Gentle start under Mediterranean skies
The 27th edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez eased into racing on Monday 29 September with glorious sunshine and light airs over the gulf. The Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez’s race team worked with precision, linking five Modern fleet starts in just half an hour, while the Maxis split between short courses off Pampelonne and a coastal passage towards Cavalaire. Traditionals remained in training, their first contests scheduled for Tuesday, leaving the day’s spotlight firmly on the Maxis and IRC Moderns.
“Light airs and glorious sunshine dominated play on this first day of competition,” said organisers, who were clearly delighted with the spectacle afloat and the festival atmosphere ashore.
Maxis – North Star shines brightest
The big-boat fleet produced a compelling opening act. North Star, the polished entry of Peter Dubens, rose above the pack to secure victory in corrected time. Consistency and clean manoeuvres paid off as the 100-footers jostled for position in the light breeze.
Close behind, the Mark Mills design V, guided by navigator Jean-François Cuzon, finished second. Cuzon, a world 470 champion and America’s Cup veteran, highlighted the intensity: “The crew of V features 15 nationalities as well as around fifteen world championship titles. Sailing these boats at the highest level requires constant communication and the expertise from everyone’s individual domain.”
Third place went to Tilakkhana II, the former Magic Carpet³, now campaigned by Pascale Decaux with a star-studded crew that includes Dee Caffari, Marie Riou, and Sophie de Turckheim. Just off the podium, Capricorno, Leopard 3, and My Song reminded rivals that the Maxi scoreboard will be far from predictable.
IRC 0 – Zen takes the first win
In the Modern division, it was the TP52s and new designs that set the pace. Zen claimed the opening victory, sailing a measured race in the challenging gulf conditions. Albator 3, Philippe Frantz’s Botin 44 fresh from the Admiral’s Cup, impressed in second, showcasing sharp handling against larger rivals.
Denmark’s King Frederik X chartered Nanoq (a TP52), made his mark with a strong third-place finish. His regal start was noted on the dock, though the day belonged to others once the corrected times were tallied.
The ever-quick Daguet 5, a Carkeek FP54 raced by Frédéric Puzin, was first across the line in elapsed time, underlining its raw pace. But the time correction system reshuffled the order, leaving Daguet 5 further down the leaderboard.
Six TP52s filled much of the class, joined by the debuting Wallyrocket 51s. Their one-design concept, with radical Botin styling and cutting-edge materials, made an immediate impact and added fresh energy to the fleet.
Wallys – a fleet within the fleet
No fewer than 10 Wallys lined up this year, reinforcing the brand’s place as one of the event’s dominant forces. Galateia, the Maxi world champion, led the headlines alongside Tilakkhana II. The Maxi 3 group also saw the striking Wallywind 110, the yard’s largest current model, line up with smaller siblings including the Wally 77, 80, and 94.
The latest chapter in the Wally story is the arrival of the Wallyrocket 51s in the Modern IRC fleet and the Wallyrocket 7X Django in the Maxi GP category. With just 12 tonnes of displacement and 2.7 tonnes of water ballast, Django is already a proven winner, having triumphed in Porto Cervo earlier this month. Saint-Tropez now offers her a fresh test.
Looking ahead to Tuesday
Tuesday promises a change of pace with the Traditionals joining the action and the Rolex Trophy for Big Boat classics beginning. Spectators can expect the schooner Atlantic to make her long-awaited debut, joined by legends like Sumurun, Cambria, and Cariad.
For the Maxis and Moderns, today’s opening duels are only the start of what promises to be a week of fierce battles. As navigator Jean-François Cuzon summed up, “There’s precious little separating us in the races so you have to set your sights on excellence.”
In Saint-Tropez, excellence and theatre often go hand in hand — and after day one, Les Voiles 2025 looks to be delivering both.
