Les Voiles de Saint Tropez 2008

At the beginning of October, the generally quiet village of St. Tropez was again seized by the fever of activity that characterizes ‘les voiles.’ Almost 300 yachts, ranging from the traditional to the hypermodern, filled the bay of St. Tropez with billowing sails and a heightened sense of liveliness. At the end of the day, these boats dropped their anchors in the picturesque port and a forest of tall masts could be seen protruding above the rooftops. Thousands of visitors took advantage of the occasion to admire and gaze at the marvellous collection of polished bronze and beautifully varnished wood. It was a celebration which even those who knew little of boats and the sea could very much enjoy. And the nautical ambience was strengthened even further by the fact that many of the visitors were dressed in “Les Voiles de St. Tropez” clothing, a unique collection designed by Gaastra each year especially for this event.

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Tradition
The history of this famous event began over 25 years ago with a wager. Two sailors wanted to determine which of the two had the fastest yacht. So they decided to race each other from the harbour of St. Tropez towards a spot in the sea named ‘La Niou Largue’ and to finish at ‘Club 55’ on the beach of the French seaside resort. The loser came off fairly easily: he only had to pay for the day's lunch.
The historic origin of the race is still reflected in the character of the event today. More than any other sailing event, ‘Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez’ really is about the 'spirit of sailing.'

Dress code
In 2008, Gaastra again designed a complete collection of jackets, polo shirts, shorts and accessories exclusively for Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. And it's hard to help but notice this on the streets of St. Tropez. Each year, all the officials at the event as well as many of the participants and visitors are dressed in the striking Gaastra shirts and jackets, which could easily be recognized this time by the '08' on the back. One would almost think that Gaastra is becoming the dress code for Saint-Tropez. "We've noticed that our presence has increased recognition of the name of this event for people from all parts of the globe," says Marc Kooiman, commercial director for Gaastra. "This benefits the event as well as our brand. People visiting the event also come back each year especially for our collection, although I'm sure they also come for the special ambience in Saint -Tropez. We think it's very special that, as an international clothing brand, we can contribute so much to what is really a very French event."

Mistral
Of course, the races themselves depend very much on the weather. If there is little wind, most of the yachts make very little headway, but if there is too much wind, the organizers will not take any risks and will not hesitate to cancel the start. As a result, on the penultimate day of the competition, the race was cancelled because the notorious Mistral winds came out in full force. Unlike the situation in other countries, the responsibility for sailing in the race lies with the organizers and not the participants. On Saturday, the wind abated and the sun assumed its rightful place in the sky. For the last time of the year, the majestic fleet - consisting of a wide range of traditional as well as modern yachts - sailed out of the harbour. Regardless of whether you know much about sailing or not, it's a spectacle well worth seeing. The fact that the boats will return only a few hours later does not dampen anyone's spirits. "The social aspect of Les voiles is practically as important as the sailing itself," explains Kooiman. For many of the participants, it's all about seeing and being seen. The important thing is not who has the fastest boat, but who has the most attractive boat.

Gaastra Prix d’Elegance
Each year, Gaastra awards the ‘Gaastra Prix d’Elegance’ to the most beautifully outfitted boat. The prize consists of a photograph of the boat in full flight, within a beautiful frame, taken by the well-known sailing photographer Franco Pace. Not only does the crew have to be beautifully dressed, the overall harmony with the boat, the elegance of the clothing and the arrival in the harbour all play a role in awarding the prize. This time, the decision by the jury was unanimous that the new 44 m long Wally ‘Esense’ would be the winner. All week long, this ultra-modern yacht, designed by the Italian Luca Bassani, had been trailed by a great many boats filled with fans who wished to see the boat sailing close by. With over 900 m² of upwind sail and a gennaker measuring over 1500 m², it was far and away the most imposing modern boat on the water.