Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy: 10 days to go

Since 2011, the Gstaad Yacht Club has organised the Centenary Trophy in collaboration with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. Raced each Thursday on the traditional challenge day of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, the event has become an unmissable fixture for yachts of one hundred years and older.
The Centenary Trophy is raced in the spectacular pursuit-race format. The yachts start at staggered intervals according to their rating, with the slowest setting off first. The first boat to cross the finish line, set in front of the Tour du Portalet, is declared the winner. This principle allows yachts of very different sizes and rigs to race on equal terms, while guaranteeing suspense right to the final metres.

“This 15th edition marks an important milestone in the history of the Centenary Trophy. The Gstaad Yacht Club is particularly proud to organise, alongside the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, an event that has become a highlight for centenarian yachts. Since its creation, this regatta has celebrated their beauty, their history and the exceptional skill of the crews who keep them sailing. Seeing these magnificent yachts gathered each year in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez is a unique spectacle and a great source of pride for our Club”, says Manrico Iachia, Commodore of the Gstaad Yacht Club.

Two new centenarians

Built in 1926, Hallowe’en and Marilee, which celebrate their centenary this year, will take part in the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy for the first time.
Designed by William Fife III and built by the celebrated William Fife & Son yard in Fairlie, Scotland, Hallowe’en is a 24.75-metre Bermudan cutter. In Saint-Tropez she will join several other yachts from the board of the Scottish designer, among them Dione, Kismet, Silhouette, Sumurun and Tuiga.
Marilee was designed by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff and built in 1926 by the American yard Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. This 19.80-metre NY40 is also about to join the fleet of centenarians.

Leonore defends her title

Winner in 2025 on her very first appearance, Leonore (1925) will return to defend her title. Designed by the Norwegian naval architect Johan Anker, this 15-metre Q-Class will be aiming to make it two in a row.
She will line up against two of the event’s most successful yachts. Winner in 2015 and 2024, Oriole (1905) will be chasing a third success. A triple winner in 2014, 2019 and 2021, the Class P Olympian (1913) will be looking to add her name to the roll of honour for a fourth time.

“What a pleasure to be back at this regatta. With three wins already to her name, Olympian is now aiming for a fourth. The format is as simple as it is thrilling: the first to cross the line wins. The whole crew is ready to defend our chances”, says Philippe Oddo, owner of Olympian.

Twenty centenarian yachts expected

Alongside Hallowe’en, Marilee, Leonore, Olympian and Oriole, fifteen further yachts are expected on the start line: Black Swan (1899), Cariad (1896), Chips (1913), Corinthian (1911), Dione (1912), Joyant (1911), Kismet (1898), Lulu (1897), Nin (1913), Silhouette (1910), Sky (1890), Sumurun (1914), Thea (1918), Tuiga (1909) and Veronique (1907).
This exceptional fleet, made up of yachts built between 1890 and 1926, once again promises a majestic spectacle in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.