Two weeks before the festivities kick off, the second edition of Les Voiles de Saint Barth looks set to be one of the most impressive races of the year.
50 yachts have entered to compete in five categories and some 400 sailors are expected from across the world.
The spectacular Maxi Yachts category will attract particular attention. Its line-up includes numerous sumptuous and speedy racing boats like American George David’s «Rambler 100», «Highland Breeze» (Swan 112-ft), «Sojana» (Farr 115-ft)…
Godfather of last year’s edition, the famous photographer Patrick Demarchelier will be back again at the helm of his elegant Swan 45 «Puffy», competing in the 34 to 50-ft Racing Yachts category against last year’s champion, James Dobbs, in his J/122 «Lost Horizon».
The Racing Cruising category will be one of the most fiercely contested, with a line-up that includes the Swan 60 «Fenix» belonging to Briton Richard Balding, as well as some equally speedy Bénéteau yachts like last year’s winner, the 45-ft «l’Espérance».
Many 50-ft plus Racing Yachts will be present, rigged and fitted for the occasion. American Jim Swartz’s Vesper-Moneypenny will do battle against the Farr 60 and 65 yachts «Venemous», «Spirit of Juno», as well as the Pogo 40 of Frenchman Régis Guillemot.
Classic Yachts make a particularly attractive and eagerly anticipated contribution to the event, with the 12 M JI «Kate» designed by Alfred Mylne in 1906 and the W76 Class White Wings belonging to the American Donald Tofi as.
The 2011 edition of Les Voiles de Saint Barth has secured a new, high-profi le godfather in Jimmy Buffet, an American country/rock/pop singer, successful writer, and great yachting enthusiast.
Everything suggests that Les Voiles de Saint Barth will be both successful and spectacular. The event culminates in a prize-giving ceremony on Saturday 9th April. The winner of the Maxi Yachts category will be awarded, the RM 028 Les Voiles de Saint Barth diver’s watch. Only 100 copies of this exceptional, high-tech timepiece will be made a fitting tribute to this internationally renowned regatta, with which Richard Mille (www.richardmille.com) is proud to be associated as Main Sponsor.
