yoru (Maxi 4) and Crazy Diamond (Maxi 5) continued their faultless form, while in Maxi 3, Twin Soul B overtook Lyra after winning both short-course races.
Moderns: close calls and protests
In the IRC 0 fleet, the powerful Daguet and Kilara II struggled to convert their speed advantage on the coastal leg, leaving the door open for Vesper to claim victory. Zen’s poor showing reshuffled the leaderboard, with Arkas Blue Moon now within striking distance.
The Race Committee shortened courses across the IRC 1–5 fleets to make the most of a subtle westerly breeze. A misread finish line cost the German Melges 32 Heat a disqualification, while Give Me 5 (Cape 31) seized the opportunity to win and tie for the class lead — pending a protest review.
Pride, the Swan 44 that started it all for the Nioulargue, remains on track for overall glory in IRC 3, while Zappys (Swan 42) enjoys a five-point lead in IRC 1, and Expresso (JPK 1010) looks poised to defend her IRC 5 title.
One day, one boat — Albator 3, the pocket TP
Among the speed machines of IRC 0, few boats turn heads like Albator 3. Designed by Botin Partners in 2021, she’s a 44-foot race boat that looks every bit the smaller sibling of a TP52 — right down to her red phoenix emblem.
“There are only two of these boats in the world,” says owner Philippe, who bought Albator from Brazil after convincing an American owner to keep his. “Getting her home from Santos to Saint-Tropez was a mission, but it’s worth it to race her here.”
Below decks, the boat is a web of hydraulic lines and hidden hardware — all tuned for performance. “Every kilo counts,” says boat captain Benoît Briand, a veteran of three America’s Cups and a Jules Verne Trophy. “She’s light, responsive, and yes — very wet. We’ve got six bilge pumps to prove it!”
Now sitting sixth overall in IRC 0, Albator 3 has more than held her own against the TP52s she so closely resembles.
The Twelves regroup
The 12-Metre class delivered some of the day’s best match racing, with Kiwi Magic leading South Australia and KZ5 in a tight three-way battle. France 1 trails but remains a crowd favourite — a 1970 design steeped in America’s Cup history.
French Kiss, celebrating her 40th anniversary this year, was sadly absent after suffering a broken mast at the Régates Royales in Cannes. Yet the fleet’s revival continues. With new owners, restorations underway, and plans for a structured Mediterranean circuit in 2026 — including the Worlds in Imperia — the future for these iconic boats looks bright.
Coming up
Saturday, October 4: Racing for Maxi, Modern and Classic yachts including the Rolex Trophy; prize-giving for Maxis.
Sunday, October 5: Prize-giving for Modern and Classic yachts, including the Rolex Trophy.
