Leonore wins the 14th Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy
by Gstaad Yacht Club 2 Oct 2025 19:03 BST
2 October 2025
14th Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy © Juerg Kaufmann for GYC
Following the now-traditional "Swiss Night" - a festive evening celebrating Swiss culture on Wednesday at Place des Lices - it was time to return to competition on the water.
On Thursday, 18 centenarian yachts took part in the 14th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy, organized by the Gstaad Yacht Club in collaboration with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez.
Held as part of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, the regatta followed the popular pursuit race format and was sailed in a light easterly breeze. After completing a 9-nautical-mile course, Leonore claimed victory in her first-ever participation, succeeding last year's winner, Oriole.
Olympian and Mariska completed the podium after a tightly contested race all the way to the finish line.
The 2025 edition of the Centenary Trophy lives up to expectations with 18 magnificent yachts on the water
The 2025 edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy delivered on all fronts, bringing together 18 splendid centenarian yachts for a spectacular race on the waters off Saint-Tropez. These exceptional vessels, true witnesses to the golden age of yachting—ranging from the ketch Sky (1890) to the Bermudian sloop Leonore (1925)—treated the crowds gathered along the Môle Jean Réveille to a stunning nautical display.
At 12:30 PM, Viola (1908) was the first to cross the start line opposite the Tour du Portalet, followed by each of the 18 participants in staggered starts. The fleet left the Rabiou and La Moutte marks to starboard, then rounded a red buoy positioned outside the Gulf of Saint-Tropez to port, before returning to the finish line, leaving the same two marks to port.
As with every edition since its inception in 2011, the Centenary Trophy was run under the pursuit race format, allowing yachts of varying ratings to compete on equal terms. Each boat starts at a specific time based on its handicap, with the goal of being the first to cross the finish line—making for a thrilling, real-time chase.
Leonore charges ahead to victory
Starting 7th, Leonore gradually made her way through the fleet, overtaking competitors one by one. First to round the red buoy ahead of the P-Class yachts Olympian (1913) and Corinthian (1911), the 49-foot Q-Class yacht, designed by Norwegian naval architect Johan Anker and launched in 1925, held onto her lead in a strong tactical performance. Marking her debut at the Centenary Trophy, Leonore, celebrating her 100th anniversary this year, claimed a remarkable victory.
Skipper Mauro Pelaschier reflected on the win: "It was a tough race, but the conditions were ideal for our boat, which performs very well in light and shifting winds. We're very happy—for the boat and the crew. We're also thrilled to be here in Saint-Tropez and to have taken part in the Centenary Trophy."
Olympian secures second place
A three-time winner of the Centenary Trophy (2014, 2019, 2021), Olympian was back for her tenth participation and finished second, having started in 13th position.Bruno Troublé shared his thoughts on the dock:
"We've won this trophy three times. We hoped for a fourth, but in the end, we finished second. Still, we're very happy. My Italian friends won—they're extremely good. I know Leonore well because I've raced against her many times with Jour de Fête. We were catching up, but not quite fast enough. It's a fantastic event—I've taken part in nearly every edition."
A vintage year for the Centenary Trophy
Once again, 2025 proved to be a vintage year for the Centenary Trophy.
"The Centenary Trophy is known around the world and very popular with the public. It's the flagship event of our club," said Manrico Iachia, Commodore of the Gstaad Yacht Club. "We're delighted to have welcomed 18 centenarian yachts from across the globe—particularly from the Mediterranean and the UK. We were especially pleased to see three yachts join the fleet for the first time: Leonore (1925), Black Swan (1899), and Cariad (1896). Next year, we expect more than 30 yachts to take part."
See you next year for the 15th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy.