First time wins for Yoru and Six Jaguar maxis as Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez concludes
Inadequate winds meant no racing on Friday for the maxis competing at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. However, today there was more success for the concluding races laid on by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez and representing the last in the International Maxi Association’s Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge for 2024.
After a short wait on Pampelonne Bay, the SNST’s race team was able to send the Maxi A and B off on a second coastal race, following on from Thursday’s while the slower and smaller classes, Maxi C and D were able to sail a single windward-leeward.
One of the closest competitions this week was in the smaller classes, where two new faces rose topped the podium. Maxi C saw a three-way podium fight between defending champion IMA President Benoît de Froidmont’s Wally 60 Wallyño, Luigi Sala’s Vismara 62 Yoru, and Jean-Pierre Dreau’s Mylius 60FD Lady First III.
Wallyño won today’s final race by 1 minute 7 seconds from Yoru. “It was a nice finish – conditions were perfect with 10-12 knots and a flat sea,” commented de Froidmont. “Windward-leewards are extremely good fun for this type of boat. The level of our fleet is very high and the crew on these three boats is extremely skilled, which makes the racing very challenging.”
However Wallyño’s two bullets were not enough to beat Yoru’s three this week, enabling Sala and his Italian crew to win Maxi C by a mere point, with Lady First III third. “We are very happy because this was the first time we have won such a major event,” said Sala. “It comes after 18 months of improvement to the boat and working with the whole team. And it has happened in such a nice place like this. We will celebrate tonight!”
Over the last two races Luca Scoppa’s Dehler 60 Blue Oyster scored back-to-back bullets in Maxi D, however Anthony Ball’s venerable Swan 65 sloop Six Jaguar had won the first three races, coming second to Blue Oyster in the final two, ending the regatta three points ahead. Six Jaguar’s helmsman George Ball commented on their experience, “We were second today even though windward-leewards aren’t our forte as modern boats can point better. It was just about making sure our manoeuvres are great. We’ve greatly enjoyed it – it is our first time here and we’ll definitely be back.”
In the bigger classes, no one was going to topple Peter Harrison’s Maxi 72 Jolt in Maxi A nor Terry Hui’s Wally 77 Lyra in Maxi B, both serial winners here. On Thursday Jolt hit a rock causing some bumps and bruises among her crew, Impressively she continued to finish sixth and raced on today still in less than optimum state, coming second nonetheless.
Jolt’s second was enough for her to continue her winning streak here, three points ahead of Sir Peter Ogden’s 77ft Jethou with Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s 82ft Django HF third.
After an impressively consistent five second places, Sir Peter Ogden’s team won the final race. “We come here every year and every other year we do well!” said Ogden.
IMA maxi racing continues on 19 October with the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the opening event of the IMA’s 2024-25 Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge.
Event website: www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr/en
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Luca Moretti, an accomplished sailor and marine journalist from Genoa, Italy, has a lifelong passion for the sea that has defined his career. With a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Genoa, Luca is celebrated for his vivid and insightful storytelling. His work captures the excitement of sailing and the rich maritime traditions of Europe, making him a well-respected voice in the sailing community. When he’s not writing, Luca can be found exploring the Mediterranean’s picturesque coastlines and competing in regattas, always seeking new adventures on the open water.
