Looking ahead to 4th Gstaad Yacht Club's Centenary Trophy

Classic ladies at the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy © J'rg Kaufmann

Several new oldies for the 4th Gstaad Yacht Club's Centenary Trophy

Less than four months to the fourth edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy. The event, that will gather the oldest ladies of the classic yachts circuit, has been scheduled for Thursday, 2nd October 2014 and will once more be representing the focal point of classic racing at the Voiles the Saint-Tropez, hosting event of the regatta.

By tradition, the Centenary Trophy will gather one hundred years and more old yachts that will compete with an especially created handicap system in a pursuit race, a format that has proved extremely attractive for the sailors and the public, as it is easy to understand and follow with the first boat to cross the line off the St Tropez breakwater to be declared the winner.

The exciting news about this year's edition is that eight of the 14 yachts that have entered the Centenary so far, are new to the event, battling for the first time to win the exclusive trophy created by Wakely and Wheeler of London in 1911.

Some just turned one hundred years old, like the two-masted fore and aft schooner Morwenna designed by British architect Linton Hope, some others will compete for the first time in St Tropez, but have a long history to tell. Like the 30M Marconi rigged Ludwig; Danish built fore and aft schooner Sif, and Jap one of the ten Cork Harbour One Design by genius William Fife III, all three dating from 1897.

An inch younger, from the first decade of the 20th century, are Mignon, one of the last surviving International 7 Metre Class, the schooner Viola that was declared National Historical Monument in 1993 and the fore and aft cutter Wayward designed by British Frederick Sheperd on a commission by Lord Tanguy for a fast racer.

To complete the new entries list, Silhouette an International 8 Metre Class also designed by famous William Fife III in 1910 and owned by one of Gstaad Yacht Club members, Mr. Daniel Heine who declared: "We are very excited about participating within this splendid group of competitors and are very much looking forward to this pinnacle event of classic yacht racing."

Younger or older they might be there is no doubt that the stunning centenary yachts will stand out among the fleet in the old port of St Tropez and their racing will be followed closely by sailing aficionados as well as the general public.

Peter Erzberger, Commodore of the Gstaad Yacht Club has commented: "The GYC is proud to see the Centenary Trophy with its unique Pursuit Race Format gaining more recognition and support by Owners, Skippers and Crews of the old beauties of the Classic Yacht Racing scenario."

Past winners are Italy's Five tonner Bona Fide (launched 1899) that beat the strong competition in 2011, while in 2012 it was Richard Allan's fore and aft cutter Marigold (1892). Due to adverse weather conditions the 2013 race could not be sailed and the trophy was not awarded.

The event is organized by The Gstaad Yacht Club in co-operation with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez.