Les Voiles de St. Barth gathering momentum for 2017
by Barby MacGowan 20 Oct 2016 16:54 BST
After competing in the last edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth with a chartered boat in its company colours, the SFS Group, France's leading construction insurance specialist, is consolidating its presence at the 2017 event through its role as Gold partner alongside Veuve Clicquot and the St. Barthélemy community. In terms of racing, the VOR 70 SFS II will take the start at the legendary Caribbean Race Week over April 10-15.
Event registration is open at bit.ly/2e1o2vK
"We're delighted to receive fresh support enabling us to develop Les Voiles de St. Barth and take the event from strong to stronger," said François Tolède, CEO of Les Voiles de St. Barth. "We're also very happy to see a business put in so much work both as owner of SFS II (skippered by Lionel Péan) and partner at the same event, a case mirrored by Richard Mille, the race's main partner, with Peter Harrison's TP52 Sorcha, as well as CEPAC Provence–Côte d'Azur, sponsor of Raphaël Magras's X 34 Maelia BDAF."
Yachtsmen and yachtswomen who have been to St. Barth know it has a special flavour, an atmosphere that they can't find anywhere else. The setting is nothing less than sumptuous and a trip there is inevitably a remarkable voyage.
Frenchman Lionel Péan, skipper of the VOR 70 SFS since 2013, is very familiar with the venue of St. Barth and has already posted a series of stand-out performances at Les Voiles. "It's a unique place, a stunning race zone and an intimate venue; all ingredients that contribute to the success of Les Voiles de St. Barth," said Péan.
His team will join the likes of Rambler 88, owned by American George David and one of the stalwarts of Les Voiles competition with some six participations and four victories to its credit; Sojana, owned by Sir Peter Harrison and set to make its big comeback to the race after several years' absence; and the 72-foot Aragon, which is owned by Andries Verder's and Arco Van Nieuwland of The Netherlands and raced here in 2014 and 2015.
From Maxi yachts to racing monohulls and multihulls to Melges 24s, the fleet for the 2017 Les Voiles de St. Barth promises to be as diverse as it is competitive.