Winner 2012

Marigold

One could not have asked for more for the second edition of the Centenary Trophy. A bright sun, blue skies just streaked with clouds, a good south-westerly of ten/twelve knots, hundreds of spectators’ boats and a huge public watching the show from the old port walls. In a close and thrilling finish, gusts sweeping the line, Marigold crossed in first, ahead of Bonafide and Oriole. Marigold’s owner Richard Allan was ecstatic and shortly after arriving on the pontoon commented: “We are really, really happy, it’s great to race in an event when each competitor has the same age. It’s the first time we took part to the trophy so we’re even more satisfied.” Allan also explained that the secret the success was all in the boat. “Marigold loves, thrives in strong breeze. The handicap we got takes into consideration the fact that she has still cotton sails and I think the system is very fair. We’ll be back next year to defend our title, that’s sure!”

Community

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”. The GYC was regarded with astonishment in the beginning as a club in the mountains without water and meanwhile developed to a club with about 400 members from over 30 different countries. With sailing projects on all levels from juniors to professional sailors and the launch of the Centenary Trophy regatta in 2011 it has become a solid force on the Swiss sailing scene and for classic boats.

Manrico G. Iachia, GYC Commodore, Gstaad Yacht Club

With more than 600 members and organizing fifteen events including the Voiles de Saint-Tropez, the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez is one of the oldest clubs in France, its origins date back to 1862. Since 2015, the merger of sailing clubs of Saint-Tropez (formerly UST Sailing and SNST) helped to broaden the horizons. Located in two beautiful places, the Club includes several centers of nautical activities: Sailing competition, sailing school and Motor Yachting.

Pierre Roinson - Président, Société Nautique Saint Tropez

The mix of classic yachts with ultra-modern boats is the main feature of the “Les Voiles” and its true “brand” as are the festival and the many activities on land, wide open to the Tropezians and the public.
Since 2011 during “Les Voiles de Saint Tropez “ a new special challenge has been organized, on Thursday – Jour des Defis. Initiated by the GYC in cooperation with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez the Centenary Trophy has been launched as a race for traditional boats aged 100 years and older.

Tony Oller, Director of the Port of Saint-Tropez

The Centenary Trophy at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez each year is a celebration of yachting history that lives long in the memory for spectators and participants. To sail on these great old boats is a privilege, to watch them is unforgettable. With the Centenary Trophy, the Gstaad Yacht Club has created a showcase of some of the most important boats afloat.
“Tying in with the race, Classic Boat magazine is delighted to be partnering with the Gstaad Yacht Club for our Centenarian of the Year trophy, which we award annually to a boat that is now enjoying her second century under sail.”

Rob Peake, group editor, Classic Boat