Record 2013 Trophée Bailli de Suffren fleet for Malta
Typical classic yachts at the Camper & Nicholsons Trophée Bailli de Suffren. Photo: Kurt Arrigo Twenty-five classic yachts will be arriving in Malta with their owners, crews and an army of supporters for the spectacular finish of the Camper &...
[attach id="261118" size="medium"]Typical classic yachts at the Camper & Nicholsons Trophée Bailli de Suffren. Photo: Kurt Arrigo[/attach]
Twenty-five classic yachts will be arriving in Malta with their owners, crews and an army of supporters for the spectacular finish of the Camper & Nicholsons Trophée Bailli de Suffren, celebrating historic and modern links between Malta and Saint Tropez.
The 600-mile race actually takes its name from a famous 18th century French admiral, Pierre André de Suffren de Saint-Tropez, who spent his early career in Malta and while here received the title of “Bailli de Suffren” from the Knights of St John.
De Suffren was known by his sailors and his enemies (particularly the British) as “Admiral Satan”.
His exploits as a warrior earned him a reputation in his native France comparable to Horatio Nelson’s in Britain. To date, seven ships of the French Navy have borne the name of Suffren in his honour while his statue still dominates the quayside in Saint-Tropez.
The ‘Bailli’ is known as the Mediterranean’s most beautiful yacht race not only for the beauty of the very special yachts taking part but also for its unique “gentlemen’s race spirit” and the exotic ports marking the course.
Now in its 12th edition, it is the longest off-shore race for classic yachts over 11-metres.
The start from Saint-Tropez will be on Saturday, finishing about ten days later at Valletta’s Grand Harbour after stop-overs in Porto Rotondo, Sardinia and Trapani.
The race was originally the brainchild of three friends – Henri-Christian Schroeder (now Commodore of the Trophée Bailli de Suffren), Christian Benoit (co-founder of the race and Marenostrum Racing Club president), and Pierre Hugo (vice-president of the Marenostrum Racing Club).
Ben Stuart, Grand Harbour Marina general manager, joined the race’s executive team last year when Camper & Nicholsons Marinas signed on as lead sponsors for the next five years, creating an association between a famous race of classic yachts and one of the oldest and most prestigious names in the yachting industry.
“Our goal when we took this on last year as headline sponsor was not only to raise the profile and number of yachts taking part in this special event but also to confirm Malta as a sophisticated yachting destination,” said Stuart.
“I am gratified that the fleet this year not only almost doubled but includes four big boats, each over 30 metres.”
Coordinated by the Marenostrum Racing Club, the organising authority for the race is made up of yacht clubs in the host ports: the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, the Yacht Club Porto Rotondo and the Royal Malta Yacht Club.
The race is split in two classes, Vintage (with a CIM rating) and Classic (under IRC rating).
The overall prize is the Sword of Honour of ‘Admiral Satan’.
This year’s record fleet ranges from the 12-metre Paly-nodie II to the majestic 69.24-metre Atlantic.
This three-masted classic schooner will be taking on 55-metre Elena, promising an exciting race.
Four past winners of the ‘Bailli’ are looking to recapture the title – Lelantina (sailed to victory in 2002); Havsornen (2006); Moonbeam IV (2008); and Rowdy (back-to-back wins in 2009 and 2010).
The ‘oldest’ yacht this year will be the 31-metre Moonbeam III.
A regular at classic yacht regattas for decades, Moonbeam III was built at Scotland’s Fairlie Yard in 1903 to a design by the famed William Fife.
Atlantic, the largest yacht in the race, was built in 2010 in the Netherlands by Van Der Graaf BV and is recognised as the largest classic racing schooner ever to be recreated.
This boat is a faithful replica of William Gardner’s classic winner of the transatlantic ‘Kaiser’s Cup’ in 1905.
“Atlantic is legendary in today’s classic yacht racing circuit,” Stuart remarked. “With 18,500 square feet of sail, she is a magnificent sight.”
Ironically, two centuries ago Admiral de Suffren de Saint Tropez represented a figurative link between the ports of St Tropez and Birgu.
Then, in October 2012, against the backdrop of the ‘Bailli’, historic links between the two Mediter-ranean ports were formalised when Saint-Tropez was twinned with Birgu to join forces in promoting sustainable tourism, particularly in the maritime sector.
On July 3, Camper & Nicholsons Marinas will host the race prize-giving ceremony beneath the walls of Fort St Angelo at Grand Harbour Marina in Birgu.