Les Voiles de Saint Barth on everyone’s minds
With winter storms continuing to batter the coast of Europe, the Caribbean sailing season is already well underway in the warmth of the trade winds with the first regattas taking place in Antigua, Barbados and Grenada. Many of the regular competitors have been joined by newcomers, who have decided to get a taste for themselves of the atmosphere and the exceptional sailing conditions in the Caribbean. They are all already thinking about the major date on the calendar: Les Voiles de Saint Barth, from 14th to 19th April. We look at the state of play…
Les Voiles de Saint Barth marking the pinnacle of the Caribbean season
Joan Navarro from Barcelona is the skipper in charge of the IRC 52 Balearia, a Botin and Carkeek designed boat, which crossed the Atlantic last November from Las Palmas in the Canaries, with ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers). Her first Caribbean outing was a success, as she won the Mount Gay Rum Barbados Race. The RORC classic, the Caribbean 600 and then the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta will allow the beginners on board to learn more from Joan Navarro about how to sail this fast one-design boat. “This will be our first attempt at Les Voiles de Saint-Barth, which is undoubtedly one of the most attractive events in the Caribbean,” declared Navarro. “We know that the competition is likely to be very tough, but that the races will be extremely well-organised with an exceptional atmosphere ashore. We would like to continue on the same lines after our wins in the preparatory races. We often sail with crews made up of people from the business community, who are there to push back their limits, while at the same time enjoying these unique sailing conditions with the breeze and warmth from the trade winds.”
Sailing in the Caribbean, a very special pleasure
Also arriving here within the framework of the ARC late last year, Aronax (X 482), skippered by Alain Charlot, and the Dutch crew on the X 602 Nix, skippered by Nico Cortlever a regular at Les Voiles de Saint Barth, having already competed three times, have already registered in the Spinnaker and non Spinnaker classes. They will be doing battle against the Swede, Rikard Roth, who is also busy preparing for the event with his X50 Xar, and who after completing the ARC, has just discovered the amazing delights and pleasures of the Caribbean. “Antigua Sailing Week and LesVoiles de Saint-Barth represent the major goals for the start of the year in the sunshine,” explained Rikard Roth. “We really enjoy sailing in steady winds. It’s truly a very special pleasure to be sailing here. Even if all the manoeuvres seem to be easy, we need to remain focused and not get distracted by the beauty of the backdrop. It is also very enjoyable to be racing in such a warm atmosphere. Our crew is made up of a clever mixture of friends from Sweden and local sailors, who will teach us about all the subtleties of these waters…”
New challenges…
Arco van Nieuland is the happy co-owner with his fellow Dutchman Andries Verder of the Maxi Aragon, a 72-foot Marten-designed boat. Specialising in maxi racing in the Mediterranean, the Dutch are also here for the first time to discover the delights of fashionable yachting around St. Barth. They share with Frank Noël and his lads on the Swiss-registered IRC 52 Near Miss the same appetite for discovering a different atmosphere and new challenges in what is a paradise location, but which will nevertheless require them to find out more about the sea and coastal conditions. “We’re looking for a different sort of contest after competing for three years at all the major events in the Mediterranean,” explained Arco van Nieuland. “Sailing in St. Barth is a real challenge. We hope to be able to reach the standard that is required and improve racing alongside competitors from all over the world in what is for us a totally new environment…”
With two months to go to the big event, 56 boats have already registered, including eight maxis, three IRC 52s, and today’s finest cruising racers, Swans, Grand Soleil and X Yachts…
