The gates of the Village des Voiles swung open at sunrise over Saint-Tropez this morning, marking the beginning of ten days in which sailing, tradition and celebration share equal billing. The majority of the 245 yachts expected for the regatta have already found their berths, with crews occupied checking rigs, stowing gear and readying themselves for the racing to come. This opening day belongs not to competition but to welcome, a moment for sailors and spectators together to settle into the familiar, unhurried rhythm of Les Voiles.
A harbour transformed
With the 36th Autumn Cup of the Yacht Club de France scheduled to conclude in Saint-Tropez today, Sunday 28 September, traditional yachts have been threading their way into port throughout the morning. Around them, other entrants nudge into position, filling the basin with varnished timber, carbon fibre and towering masts. Clear skies and warm light are forecast to accompany the fleet of 245 yachts across the week ahead.
The scale of organisation underpinning the event is considerable. More than 200 volunteers work alongside the permanent staff of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, attending to every detail from race management to hospitality and helping to create a seamless welcome for some 3,000 sailors.
At the centre of it all stands the Village des Voiles, rebuilt in 2023 on the Jean Réveille jetty with broad views across the gulf. The layout has been refined once more this year, balancing comfort with a growing emphasis on sustainability. Pierre Roinson, President of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, describes the result warmly: "It's a marvelous spot where people can move about with ease amidst the multiple public and private spaces to create a welcoming, high-end event." Vice-President Sylvain Bretagne speaks to the environmental thinking behind the design: "From one year to the next, we try to reuse equipment. Flooring and metal structures are stored by our service provider and for all the partitions, we favour fabrics rather than materials that are less easy to recycle."
Exhibitors have filled the village stands with everything from rope specialists to sailmakers, with an increasing number focused squarely on the sea. Open bars, visiting boats at the quayside and a lively mix of shops give the harbourfront a buzz that is difficult to replicate anywhere else in the sailing calendar.
The week ahead
The mood turns festive this evening, with the first party of the regatta getting under way. The Bar des Voiles becomes the social hub, a place where crews, locals and visitors mingle well into the night. Racing through the day and camaraderie after dark define the week's character.
A programme of social events runs alongside the racing. The SNSM Sardinade Party on Tuesday, a pétanque afternoon at Place des Lices on Wednesday, the colourful crew parade on Thursday and a fireworks display on Friday evening each carry their own traditions. Racing begins in earnest on Monday, with the Maxis heading offshore toward Pampelonne and modern IRC yachts setting out across the gulf. The classics join the competition on Tuesday for the Rolex Trophy, while Thursday brings a particularly full schedule combining the Club 55 Cup, the Centenary Trophy and match racing for the new Wallyrocket 51s. Prize-givings on Saturday and Sunday draw proceedings to a close.
Les Voiles remains, as it has always been, a Corinthian regatta. There is no prize money, only trophies and the honour of winning them. As the organisers themselves put it, "The Corinthian spirit is not just about fair play… it reminds us that the regatta is a game and must remain so."
Among the week's most anticipated storylines, the Rolex Trophy shines a spotlight on the Big Boats this year, headlined by the debut of the schooner Atlantic. The Maxis race for the Edmond de Rothschild Trophy, while the modern TP52-IRC 0 division contests the BMW Trophy. From century-old gaff ketches to the latest carbon-hulled racers, the breadth of the fleet guarantees compelling duels across every class.
A festival afloat
None of that, however, quite captures the spirit of an opening day at Les Voiles. Crews exchange greetings along the quay, locals stroll the jetty and the old town hums with a quiet anticipation that builds through the afternoon. The regatta is part theatre, part sporting contest, part family reunion. Polished hulls catch the light, music drifts across the water, and Saint-Tropez assumes its annual role as the centre of the sailing world.
