First raising its sails in 2010, Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille not only continues the deep sailing traditions on the island of St Barthélemy, but also continually sets new benchmarks in the world of yacht racing.
2022 marked the 11th edition of Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille, with an exciting return after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.In addition to title sponsor Richard Mille, the bank Caisse d’Epargne CEPAC, is also one of the main partners who have supported Les Voiles since its first races. CEPAC also sponsors Raphael Magra’s local boat, Maëlia, representing a long-lasting relationship with sailing in Saint Barthélemy.
Vesper, a 22-meter Judel Vrolijk 72 yacht, won the Maxi division as well as the the Richard Mille Maxi Cup Trophy and the Richard Mille RM 028 Automatic Diver Watch, with American skipper Jim Swartz, a five-time winner of Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille, at the helm.
François Tolède, organizer of Les Voiles with race director Luc Poupon, is already looking forward to the 12th edition on April 16-22, 2023 and shares his thoughts about the regatta.
ONAIR – What were you hoping for this year in organizing Les Voiles after a two-year hiatus?
François Tolède – My biggest hope was to recover the very unusual ambiance of Les Voiles, which I missed personally, and was also missed by many of our sailors: the atmosphere on the dock, the start of the races, the parties on shore… It was really great to see everyone again this year and we especially wanted to present an event with the same level of excellence and attention to detail as in the past.
OA – Are you satisfied with the results.. and in what sense?
FT – Yes, the 2022 regatta was a big success! First we were quite lucky to have very favorable weather conditions, especially with the wind, which allowed us to offer highly competitive race courses. And the ambiance on shore was incredible, with strong participation by the local population at all of the festivities. In this sense, the spirit of Les Voiles really came back to life.
OA – Who are your main sponsors for the event…and what makes them remain so loyal?
FT – Richard Mille is our title sponsor; the Caisse d’Epargne CEPAC, the Collectivité de St Barthélemy, and Code Zero are our official partners. They remain loyal as they are more than simple sponsors, they are part of the big family of Les Voiles, with bonds of friendship established over time. We were lucky this year to welcome new sponsors—Sisley Paris, Barons de Rothschild champagnes, Clos Beylesse rosé, and the airline Air Caraïbes.
OA – In addition to the beauty of the island and the navigational conditions around Saint Barth, what are the other elements that attract top international sailors and the owners of the Maxi yachts?
FT – St. Barthélemy is an incredible asset for the organization of our regatta. In addition to the navigational conditions and natural markers, the competitors particularly appreciate the island’s hospitality (gastronomy, shopping, various activities) and to have time to enjoy it all after the races. They also regularly compliment us on the professionalism on how the regatta is run, on land as well as at sea.
OA – What does it mean for Les Voiles to be part of the Caribbean Maxi Challenge?
FT – Launched by the International Maxi Association (IMA), the Caribbean Maxi Challenge comprises four prestigious regattas open to Maxis longer than 60 feet, and Les Voiles de St Barth is one of those regattas. The goal is to provide the owners of the Maxis a more formalized structure for a championship at several events, so that the participants can race on an equal basis and include the Caribbean championship in their annual planning.
OA – What are your personal expectations for 2023?
FT – To continue to offer exceptional organization, by improving every little detail from year to year, as well as increase the Maxi class thanks to the Caribbean Maxi Challenge, and expand our eco-responsible efforts by improving our general practices, in order to become a leading regatta in terms of sustainability.
OA – Your dreams for the future of the regatta?
FT – That the regatta continues its outreach, both locally and internationally, and that the new Collectivity continues to support us at the same level as the past one did. I’d like to close by thanking Bruno Magras and all those on his council for their steadfast support over the past 11 editions of Les Voiles.
