Tell Tales
SOUTH OF FRANCE
Centenarians race at Saint-Tropez
Twenty three yachts, each more than 100 years old, took part in the 10th anniversary Centenary Trophy at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez in late September. The annual race is organised by the Gstaad Yacht Club and has steadily grown in stature and number to become one of the centrepieces of this spectacular regatta, and so it was this year, as an epic race took place worthy of the most competitive modern yachts and featuring two former America’s Cup helmsmen.
It was light easterly winds in which the fleet set sail from Le Portalet Tower at midday and at the end of a 7.5-mile circuit around the bay, it was the 1913 P-Class that took line honours after a close battle with . Bruno Troublé was at the helm of the winner and Peter Isler was helming the Herreshoff design . It was the second victory in a row for the Gardner design , whose restoration Troublé oversaw. Third on the podium was another Troublé find, the fellow P-Class, . Troublé, helmsman on the French America’s Cup entry in 1980 and 1983, said: "It reminded me of the America’s Cup. We took the win against Peter Isler [America’s in 1987 and 1988] after an epic finale where we were absolutely neck and neck. He left me a little space at the mark and I slid under his transom and when he tacked we were ahead. I remained in a quartering wind, making a series of tack changes, but he was never able to overtake. We had a lot of fun!"
