A beautiful evening for the 10th anniversary prize-giving

At this year’s Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy evening, the perpetual trophy created by Wakely and Wheeler in London in 1911 was handed over to Olympian (PClass – William Gardner, 1913) for her exciting victory. It is the third time that Olympian, skippered by Bruno Troublé, has won the prestigious trophy and the first time, a miniature Martelé silver bowl by Robbe & Berking Silver Manufacturer remains with the winner to commemorate this victory. Besides the crew celebrates with an Imperial bottle of Whispering Angel, today’s global reference for premium rosé.

To the main prize for this year’s GYC Centenary Trophy, The Alpina Gstaad offered: two overnights in a Deluxe Suite for two persons with a personal cooking class by Chef Martin Göschel to learn more about his instinctive approach to Zero Waste dishes which is revolutionizing the cooking ways and waste reducing cooking.

For all the guests in Saint-Tropez, the evening was also a unique opportunity to relive together the first decade of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy a wonderful reminder, a very special few minutes of this extraordinary race in pictures by Juerg Kaufmann.

The evening programme was led by Shirley Robertson, OBE who made history by becoming the first British woman to win Olympic Gold Medals at two consecutive Olympic Games. She’s in Scotland’s prestigious Sports Hall of Fame, holds a role as Deputy Lieutenant for the Isle of Wight and is one of the most recognisable faces from the sport of sailing. She has been known as commentator for CNN Main Sail, the America’s Cup, and her monthly Sailing Podcast. Sitting down for in depth and personal interviews with some of the leading characters from Sailing’s diverse competitive arena.  From inside the closed doors of the America’s Cup, to the pressures and excitement of the Olympic racecourse, the danger and jeopardy of racing non-stop around the planet to the ultimate quest for the world’s fastest sailing boat, she talks all things sailing with the brightest lights in the sport. She was thanking anyone involved in designing and building these stunning yachts. “They may not have had the computer power of the 21st century, but they got something right. Your yachts living breathing a testament to their brilliance, still are they racing, racing hard in the hand of you and your talented crews. It’s very special. Thank you for cherishing them, it means a lot to the sport – a real thank you on behalf of sailing.” were her closing words.

Next to the Centenary Trophy, Robbe & Berking has been the sponsor of the GYC Centenarian Award, a large Sterling silver cup that was displayed and awarded as the 5^th edition in 2021 to Thalia owned by David Aisher. The cup, made in the Bauhaus style (1919-33), founded by architect Walter Gropius in Weimar, Germany, epitomizes the stylistic characteristics of its approach to design. It commemorates to honour those not racing any more. Originally taking place in April as an online ceremony, this evening marked the perfect occasion for the Centenarian Award also.

“This anniversary edition was memorable, with a historic finale. A race that undoubtedly will remain engraved in our memory, it was incredible. The award evening was also exceptional, a moment of sharing and exchange with all the participants. We watched beautiful images from previous editions. We look forward to seeing you next year for another edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy,” says Manrico Iachia, Commodore of the Gstaad Yacht Club, who is thankful to all its partners that chose to associate their brands with the 10^th Centenary Trophy Prize Giving Ceremony, especially the newly Centenarian company and supporting partner LGT Bank AG (1921 to 2021).  Since its foundation 100 years ago, LGT has grown from a small regional bank to an international private bank employing over 3’900 staff in more than 20 locations worldwide.

Remaining an independent family company and most importantly its duty is to manage their clients’ assets diligently and rigorously. Commitment, expertise, and sustainability – are all values that mark the family-run business.

The dining experience with maritime flair with more than140 guests, held right off the Saint-Tropez waterfront connected as well high-class partner brands. The Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy reception and dinner were accompanied by Robbe & Berking silver champagne flutes and silverware. And not any silverware, but the RIVA cutlery pattern, inspired by the legendary RIVA yachts that Brigitte Bardot made famous in her hometown of St. Tropez. The aperitif was hosted with NYETIMBER’s signature Classic Cuvee MV, a classic blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier and GARRUS, Château d’Esclans’ finest wine. Matching the Centenarian topic, it is made from a single vineyard of nearly 100-year-old Grenache vines, and from Rolle (Vermentino). Today Garrus is firmly established as a world class, iconic luxury rosé. Besides, two significant institutions in the Saanenland region, have decided to strengthen their friendship and support one another creating world class experiences for their mutual members or guests that will remain in their memories forever.

With the GYC Centenary Trophy celebrating its 10th anniversary and The Alpina Gstaad reaching its 10^th anniversary during the upcoming winter season (starting 10^th December 2021) it was the perfect occasion to join the neighboring GYC for the regatta in St Tropez. The Alpina Gstaad Executive Chef, Martin Göschel (1 Michelin Star & 18 Gault Millau Points) including his brigade, crafted a culinary aperitif and 3 Course menu that took our sailors and guests on a journey from the Swiss Alps all the way through Cote D’azur. Outsourcing the local ingredients from both regions to extract the most authentic flavors but also with the strong focus on sustainable cooking that both chef Martin and The Alpina Gstaad share. “The idea was to bring together the essential flavors that these two wonderful locations have to offer without creating something too overwhelming that would shadow the tastes and working with the local produce. Sophisticated but yet you must not forget that hungry sailors that have been out on see all day are expecting something to feed their hunger, we had a great time in during the GYC Centenary Trophy” says Martin Göschel, Executive Chef The Alpina Gstaad. “At The Alpina Gstaad, we truly believe in the power of cooperation and sustainable creativity. We are a lifestyle, and love to support partners that share the same values and contribute to a better world. With the GYC we are beyond excited to support each other’s projects, whether it is for the local farmer families back home in Gstaad or young sailors with great futures ahead. We must join forces to create awareness and contribute to a better world” says Mariano J. Tribelhorn, Director of Sales at The Alpina Gstaad.

So, save the date for the 11th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy in Saint-Tropez, scheduled for Thursday 29^th September 2022, and find out more information and a gallery of beautiful photos from previous editions in the Centenary Trophy website: https://gyccentenarytrophy.com

Past winners of the Centenary Trophy:

2011: Bonafide (1899)

2012: Marigold (1892)

2013: Due to adverse weather conditions the race did not take place and the Trophy was not given.

2014: Olympian (1913)

2015: Oriole (1905)

2016: Spartan (1913)

2017: Tilly XV (1912)

2018: Tilly XV (1912)

2019: Olympian (1913)

2021: Olympian (1913)

Editors’ notes

The Gstaad Yacht Club

The Gstaad Yacht Club was founded in 1998 by a group of sailor enthusiasts with the vision to “create a unique global yacht club away from the waters, instead of another local club by the waters”. Based in the Swiss mountains and in the beginning, very often acknowledged with surprise, the GYC developed to a club with 400 members from over 30 different countries and to a place where members and their guests love to meet. The GYC supports sailing projects on all levels from juniors to professional sailors and it has become a solid force on the Swiss sailing scene and especially among Olympic sailing and the classic yachts.

Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez

Dating back to 1862, the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez is one of the older Nautical Clubs – perhaps the second oldest in France! Coming from all over the world, sailors enjoy sailing and challenging themselves in this Bay of Saint-Tropez, an idyllic place! With more than 500 members, the club organizes or co-organizes more than 15 sailing events year-round including the Festival ARMEN, Au large de Saint-Tropez, Les Dames de Saint-Tropez, the Rolex Giraglia, the Trophée Bailli de Suffren, the Voiles de Saint-Tropez, Les Voiles d’Automne, in addition to the activities of the Pôle Moteur such as fishing, other Club outings and exceptional events (Dragon Worldcup, Swan, Sail GP…)

Robbe & Berking

is not only connected to yachting through silver, but as a classic yachts aficionado, Oliver Berking has also been in the yachting industry with his own classic boat yard (https://classic-yachts.com/en/), specializing in restoration and construction of new classic yachts, especially the 12mR yachts, which were the epitome of sailing elegance and aesthetics during the 20th century.

Free editorial images HERE

Press contacts: Soazig Guého & Carla Anselmi  

– Mobile : + 33 6 60 08 75 44 & + 39 347 46 32 757

– E-mail: soazig@palolemcom.com & carlanselmi2@gmail.com

Sailing Photographer: Jürg Kaufmann

– E-mail: juerg@go4image.com

– Copyright : Juerg Kaufmann / GYC

Images – Gstaad Yacht Club

Gstaad Yacht Club-web:  http://www.gstaadyachtclub.com

Managing Director: Cindy Schoenrich

Email: cindy@gstaadyachtclub.com

The 10^th Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy partners list:

SUPPORTING PARTNER

LGT Bank AG

PRODUCT PARTNERS

The Alpina Gstaad

Robbe & Berking

Chateau D’Esclans

Landmark

Nyetimber

Sknife