Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez runs from Saturday, 26 September to Sunday, 4 October 2026. Following two days of final training and competition assessment, the first races began in light breezes across ten categories. The Maxi and Modern fleets had a gentle start, while the Tradition fleet will join the competition tomorrow. The racing has been fiercely contested, with all top contenders making their presence known.
The J Classes brought excitement to the bay of Pampelonne, reminiscent of the America’s Cup of the 1930s. Competing J Classes include Svea, Hanuman, and Rainbow, with Svea taking a bullet in a 6-mile windward-leeward race, closely followed by Rainbow. Svea, designed by Tore Holm, has been optimised since her launch in 2017 and boasts a world-class crew from Niklas Zennström’s Rán Racing team.
Peter Harrison, owner of Rainbow, finished just under two minutes behind Svea. He also owns the Maxi Jolt, which won the Maxi A category in 2024, with Ed Baird as tactician. Hanuman, a replica of the 1937 Endeavour II, has recently been purchased by Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, who previously excelled in Maxi 2 at last year’s event.
Spectators were captivated by the elegance of the J Classes, with their slender hulls and dedicated crews receiving rapturous applause.
Modern yachts showcased their prowess at the Portalet mark today, where eleven IRC 0s competed for the Trophée BMW. Nanoq, a previous winner of Les Voiles, led for two laps in a newly designed course aimed at improving racing efficiency. Daguet 5, a Carkeek design, competed fiercely against the TP 52s and Botin 44s.
Other IRC classes also took part, with Daguet 5 securing line honours in IRC 0 and Spirit of Lorina winning in corrected time.
Newcomer Northstar III, owned by Peter Dubens and fresh from victory at the World Championships, is making waves in the Maxi fleet. Designed by Judel Vrolijk, it features a canting keel but focuses on maintaining a lower heel angle for less drag. Despite excelling in light conditions, the ultimate victory in the Maxi GP went to Jethou, with Balthasar rounding out the podium.
The Maxis 2, 3, and 4 fleets completed an 18-mile coastal course to Cavalaire, showcasing the competitive spirit of this iconic regatta.
The 2026 Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez schedule includes races for various categories, culminating in prize-giving events for both Moderns and Classics on Sunday, 4 October.
Results for IRC1, 2, 3 and 4 can be viewed at https://www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr/
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