Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez: en route to the 2020 edition

by Maguelonne Turcat 30 May 14:08 BST 26 September - 10 October 2020

In line with the global health situation, the organisers of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez remain on alert. The goal: to maintain what has for decades made the success of these regattas unique to the world for modern and classic boats, while optimally adapting the programme on land, for the public, as for the sailors themselves.

Newly elected President of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, and long-standing club member of 37 years, Pierre Roinson is a passionate racer and knows the subject well. His professional career, working within a large international group, did not prevent him from participating in every Voiles since its inception in 1999, as was he a regular competitor in the original event, the Nioulargue, in the 80s. "Our priority is to keep alive the seafaring spirit and sense of conviviality, as set up in the beginning by Patrice de Colmont: the participants come to the Voiles de Saint-Tropez to race and to have fun.

Today, we have no certainty of the number of people or the number of boats that we will be able to accommodate as this will be in accordance with the evolution of international travel and any navigational constraints in the Mediterranean at the end of the summer. What we do know is that we already have nearly 250 applications for registration, which is incredibly positive. There is a real desire to sail, I think we will have even more entry requests than in previous years."

On shore, the health directives concerning the dates of this event remain to be determined. For the participants as for the public, the Voiles de Saint-Tropez represents a significant influx of visitors that match numbers seen in high season. "We are fortunate to have a port situated in the heart of the village, the charm for all of us is to see the most beautiful boats in the world gathered on the dock in Saint-Tropez, where nothing is closed or barred, and to be able to watch the racing. On this note, a new regatta format spread over two weeks will enable all race starts and finishes to happen in the Gulf which has not been the case for some time. The spectacle will be all the more awe-inspiring viewed from the seawall and port entrance, as well as la Ponche and the Citadel, each presenting a natural spectator stand, accessible to all and particularly suitable for watching the Voiles without leaving dry land, with the possibility of respecting social distancing if necessary."

In accordance with the wishes of the President, Pierre Roinson, and the Director General, Tony Oller, the definitive configuration of the event will be regularly updated according to the government, regional land and maritime authorities, and in agreement with the French Sailing Federation, aiming to maintain the festivities that are endemic to Saint-Tropez and this event.

Due to the uncertainties linked to the world situation, the modalities of the event are to be reviewed monthly:

• end of June
• end of July
• end of August

This is to better define conditions for the reception of competitors and public alike in accordance with government and federal authority recommendations, as well as to ensure the protection and security of the personnel and volunteers involved in the organisation.

Organisation: (Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez)
President: Pierre Roinson
Director General: Tony Oller
Principal Race Officer: Georges Korhel
Communication: Chloé de Brouwer
Website: www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr
Facebook: les Voiles de Saint-Tropez officiel
Twitter: @VoilesSTOrg