Last call to participate in the 11th edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille, with a fleet of 72 sailboats ready to compete on April 17-23, 2022.
The regatta—open to Maxi, Spinnaker, and Multihull classes—promises some great battles to the finish and a truly fantastic show out on the water, with equally magic moments on shore to add to the fun…
2022 Poster
This year’s poster for Les Voiles will be on sale at the Race Village throughout the entire regatta.
Proceeds from the poster sales will be donated to Coral Restoration St Barth, a non-profit association that has worked hard for many years to repopulate zones on the reefs with genetically solid and diversified coral.
Zoom in on the Multi Class
16 multihulls are currently registered for the race: Under the ORCmh (multihull ratings rule), there are four HH66: R-Six, Nala, Flash and the newcomer Nemo. These rapid, 66′ (20.1m) cruising catamarans, designed by Morrelli & Melvin, are an impressive breed, marrying speed and elegance. Named Best boat by SAIL Magazine and Best Multihull by Sailing World in 2018, the HH66 has established a new standard for luxury cruising and high performance.
Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille © Christophe Jouany
Racing against them, under the CSAmulti rating rule, the entries include three Orc50: Five Oceans, Addictive Sailing, and Guyader Saveol. These live-aboard cruising catamarans are built by the French shipyard, Marsaudon Composites. This sailboat with a fiberglass daggerboard, rigged as a split sloop, and designed by naval architect Christophe Barreau, measures 15.23m long (50′) with a maximum draft of 2.7m. There is no doubt that the competition will be hot in these two categories.
As a reminder, in 2014 Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille adopted the Multihull Ratings Rule-ORCmh. This specific rating system for any type of catamaran or trimaran aims to be more just and egalitarian in ratings, as it takes into account the characteristics of the centerboard and geometry of the hull, as well as weight, when assigning handicaps.
See the entries list
Les Voiles Welcomes A New Champagne Partner
Founded in 2005, Champagne Barons de Rothschild is a family business close to the hearts of the three branches of the Rothschild family. For the first time in their history, the three have united to create one shared vineyard, working together to create their unique interpretation of a Grand Vin de Champagne, blending the elegance of Chardonnay with prolonged ageing, and minimalist dosage.
“We are proud to associate our brand with this superb regatta, Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille, which is the perfect extension of our family’s historic attachment to the paradise that is Saint Barth. It is also a beautiful demonstration of our commitment to excellence without compromise and an invitation to enjoy the best of French lifestyles.” Frédéric Mairesse, managing director, Champagne Barons de Rothschild – Frédéric Mairesse, managing director, Champagne Barons de Rothschild
2022 Race Courses
St Barth has many outlying islets, both large and small. The average depth of the water is about 20 meters, with a few zones more delicate for those with a larger draft (up to 8.5m). “The courses are designed around the island and these islets to try and vary the appeal and increase the number of maneuvers, mixing close-haul tacks and downwind tacks,” explains Luc Poupon, race director.
“The choice is made by the race committee based on daily weather conditions, the size of the boats, and thus their average speed,” adds Poupon. “The starts are generally around 10am, the goal being that all of the boats are back in the port by 5pm. In certain categories we can organize two races on the same day.”
Race Documents 2022 available here.
Day Off at Nikki Beach
You can go ahead and sign-up now for our Day Off on Thursday, April 21 at Nikki Beach, a waterfront restaurant on the beautiful beach of St Jean.
Places are limited, so reservations are strongly recommended. Contact barbara@nikibeach.com for reservations.
by Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille
