The 11th edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille is now underway, as race organizers sent competitors on multiple courses ranging from 16 to 28 miles that utilized the best of Saint Barthélemy’s geography and signature sailing conditions in the easterly trade winds of 20 – 25 knots. Some teams were obviously more comfortable than others, but the action was indeed there in each of the 11 classes, setting the tone for a great week ahead.

One of the smaller boats in regatta, Niall Dowling’s Arabella is a new Cape 31 currently leading the sporty CSA 2 class over Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille veteran and class winner in 2019, the Melges 32 Lazy Dog owned by Puerto Rican Sergio Sagramoso.

“We’re a little boat, so the upwind sailing is hard work, but the conditions today were fantastic,” says Dowling, in just his third regatta with the new boat. “It was flat water for most of the racecourse, and going downwind we were hitting similar speeds as the wind.”

It’s been more than 20 years since the U.K.-based Dowling has raced in Saint Barth and it’s even better than he remembers. ”The racing has such beautiful scenery and it’s pretty amazing going around the nearby islands that serve as marks around the course. You’re right up next to some of the rock faces; it’s pretty spectacular.

“Not to mention, we’re used to sailing in cold weather and cold water, so to be in shorts and t-shirts enjoying a cold Heineken after racing is really special.”

Another sailor marveling at the scenic but challenging courses is first-timer Rob Grant from Santa Barbara, Calif. He’s racing onboard Pata Negra, a Lombard 46 in CSA 5. Chartered by skipper Bernie Girod and his longtime California-based J/111 crew, they raced on Pata Negra in the 2019 edition, finishing in second. The team returns again, starting today with a first-place finish in CSA 5.

“These are the most fun courses I’ve ever raced on,” says Grant, who stood in today as helmsman while Girod recovers from an injury. “Being able to go around all these incredible land features as marks, it’s just amazing. I’m blown away. I figured it would be good. But it’s better.”

Pamala Baldwin, who lives in Antigua, has raced Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille many times and considers it her pinnacle regatta each Caribbean season. The last time the regatta was held in 2019, she and her J/122 Liquid team won the CSA 4 class.

“The regatta lasts five days. It’s a marathon and if we have to settle for third place today, the gaps are only counted in seconds,” says Baldwin. “It promises to be a great fight throughout the week.”

In fact, Liquid is less than one minute on corrected time behind her competitors, Jokers on El Ocaso by John Maybury and Blitz by Peter Corr. The time difference is negligible in many other classes as well.

Among the Maxis, today’s match was particularly close between Jim Swartz’s Vesper and Hap Fauth’s Bella Mente. The two maxis were battling it out and Bella Menteovertook Vesper on the first downwind leg of the 28-mile race, but after Bella Mente had a disastrous spinnaker drop, Vesper re-claimed the lead. Currently in third place is George David’s Rambler 88, followed by Wendy Schmidt’s Deep Blue.

14 April 2022

2022 Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille returns with record attendance

This Sunday, 74 teams and more than 1,000 sailors from around the world will take to the turquoise waters around Saint Barthélemy for the triumphant return of the 2022 Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille, April 17 – 23. No doubt the two-year forced absence has whetted the appetite and attracted even more sailing enthusiasts, eager to sail and socialize.

The increasing popularity of the multihull classes

In the port of Gustavia, home to the central race village for the 2022 Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille, co-founders François Tolède and Luc Poupon are busy making the final preparations to welcome the competitors of this 2022 vintage in the French island’s signature classy yet casual way. 

The increasing popularity of the multihull classes contributes to the event’s strong numbers. “This is a trend that was already notable in recent years and continues to grow,” says Tolède. “At 18 strong, the catamarans and trimarans represent a quarter of the fleet.” 

Among them, we find regulars like Greg Slyngstad’s Fujin, who finished 2nd in the last edition in the ORCmh division; and also Mach Schnell from Kent Haeger, François Nel’s Arawak, Jim Vos’ Nala or her sistership, Brieuc Maisonneuve’s TS 5 Addictive Sailing. Are expected also a slew of the three-person Diam 24 OD trimarans – Sylvain Corroy’s Air Nest, Pierre Altier’s Cry Baby, and Karibuni Pinel Islander and ADH14 – who will most likely have their own regatta within the regatta.

Speed and beauty

The fight promises to be just as exciting for the Maxis. A category in which we will find real racing beasts, such as George David’s Rambler 88 who won the event in 2015. It is also a safe bet that Rambler 88 is a major customer for the Richard Mille Record Trophy intended to establish a reference time on a course of about 40 miles between the islands of Saint-Barth and Tintamarre. 

The same goes for, among others, Terence Glacking’s Prospector and Hap Fauth’s Maxi 72 Bella Mente; or Vesper, owned by Jim Swartz, four-time winner of the event between 2011 and 2016. 

“Susan and I have always enjoyed St. Barth, and so returning to sail was natural. It’s by far the best culinary and fun experience in the Caribbean, and sailing there in April is paradise,” says Swartz. “The race committee offers new routes every day that reflect the conditions of the day. We love figuring out the challenges as they unfold and trying our best to succeed with what is thrown at us.” 

Swartz has been a loyal fan of Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille since the beginning, just like Wendy Schmidt, who returns to the regatta on board her new boat, the Botin 85 Deep Blue. 

Upcoming matches at all levels

If the match promises to be close among the multihulls and the largest maxis, some great tussles are also expected among the Spinnaker fleets. Sergio Sagramoso’s Lazy Dog and Pamala Baldwin’s Liquid, both CSA3 and CSA4 titleholders, will obviously be competitors to watch closely, as will Andrew Hall’s Pata Negra, Jeremy Peter Thorp’s Phan, John Vincent’s Wings who will certainly have their say at the forefront during the racing. 

Others, the “newcomers,” could well, however, play the spoilsports, like EH01 – Global Yacht Racing skippered by Andy Middleton; Maximilian Klink’s Caro; Woody Cullen’s Hermes; or Ice, skippered by Marc Pajot. 

“After my first time in the last edition in 2019, I am delighted to return to the event aboard the Baltic 43 of my friend Hervé Margolis. I particularly appreciate the race which perfectly combines high-level regattas and a great social atmosphere. Although our boat will certainly not be the most efficient in the fleet, I am nevertheless very eager to race with my friends and not have to take the cold-weather gear in my luggage!” jokes Pajot, a 505 world champion, silver medalist at the Munich Olympic Games in the Flying Dutchman, three-time winner of the Multihull Trophy and winner of the Route du Rhum in 1982.

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