Each autumn Saint-Tropez transforms itself into far more than a Mediterranean playground. From 27 September to 5 October 2025 the port and the gulf will host the 27th edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, an event that blends high-level competition, maritime heritage and a festive atmosphere unique to the Côte d’Azur. Close to 300 sailing yachts, from majestic Big Boats to cutting-edge TP52s, will gather once again, honouring a tradition that began with the Nioulargue in 1981 and remains the reference point of Mediterranean yachting.
The Village des Voiles will be open to the public daily, free of charge, from morning until late evening, becoming the social heart of the week. Live music each night, a mix of exhibitions, environmental conferences and gatherings of crews and locals will give the event its atmosphere of conviviality. On the water, the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez has prepared a rhythm of competition that begins with the arrival of the yachts on the opening weekend, followed by racing for Maxis and Moderns from Monday, and the great spectacle of the Rolex Trophy for the classics on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday is reserved for the playful spirit of the Défis and the Club 55 Anniversary Cup, while Friday and Saturday will see all fleets racing, with the Edmond de Rothschild Trophy for the Maxis and the BMW Trophy for the Moderns. The curtain will fall on Sunday with the traditional prizegiving for the classic and modern yachts.
Among the yachts of tradition, attention will naturally be drawn to Atlantic, the 64-metre schooner first launched in 1903 and rebuilt in 2010. This year marks the 120th anniversary of her legendary Atlantic crossing, a record that stood unbroken for 75 years. Atlantic appears for the first time at Saint-Tropez, joining eight other Big Boats to compete for the Rolex Trophy, awarded this year to the giants of the past. Alongside her will be Cariad, the Arthur Payne ketch of 1896, the 23-metre JI Cambria which won here in 2010, and other icons such as Black Swan and Croce del Sud. Their presence confirms Saint-Tropez as the essential gathering place for classic yachts, restored with dedication and sailed with passion.
The Maxi division, with 41 entries, is now one of the largest assemblies of racing giants in the world. The contest for the Edmond de Rothschild Trophy will bring together Wally Centos, Farr 100-footers and the latest generation of lightweight rockets. Django 7X, a Wallyrocket 71 of just 12 tonnes displacement, makes its debut, while Leopard 3, world champion in 2024, returns after an absence. Sir Lindsay Owen Jones is back at the helm of Magic Carpet E, designed by Verdier, while Tilakkhana II, formerly Magic Carpet Cubed, reappears with a largely female crew led by Dee Caffari, Marie Riou and Sophie de Turckheim. The Maxis, racing off Pampelonne, will provide the most spectacular images of speed and scale.
In contrast, the Moderns bring eclecticism. One hundred and twenty five yachts, divided into five classes, range from IRC racers to elegant Tofinou 9.50s. The TP52s remain the benchmark, competing for the BMW Trophy, with the spotlight on Nanoq, helmed by King Frederik X of Denmark, as well as strong French projects like Daguet 5 and Albator 3, the latter fresh from the Admiral’s Cup. New designs such as Maxitude, a Lift 45 with a scow bow and powerful lines, illustrate the evolving culture of race-cruising.
Beyond the competition lies what gives Les Voiles its character, the Corinthian spirit. Since the first friendly challenge at Club 55 more than forty years ago, the event has embodied the idea that sailing is a game to be enjoyed with elegance, humour and respect for rivals. In 2025 that spirit will be celebrated with the seventieth anniversary of Club 55 itself, the legendary Pampelonne beach restaurant where the Nioulargue was born. The Club 55 Anniversary Cup promises to be a highlight of the week, a nod to the origins and a reminder of the values that underpin the glamour.
With over 240 yachts spread across the gulf and a poster created by artist Jacques Cordier that captures the intensity of sea and sky, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2025 is set to extend the golden light of late summer into October. It is a meeting of history and modernity, of sport and lifestyle, and it reaffirms Saint-Tropez as the world’s capital of sailing spectacle.
