On the beach!
A favorite day for the Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille crews is the Thursday Day Off. A much deserved lay day after the first three intense days of racing, the sailors come together at Saint-Jean and the famous Nikki Beach restaurant to relax, enjoy, and have fun.
Since Les Voiles’ beginning in 2010, the organizers have struck the perfect balance between intense competition on the water, and a great social atmosphere on land that builds connections between the sailors. Under Thursday’s sunny skies, the regatta team organized beach games like Tug-o-War, water polo, and the sailors’ favorite – the Aquatic Treasure Hunt.
Organized with our partner Veuve Clicquot, the premise is simple for the Treasure Hunt – at “Go!”, the sailors dive in to swim and search for the 10 hidden bottles of Veuve Clicquot in Saint-Jean Bay between Eden Rock and the beach.
Tomorrow the beach games will return to the on-water games of racing tactics, starting strategies and teamwork as the Les Voiles competitors return to the water for a 10 am start. And with good news: the forecast continues to look spectacular with the trade winds still well established and 15 – 20 knots expected.
These conditions just might tip the scales for the race committee to decide Friday is the day to launch the Maxis and the Multihulls on the course of the Richard Mille Record Trophy, a loop of 49 miles between the islands of Saint-Barth and Saint-Martin. They will be out to beat last year’s record of 3 hours 01 minute and 58 seconds set by Rambler 88 of the American George David in the monohulls, and just 26 minutes more for the Multi50 French Tech Rennes St-Malo the Cancalais Gilles Lamiré.
In Brief:
Just a few of the sailing greats participating in this year’s 10th edition include : Stu Bannatyne, Alexia Barrier, Andy Beadsworth, Anneimeke Bess, Christine Briand, Tom Burnham, Charlie Capelle, Pierre Casiraghi, Saskia Clark, Pete Cumming, Alain Delhumeau, Jean-Pierre Dick, Marc Emig, Simon Fisher, Sidney Gavignet, Andy Green, Christian Guyader, Phil Harmer, Peter Harrison, Sir Peter Harrison, Roland Jourdain, Lauriot-Prévot, Jean-François Lilti, Sir Richard Matthews, Marc Pajot, Lionel Pean.
They Said:
Aline Moreau, Communications Director Cepac: “Beyond the growing popularity of the event among the world’s top international skippers, the Caisse d’Epargne CEPAC is keen to reassert its desire for a strong regional foothold by contributing to the positive influence of the local economy in projects supported by local institutions and business leaders from the Antilles Arc and Guiana. The flag of the Caisse d’Epargne CEPAC Antilles brand is flying for the 4th year at Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille in a bid to share the values inscribed in its DNA with the organizing team and sailing fans everywhere: team spirit, boldness and professionalism. For this edition geared towards the preservation of the oceans, the Caisse d’Epargne CEPAC is more committed than ever. Indeed, alongside Maelia, skippered by Raphaël Magras and a crew made up exclusively of local sailors as in previous years, the reference banking protagonist for the Mediterranean arc and France’s overseas departments and territories, which is widely involved in the environmental component, is joining forces with Oceasciences, in charge of hosting workshops throughout the week for the young students from the island’s primary classes. It is a mission, which perfectly ties in with the vocation of its three-pronged policy for patronage and sponsorship: sport, culture and education.
Raphaël Lipszyc, Business Development Manager at Veuve Clicquot: “We have been partners with Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille for five years. We celebrate the boldness of Madame Clicquot obviously, but also that of sailors. This 2019 edition is special since it is the 10th and for a brand of champagne, celebrating a birthday like this is obviously very important. This Day-off allows sailors to rest but also to meet for a big party and for that, what better drink than Veuve Clicquot?”
