Going into the final day of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, the International Maxi Association’s Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge sees two-way ties at the top of both the J Class and Maxi 1. Organized by the Société Nautique de Saint Tropez, the regatta marks the sixth and final event of the 2026 Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge, according to internationalmaxiassociation.com.
Coastal Course Replaces Light Wind Delay
Following a day lost due to failing winds off the Baie de Pampelonne, the race committee sent Maxi 100 and Maxi Grand Prix racers on a 28-mile coastal southwest route towards Cavalaire-sur-Mer, as reported by sail-world.com. Meanwhile, Maxi classes 2, 3, and 4 raced two windward-leewards alongside the three J Class yachts in a light easterly breeze with a subdued sea state compared to earlier in the week.
Svea dominated the J Class by defeating Rainbow and Hanuman in both races, pressmare.it reported. In the Maxi 1 division racing for the Edmond de Rothschild Trophy, Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones’ 100-foot Magic Carpet e claimed line honours after speeding down the Côte d’Azur coast and back. However, Karel Komárek’s 100-foot V secured its second consecutive bullet on corrected time, leaving V tied for the overall Maxi 1 lead with Sir Peter Ogden’s 77-foot Jethou, which finished second.
Tactical Sail Handling Decides Maxi 1
Wendy Schmidt’s 85-foot Deep Blue finished third after anticipating an unusual starboard weather mark rounding before heading down the coast, according to tactical insights shared by tactician Rob MacMillan. MacMillan noted that the complex sail changes, including jibtops and multiple angle kite peels, required flawless execution from the crew.
Incidents impacted several frontrunners during the coastal leg. Pascale Decaux’s 100-foot Tilakkhana II received a penalty for crossing over the line within a minute of the start gun, while the new 76-foot North Star III incurred a standard penalty for employing a stand-in helmsman for owner Peter Dubens, sail-world.com noted. North Star III and Lizz Flowers’ 100-foot Galateia both suffered costly technical issues when spinnakers dropped into the water during sail peels near the leeward mark off Cavalaire-sur-Mer.
Tight Margins Define Maxi 2 and Maxi 4 Battles
In Maxi 2, Terry Hui’s Wally 77 Lyra and Luciano Gandini’s Mylius 80 FD Twin Soul B are separated by a single point after discards, with pressmare.it detailing Twin Soul B’s 1-2 scoreline against Lyra’s 2-1 on the day. Lyra’s crew won the second race by just nine seconds, keeping them narrowly ahead of Twin Soul B and Marcos Vivian’s Wally 94 Astra 1.
In Maxi 4, Alessandro Aita is racing the Dehler 60 Blue Oyster—chartered for the event to Andrew Fitzmaurice, according to internationalmaxiassociation.com—holding a narrow lead where the top four boats remain within striking distance heading into the final series of races.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez?
Organized by the Société Nautique de Saint Tropez, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez serves as the sixth and final event of the International Maxi Association’s 2026 Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge.
Which boats are tied for the lead in Maxi 1?
Karel Komárek’s 100-foot V and Sir Peter Ogden’s 77-foot Jethou are tied at the top of the Maxi 1 leaderboard going into the final day of racing for the Edmond de Rothschild Trophy.
How many points separate the top boats in Maxi 2?
Only a single point separates Terry Hui’s Wally 77 Lyra and Luciano Gandini’s Mylius 80 FD Twin Soul B after the application of race discards.
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