LES VOILES DE SAINT BARTH is a regatta that is barely four years old yet today has become a must-do on the event calender of all amateur and professional sailors. The diverse sailing, beautiful weather, and stunning scenery has become an addictive cocktail that lures the world’s best sailors from the still wintery continent to the barmy shores of the Caribbean. It takes place from April 8th – April 13th 2013 around St Barth in the Leeward Islands – known for its decidedly french flair and friendly atmosphere.
Race director Luc Poupon prepares a diverse portfolio of races – 28 in fact; departing from Gustavia’s harbor and finishing in the “petits saints” area. He does this just so on race day he can choose the four final courses according to the weather and the yachts racing – such is the meticulous organizing and preparation of this event! The courses range from 14 to 40 miles in length and with the dependable trade winds providing anything from 5 to 30 knot sailing and the variety of small islands, bays and headlands, there is a fantastic variety of sailing that can keep even the most experienced sailors on their toes.
Race Director Luc Poupon confirms “St Barth’s configuration is a real advantage for us: the coast landscapes of the island are very different from one another and there are about 15 small islands around St Barth, which give us the opportunity to organize diversified race courses, with multiple legs and sail angles and therefore a lot of manoeuvres for the crews“ The success of this Regatta is plain for all to see. The debut of this event in 2010 saw 28 entrants which swiftly moved to 48 in 2011 and 58 in 2012. This year there are currently 62 entrees competing and the window is still open.
Jim Swartz – one of the top sailors taking part this year maintains that the key to the events success comes down to the “fair division by rating in each of the classes, with deep competition within; the race courses, which are very distinct and class appropriate; and the professionalism of the race committee itself.”
Remarkably THE BLUE PETER is still available to charter for this race. She is a stunning, classic yacht, 19.65m in length and with skipper Matt Barker at the helm (who himself has won many regattas) still looking for crew members, this is a fantastic opportunity to take part in the Regatta!
If you are looking to charter a yacht to race in a regatta or simply to watch with cocktails in hand, get in touch with us at www.boatbookings.com. We organize all sorts of charters around the world with our highly qualified team that has intimate knowledge of the destinations and yachts that are available. We leave no stone unturned in matching not just the yacht and the destination to your requirements but also the crew, itineraries and all other subtle aspects that comes together to create a charter of a life time!
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