Caribbean Power Sailing Season Peaks at St. Barths

Les Voiles de St. Barth 

A power sailing season is peaking into the Caribbean Seas. After a fast start early 2016 the Caribbean Regattas continue strengthening from April to November and will be attended by Top International Sailing Teams and Athletes. It comes the time for St Barth and there the countdown is on.

“It’s Show Time in St. Barth” International Sailing press reported on April 9. 

The growing Les Voiles de St. Barth Regatta promises good wind conditions, transparent turquoise water, around the islands course and upbeated events on land. 

"An all star lineup of 70+ crews is expected for the 2016 Les Voiles de St. Barth," Sailing World reported. Big Stars and Teams expected to draw blood at St Barth includ Comanche, Odin, Phaedo3, Galateia, the three Volvo boats Brunel-SFS and Ambersail,  a strong Class 40 lineup, Olympic Sailors, Barcelona World Race Sailors, Volvo Ocean Masters, America's Cup Sailors and many others. 

"This year Les Voiles de St. Barth will once again welcome an impressive fleet combining racing thoroughbreds, extraordinary prototypes, flying machines and the latest new additions from classes such as that of the Wally. This diversity is undoubtedly part of the richness of the event, which sees its line-up expanding with every new edition, with a battle raging at every stage in every category. That of the Maxis is unquestionably the one that attracts the most attention thanks to its exceptional machines. First up we have Comanche, the longest sailboat ever built from carbon using the infusion technique, in the United States, which is a direct result of studies carried out on the IMOCA monohulls Macif and Banque Populaire, first and second in the Vendée Globe 2012," Organizers of St.  Barth stated.

But St Barth is but the peak of a packed up schedule in the Caribbean. All at Sea reported on April 5 on the back to back Caribbean Regatta Agenda. From April to November All at Sea detailed the events. Les Voiles de Saint-Barth, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, Antigua Sailing Week, West Indies Regatta,Booby Island Regatta, Anguilla Regatta, Barbados May Regatta, Foxy’s Wooden Boat Regatta, International Optimist Regatta, Seaboard Marine Optimist North American Championship, Round Grenada Regatta, Aruba International Regatta, Discover the Caribbean Regatta and the St. Croix International Regatta are part of the list. 

On April 8 Team Comanche blasted away via Facebook that is is “Not long now until the Les Voile de St Barths”. The team has been in the Caribbean basin for some time, warming up its engines and tuning the machine. Comanche actually arrived on February 20 for the Royal Ocean Club Caribbean 600 Yacht Race.

St Barth is expected to deliver four days of fast action on testing waters around the French Island of Saint Barthelemy and several other smaller islands and rock outcroppings that surround it. In its seventh edition the race will include several Class Boats from monohulls to multihulls. 

The Volvo Ocean Race Team 65 is another team to have an eye on. Skippered by the Dutch Bouwe Bekking -a regular at the Volvo Ocean Race they are expected to go fast and go for the finish line. 

Bekking already sailed seven times the Volvo Ocean Race and in  41 years he has won the race three times and led his crew to take second place in their 2016 Volvo campaign.

The boat he will be sailing is ultra performance and solid . The VOR 65 - a 65’ carbon sailboat was especially designed for the legendary Volvo Ocean Race. 

Another Team which is causing a stir is the 100’ maxi Galateia. Organizers say it "is sure to turn heads this year during Les Voiles de Saint-Barth!".

"These super yachts stand apart for their lightness, great stability, and the ability to surf on the waves at high speeds (as high as 25 knots). Their high performance is combined with spacious, comfortable interiors to embraced both racing and cruising," Galateia Team adds. 

Another Team which can not be dismissed is Team Odin. This year, America’s Cup veteran Peter Isler and Olympic medalist Charlie Ogletree will be part of the crew aboard Odin.

“Plenty of recognizable names, both in terms of boats and people...Then there’s the mighty multihull Phaedo3 and its skipper Lloyd Thornburg, who has made it his mission to break any and all speed records he can, and he has. Add to that the...(entire fleet)...and you’ve got quite a spectacle percolating on the big-boat end of things,” Les Voile de St Barths ended it. 

Organizers assure that space has been made for not only “grand-prix Maxi and Multihull sailing Teams” but also for the smaller boats which will fill in the ranks of the Spinnaker Division -a strong fleet of 40. 

Sailing World assured that the event in St Barth has become an essential part of the Caribbean Racing Schedule. Excellency in standards and precision in organization were used to describe the event. The St Barth event has taken on grand dimensions in just seven years. It is actually incredible for a race to gain such deserved place Internationally and take in such attendance in just seven years...so what's the secret?

All at Sea says they have the inside secret behind the success of Les Voiles de St. Barth.

“A passion for sailing. The perfect venue. Strong partnerships rooted in sailing and the setting,” are the top listed secrets. 

The event was founded by two friends seven years ago -François Tolède and Luc Poupon. “With the help of fellow sailor and St. Barth resident Annelisa Gee, this event has grown in quantity, from 27 boats in 2010 to an expected 70-plus this year,” All at Sea reported. 

Not only did the race organizers managed to increase boat entries but managed to increase quality “top-notch race Teams” like Odin, Phaedo3 and Comanche.

“We wanted to make Les Voiles a competitive and recognized Regatta dedicated to big-boat owners, while staying open to smaller boats,” Founder Tolède explained. 

Toledo has been living in St Barth for 20 years and taken to the ropes of sailing since he was a child. Together with his wife they created the Saint-Barth French West Indies brand. 

“Our other goal was and is to be as attractive a shore as offshore with a festive and friendly atmosphere.” Toledo explains. The event at St Barth is today known not only for its professional sailing offshore but also for the breathtaking onshore events which take place during the Caribbean reunion. Truely power sailing will find the Caribbean.

Organizers explain that the regatta is unique as it is constructed upon incredible landscapes. 15 small offshore islands act as giant buoys and set a remarkable race course. Multiple legs stretch out in this horizon and provide “sail angles to test the race maneuvers of well-oiled crews”.

Those who think that the Caribbean winds lack the force for record making are in for big upsets. The Caribbean Season has already made history this year. On March 22 Sailing Press reported that “Records were Demolished at the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race”. 

“Big winds, big speeds and the fastest times ever recorded made the 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Race, one of the most spectacular in history with a total of five records broken, and each team winning their skipper’s weight in rum,” Organizers stated.

Galatea and Phaedo3 who are expected at St Barth were at Barbados pushing the strength to set new records. 

“The stars of the show that set off last and raced 60nm round the island neck and neck were undoubtedly the two world-class MOD70s -MS Barbados Concise 10, skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield, and Phaedo3 co skippered by Lloyd Thornburg and Brian Thompson. They promised to thrill, and indeed they did,” Barbados organizers reported then.

With 20 knots of speed nothing seemed to be able to stop the giant multihulls from flying from Barbados Carlisle Bay and around the island. A new record was set at 2 hours 37 minutes 38 seconds -incredibly two hours off the previous Multihull record in Barbados. Things are moving fast in the Caribbean.

“Racing two MOD70s round the island, essentially match racing was just awesome. It is something we have been working so hard for, and really putting in the hours, so to get the record is absolutely amazing. With 22kts of wind and 37 kts of boat speed flying a hull downwind, it was full on all the way,” Skipper of Concise 10 Collier Wakefield stated.

“It was a great race but after sailing 60 miles flat out it was a tiring one. Well done MS Barbados Concise 10,” co-skipper of Phaedo3 Lloyd Thomburg added. 

Today most of the teams which were present in Barbados are ready for action in St Barth. 

St Barth organizers have found other opportunities understanding the reaches of high profile sporting sailing events and went social and became a “Clean Regatta”. 

Les Voiles de Saint Barth joined efforts with Save the Oceans in February. “Every positive gesture counts in the attempt to slow the harmful effects of human activity in terms of the sea. With this in mind, Les Voiles de Saint-Barth is proud to participate in a program launched by the association, Sailors for the Sea, which has been working since 2004 to help preserve the oceans: with the certification -Clean Regatta,” organizers stated.

“We are thrilled that Les Voiles de Saint-Barth will contribute to reducing their impact on the environment and help protect the magnificent waters of the Caribbean that surround their island,” R. Mark Davis, President of Sailors for the Sea stated. 

“We would like to thank the organizers of the regatta for their participation in the “Clean Regatta” program and we are looking forward to working with them,” the President  of Sailors for the Sea stated.

Teams as always flag social programs when they have a chance to do so. The team of Creno Moustache Solidaire racing a 40 sailboat will raise awareness on Men's Illnesses. Creno Moustache have already participated in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 under the Movember Foundation flag and will be present in St Barth 2016 Edition.

“Movember’s goal is to fight against men’s illnesses by sharing information throughout the year about these diseases (prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental illness, and lack of physical activity),” the Team explains.

The St Barth Class 40s is the latest addition of classes in the event. They will compete as an intermediate ocean racing category struck between the Mini-Transat racers and the 60-foot IMOCAs at St Barth.

Speaking to the press and enlisted in the Class 40 sailing match down is Catherine Pourre sailing the new boat the Class 40 Eärendil. She will take on the adventure with her Transat Jacques Vabre co-skipper Antoine Carpentier, her 24-year-old son and two friends as crew. 

“Being able to race in St. Barth is a bit like discovering a little paradise after a long Transat...” Pourre told the press. 

Pourre explained that several other Class 40s Teams participated in the Royal Ocean Club Caribbean 600 Yacht Race but sailed -as they do every year, back home. But now “with the Les Voiles organizers accepting to form a Class 40 category for the first time this year, we may see more coming in the next editions of Les Voiles,” Pourre stated. 

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The Caribbean Sailing Season 2016 is reaching its peak having started in Grenada moved to the Caribbean 600 Race, the Heineken Regatta in St. Martin, St. Thomas, the BVI Regatta and now reaching St. Barth for the Les Voiles. Still there is still much more to come until November. 

The seas of the Caribbean are challenging Top International Sailors. Super Yacth Times reported “The countdown to the beginning of the 7th edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth has started”.