Over one hundred and fifty women sailors aboard the legendary classic yachts are currently getting ready and will soon be calling into the Port of Saint-Tropez before taking part in three days of racing!
Les Dames de Saint-Tropez is one of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez’s flagship events, featuring women at the helm and aboard some of the finest traditional sailing yachts in the Mediterranean!
Among the crew, some of the biggest names in sailing are Alexia Barrier, who will be skippering the pretty Bermudan sloop One Wave.
Under the supervision of an all-female Race Committee led by Alice Coquant, the competitors will be sailing in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez on Friday May 8 from 12pm, Saturday May 9 and Sunday May 10 from 11am, weather conditions permitting.
On land, spectators can admire the sailboats with their funny ladies in the Port of Saint-Tropez.
It’s worth noting that this beautiful event opens the annual classic yachts season as the second event on the AFYT (Association Française des Yachts de Tradition) calendar.
A remarkable line-up to delight the eyes
In the mythical old port of Saint-Tropez and on the starting line of the regattas, we will find the regulars of this event; MARIA GIOVANNA from 1969, the most faithful (it will be her 12th participation) and several times winner of the Ladies or the faithful and formidable crews like the doyen of the fleet: LULU from 1897 or RATAFIA from 1962 .
Also among the favourites will be the 1929 ketch BELLE AVENTURE, the 1955 Bermuda cutter ARGYNNE3, the 1965 Yawl HERMITAGE, the 1913 8MT NIN, the 1950 6mJI ONE WAVE, the 1935 cutter IRENE VIII, THEA, a 1918 21m sloop, SERENADE of 1938, ANDALE of 1951 and BRISEIS of 1931.
Newcomers to the race will add even more spice and color to the event: the Bermuda sloops JOSEPHINE from 1959, MOONSPRAY from 1962, RHEA from 1940, ROY D’YS from 1965, SUZETTE from 1930…
Note that this regatta is part of the AFYT (Association Française des Yachts de Tradition) calendar.
Zoom in on some of the beautiful units present
SERENADE – the charmer
With a 100% female crew and Charlotte Franquet at the helm, Sérénade, a magnificent 1938 Marconi sloop, is one of the favourites!
It has to be said that Charlotte’s crew never misses an edition and has even won the Dames de Saint-Tropez many times in her category on different boats, including in 2024 on Serenade. !
Serenade was commissioned by the famous Lithuanian violinist Jascha Heifetz and built for the 1938 Trans-Pac race (Los Angeles -Honolulu). Its designer, Nicholas Potter, was known as the Herreshoff of the West Coast.
ARGYNNE III as Monaco YC ambassador
Usually alongside Tuiga, who will be unable to attend this year, Argynne III will strengthen Monaco’s presence in traditional regattas from 2022 onwards. This 1955 Marconi cutter, designed by the famous architect Eugène Cornu, was donated to the Yacht Club de Monaco. This gesture revived the Club’s history, since one of its former owners was none other than Professor Charles-Louis Chatelain, former President of the Y.C.M.
True to the spirit of transmission and excellence, Argynne III will also be at the start of the Dames de Saint-Tropez, with a crew that promises to showcase the talent of the female gender.
THEA, the grande dame of the 12mR fleet
Designed by Norwegian naval architect Johan Anker, the Santa (N-4), as she was first named, was built to an S-class formula proposed in 1918. When the second international rule was adopted in 1919, her design was modified to conform. Thea (D-1) played a key role in the renaissance of Vintage Twelve Metres sailing in the Baltic States.
Of Norwegian origin, he has been owned by Danes since 1970. For many years, she was the representative of the 12mR class in Denmark. Thea has been so well maintained by her owners over the years that she has never needed a complete restoration! Today, at 107 years of age, she is the grand dame of the 12mR fleet.
IRENE VIII, an endearing sailboat
“Irène VIII is the last and largest boat designed and built by Johan Anker in 1935 for Olympic sailing champion Eugen Lunde.
It is one of the last representatives of the 10-meter JI metric class, of which Johan Anker was one of the major architects.
Irène has only had 4 owners in 90 years, which just goes to show how endearing she is.
NIN, a first-class sailboat
NiN is a first-class 8-meter sailing yacht. Over the years, she has had nine owners, who have successively christened her “Nini”, “Patara”, “Thérèse”, “Sirius” and finally “NiN” since 2010. After starting out as an auric yawl (1913-1919), she was rigged as a Bermudian (1919-2010), and since 2010 as an auric cutter.
As soon as she was acquired in 2010, her new owner, Yves Laurent, had NiN classified as a Historic Monument, and proceeded with her complete restoration, involving naval expert Daniel Charles, designers Jacques & Nicolas Fauroux, the Gilbert Pasqui yard in Villefranche-sur-Mer and rigger Patrick Moreau, nicknamed “Docteur La Ficelle”. Since her restoration in 2012, NiN, a member of AFYT (Association Française des Yachts de Tradition), has taken part in regattas on the Mediterranean circuit.
Schedule :
Thursday, May 7, 2026:
– 9:00 am to 6:00 pm: Confirmation of registrations at the Club House of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez
– 7:00 pm: Welcome cocktail
Friday, May 8, 2026:
– 9:30 a.m.: Mandatory briefing for the skipper at Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez
– 12pm: Pick-up at the start area
-6:30 p.m.: boule competition Place des Lices
Saturday, May 9, 2026:
– 11 a.m.: Pick-up at the start area
– 8:00 pm: Crew party
Sunday, May 10, 2026:
– 11 a.m.: Pick-up at the start area
– 5pm: Prize-giving ceremony at the Club House of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez
Facebook Ladies: https://www.facebook.com/DamesdeSaintTropez/
Ladies’ Instagram: https: //www.instagram.com/damesdesainttropez
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