From September 27 to October 5, the Voiles de Saint-Tropez celebrate their 15th anniversary. The highlight of the summer season Tropezian Point, the event brings together over 300 yachts for a week of racing. By becoming a partner in 2006, Rolex gave birth to the showpiece event of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez: the Rolex Trophy. On the eve of its ninth edition, this prestigious competition, traditionally reserved for the largest traditional sailing fleet, sees change its rules. The goal: to highlight new classes of boats and diversify Race winners.
New criteria Rolex Trophy
In 8 years, the Rolex Trophy was awarded to five conventional monohulls. After the victory of So Fong in 2006 and Agneta in 2007, three boats have monopolized the top step of the Rolex Trophy in six editions: Rowdy (2008 and 2009), Avel (2011 and 2012) and Ikra (2010 and 2013) . An overwhelming dominance that has raised questions and led an overhaul of the award of the Rolex Trophy criteria.
To enhance the sporting fairness of the trial and give chances to all types of sailboats, settlement of the Rolex Trophy is going to evolve.
Now, a class of sailing will be honored each year. A choice will be made by a committee of historians yachting and members of the organization, according to the list and the nature of registered boats. This initiative will highlight turn various categories but also to bring yachts of the same gauge or celebrate a special event like the centenary of a class.
Selected for the 2014 Rolex Trophy class will be announced shortly.
If the nature of the selected sailing is likely to change the method of allocating the Rolex Trophy remains the same: a system of points accumulated over the four days of racing.
Award criteria are changing, but the show, it will remain intact. The yachts will continue to dazzle audiences with the beauty of their line, the elegance of their rigging and nobility of their materials. The unique gathering of such exceptional sailboats at dusk in the summer is a major appointment of world yachting. The first start of this new edition will be Tuesday, Sept. 30 in the Bay of Saint-Tropez.
PROGRAMME OF SAILS Saint-Tropez 2014
Monday, September 29 // Home of classic yachts, registration deadline
Tuesday, September 30 // first day of coastal racing from 11am
Wednesday, October 1 // second day of coastal racing from 11am
Friday, October 3 // third day of coastal racing from 11am
Saturday, October 4 // fourth day of coastal racing from 11am
Sunday, October 5 // Awards ceremony and the Rolex Trophy at the Citadel of Saint-Tropez at 11
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Photo Credit:Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi