(Gustavia, St Barthelemy)- Les Voiles de Saint Barth celebrates its 6th
edition, April 13-18 2015, with a record fleet of eighty-one boats
registered. Created in 2010 by two old friends, François Tolède,
organizing director, and Luc Poupon, race director, the first year of
the regatta comprised 27 boats. With its simple and straightforward
goal of “competition on the water and conviviality on the shore,” Les
Voiles de Saint Barth has continued to attract sailors from around the
world, growing from that original of boats to an event that will have
nearly a 1,000 sailors from 20+ countries sailing in the five-day
competition. All set against the magnificent backdrop of the island of
Saint Barthelemy in a festive, friendly atmosphere.LVSB has become one of the more important events on the Caribbean sailing circuit, mixing good-vibes racing with stylish shore-side pursuits on the delightfully small yet enormously sophisticated French island of Saint-Barthelemy (aka St. Barth).
“With
lots of cooperation from many, many people we have been able to exhibit
that St. Barths is a valid destination for serious race teams,” said
Competition Manager Annelisa Gee, noting that seven 40-foot team
containers are being accommodated this year. “That's huge, because it
means logistics of getting boats and equipment here are getting better
with each edition. Bigger and better – that’s the common theme each
year, whether it's referring to the number and quality of boats that
come, the amenities and on-shore events for the teams, or adding – in
the case of this year – an offshore racing option to the tried-and-true
tactical inshore race courses that everyone likes so much.”Joining the fleet are several fun-loving, well-sailed J/Teams from around the world. In Spinnaker A division will be a slew of fast 40-footers, including the J/125 HAMACHI skippered by Greg Slyngstad from Seattle, Washington and recent winner of the Heineken St Maarten Regatta 2015 several weeks earlier. Hoping to match them will be Rick Wesslund’s famous team from Miami, Florida racing their J/122 EL OCASO with the eye-popping electric blue and shades of orange graphics.
In
the Spinnaker B division, last year’s top dog was the J/111 J-BOSS
sailed by Eddy Chalono from Martinique; hoping to improve even more on
their outstanding performance in 2014’s edition. They will be
challenged by a cadre of J’s that include the J/120 SUNSET CHILD sailed
by Christian Reynolds, the J/109 POCKET ROCKET helmed by David Cullen
from Ireland, another J/109- VOILES A FEMININE- with Sophie Olivaud
skippering an all-women team from St Barths, and the J/95 SHAMROCK
steered by Matt Dana from St Thomas, US Virgin Islands. 
On
Monday evening, the famous “Ma Family Trio” from the Savoy region of
France (singer Emily Collomb Malgrand; her brother Maxime Collomb-
guitarist/ bassist; and her husband Fabien Malgrand- guitarist/
percussionist) will be performing on Gustavia Harbor at the “regatta HQ”
stage. Their repertory is elegant, dynamic, and romantic with pop,
jazz, soul, and groove influences- - - an intelligent mix of generosity,
talent, humor, charm, complicity, and simplicity. Listen to one of
their latest tracks here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwaQWOcL7kk For more Les Voiles de St Barth sailing information
|
