The maxi fleet returns to the Côte d’Azur this week as Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez begins its 2025 inshore series.
The event is one of the season's pinnacles, following the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the IMA Maxi European Championship. It will also decide the International Maxi Association’s Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge.
Current series leader is the 100ft Galateia, co-owned by David M Leuschen and Chris Flowers and with a strong Irish presence. Rivals include Karel Komárek’s 100ft V, Alessandro Del Bono’s Capricorno and Peter Dubens’ North Star.
A total of 45 maxis are registered, split into five classes ranging from the Frers 112 Sealen B to the Solaris 60 Crazy Diamond.
In Maxi 1, all eyes are on Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones’ Magic Carpet e. Designed by Verdier, she is capable of running fully electric while day racing and features a canting keel that can reduce draft for shallow harbours.
“She’s very new still, so you have to focus on your performance and see how the results are,” said tactician Francesco de Angelis. “We’re trying to learn the boat and the best environment to do that is against stiff competition.”
Her rivals include three former Wallycentos. Galateia is in strong form after winning the Maxi 1 World Championship. Komárek’s V has been close to victory this season, while Joost Schuijff’s Leopard 3 lost the Worlds on countback.
Also in the line-up is Pascale Decaux’s Tilakkhana II, formerly Magic Carpet Cubed, with a crew featuring Dee Caffari, Annemieke Bes, Marie Riou, and Sophie de Turckheim.
The Maxi Grand Prix class features competitive entries such as Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s Django 7X, Peter Dubens’ North Star, Peter Harrison’s Jolt, and Sir Peter Ogden’s Jethou.
Maxi 3 offers the most diverse fleet, with the Frers 112 Sealen B at one end and the Vismara 78 Pelotari.Project at the other. Returning contenders include Christian Oldendorff’s Spirit 111 Geist and Terry Hui’s Lyra, the defending champion.
Forecasts suggest light conditions early in the week, with a possible easterly later. “It’s one of those places where the race is never over until you’ve crossed the line,” said trimmer Pete Cumming.
Other fleets include Maxi 5, where six CNB yachts will compete, and the return of classics such as Juerg Schneider’s 1973 Swan 65 Saida and Evrika, once owned by Pink Floyd’s Rick Wright.
Racing begins Monday, 29 September from the Baie de Pampelonne and continues until Saturday, with a lay day scheduled for Wednesday.
