Oriole Wins the 13th Edition

Competition resumed on the water this Thursday, October 3rd, following a “Swiss Night” organized at the Place des Lices by the Gstaad Yacht Club, in a festive and convivial atmosphere. Twenty centennial sailboats participated in the 13th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy, held as part of the Voiles de Saint-Tropez. The race took place in approximately ten knots of wind under beautiful summer sunshine. The winner was Oriole (1905), the first to cross the finish line in front of the Portalet Tower. The Herreshoff-designed boat triumphed ahead of the 10-Metre JI gaff-rigged Marga (1910) and the P Class Olympian (1913), rounding out the podium.

The grand old dames of the sea put on a splendid sailing spectacle off the coast of Saint-Tropez! After tacking through the gulf to the delight of the many spectators watching from prime viewing spots on the Môle Jean Réveille, the centenary yachts set off one by one on the 9-mile course. The race started in front of the Portalet Tower, with the competitors chasing after Sunbeam Dainty (1922). They passed the Rabiou buoy, then the Moutte buoy to starboard, before rounding a marker buoy outside the gulf and returning to the starting point, leaving the Moutte buoy to port. As with every year since its inception, the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy followed a “pursuit race” format, allowing all yachts to compete on an equal footing. The concept: boats cross the starting line based on their rating, and the first to cross the finish line wins the race.

The third boat to start, Oriole, quickly overtook its competitors who had set off a few minutes before, while managing to keep its pursuers at bay. The gaff-rigged sloop was the first to round the outer marker buoy and successfully maintained its lead to cross the finish line as the victor. “The regatta was fantastic. We sailed in light wind, but it remained consistent throughout the race. We are very happy; we sailed very well without making any mistakes. It was a calm but very interesting day. We really love this regatta,” said Spaniard Juan Carlos Eguiagaray, owner of the boat, delighted to claim victory in his seventh participation in the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy, after first winning in 2015.

Marga (1910), helmed by Brazilian sailing legend Torben Grael, happily returned to the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy, finishing in second place. “Last year, I sailed on a boat that wasn’t yet a hundred years old. I’m glad to participate again in the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy. I love this race and the pursuit race format. We only do one race. The rating adds a bit of complexity, but in the end, the first to finish wins. It’s fun,” said the five-time Olympic medalist, who has won gold twice.

“The assessment of this 13th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary is very positive. Each year, we are excited to welcome new boats as the fleet ages. Today, we opted for the shorter course because there wasn’t much wind, which created superb conditions for the competitors and allowed for a great race,” commented Daniel Heine, Sailing Officer of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy, who also participated in the regatta aboard the 8-Metre JI Silhouette (1910).