The Les Voiles de St. Barth’s first race kicked off in 2010 when François Tolède and Luc Poupon wanted a healthy competition on the water while having friendly camaraderie on shore. The original race was participated by 27 boats. Since then, the number of participants has been growing. This year’s race marked 61 vessels to the race. Top sailors from all over the world come and compete in the Les Voiles de St. Barth. Some of these names include Lionel Péan, Ken Read, Peter Holmberg, and Jim Swartz.

Saint Barthélemy, more popularly called St. Barths in English, is a volcanic island with an area of 25 square kilometers and has a population of around 10,000 (based on a 2013 census). Its capital is Gustavia, which also contains the main harbor to the island. It is home to an eclectic mix of iguanas, night-blooming cactus, and designer boutiques. Its fabulous beaches are riddled with luxurious yachts that come from different parts of the globe. Tourism on the island hits its peak during the winter season of the year, when rich folk and celebrities come to enjoy the warm Caribbean sun.

The competition was very challenging. Crews struggled to make the most of “gentle breezes” that plagued the waterways. The Racing committee had to cancel Saturday’s races because of it. These wind conditions, or rather the lack of it, was a very unusual scenario for the Les Voiles. Regardless, the event closed with three (instead of the usual four) days of regattas. Peter Harrison, CEO of Richard Mille EMEA, finished in 1st place in the CSA 0 class with his sailboat Sorcha TP 52, after placing 3rd and 2nd in the 2015 and 2016 editions respectively. American George Sakellaris took victory in the Maxi Yacht category on his boat Proteus. He also took this year’s top spot in general rankings, as he did in the previous year’s regatta.

The 8th edition of the Les Voiles de St. Barths is slated to run in April next year. The island of St. Barths and Richard Mille will be there to welcome all skippers, their crew, and sailing enthusiasts for another week of racing, revelry, and relaxation.

The competition was very challenging. Crews struggled to make the most of “gentle breezes” that plagued the waterways. The Racing committee had to cancel Saturday’s races because of it. These wind conditions, or rather the lack of it, was a very unusual scenario for the Les Voiles. Regardless, the event closed with three (instead of the usual four) days of regattas. Peter Harrison, CEO of Richard Mille EMEA, finished in 1st place in the CSA 0 class with his sailboat Sorcha TP 52, after placing 3rd and 2nd in the 2015 and 2016 editions respectively. American George Sakellaris took victory in the Maxi Yacht category on his boat Proteus. He also took this year’s top spot in general rankings, as he did in the previous year’s regatta.

The 8th edition of the Les Voiles de St. Barths is slated to run in April next year. The island of St. Barths and Richard Mille will be there to welcome all skippers, their crew, and sailing enthusiasts for another week of racing, revelry, and relaxation.