The 11th edition of Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille came to a close this weekend with the final day of racing taking place on Saturday. After a much needed day off, the penultimate day of racing began on Friday with the Maxis sailing the longest course of the event, a 35-mile round route around St Barths before retracing their steps back to Gustavia.
Photo: Christophe JouanyCompared to the beginning of the week, Friday saw lighter but still easterly winds that dropped to 10 knots. The occasional cells passed through bringing significant shifts with building winds and a deluge. These winds particularly affected the Maxi Class; “The clouds pretty much dictated when the breeze came in. We were constantly racing the clouds today” explained Vesper’s runner/strategist Dan Slater.
Photo: Christophe JouanyThe battle for the top spot intensified amongst the class, and as Rambler 88 rounded the St Jean mark, Bella Mente, who was under kite, impressively rolled Vesper (under jib) to leeward. But within minutes a cell closed, and Bella Mente’s kite blew up spectacularly. Vesper managed to split from Bella Mente by a few boat lengths to lead around the leeward turning mark, before yet another match race between the two commenced. “We got away from them when we got to the back side of the St Barth's island, but then we concertinaed up, carrying the old breeze back around the island,” said Vesper’s, Dan Slater.
Photo: Christophe JouanyBut for the first time at this event Wendy Schmidt’s Botin Partners 85 Deep Blue secured the Maxi Class race win in what proved to be the closest race results to date! As the newest boat in the fleet, this was only Deep Blue’s second ever race win. This ended the perfect scoreline of Jim Swartz’s Vesper who finished the race in second, just 12 seconds astern under IRC corrected time.
Photo: Christophe Jouany“There was a little bit less breeze and we were going better against Rambler 88” explained Rob MacMillan, Deep Blue’s tactician and project manager. “Plus, we changed a few set-up things which helped. We were able to sheet the main on harder, and we have been working on our downwind modes and that seemed to pay dividends.”
Photo: Christophe JouanyDeep Blue got away more cleanly in the squall at St Jean compared to those astern and the crew was able to carry their kite for longer to the bottom of the course. “This is a nice win for Wendy Schmidt and her team.” said Benoît de Froidmont, president of the International Maxi Association and ambassador for this 11th edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille. “Unlike the previous days, this time they did not encounter any hydraulic problems. Better still, they got off to a very good start but they also had a bit of luck,” 
Photo: Christophe JouanyAlthough it was Deep Blue that finished first, until the final stage, the race had been one that appeared to be going Rambler 88’s way. “I thought today was our day,” said tactician Brad Butterworth. “It was going well for us right up until the end. The big shifts were good for us on the long run down to the bottom of the course - we rounded there in very good shape and the beat went well for us. We had got quite a big lead at the top of the island, but we couldn’t carry the breeze to the finish, which is what put us back in the fleet again. There were all these cells coming through, so it was quite difficult. But you can’t complain - it was great sailing.”
Photo: Christophe JouanyThe final day of racing saw somewhat of an order restored to the Maxi Class. The forecast for the day was for 12-15 knots from the east-northeast with the wind being lighter at start time off Gustavia, and as the maxis circled the western lee of St Barts. However as soon as they ventured out to the more exposed north shore, conditions built. The Maxi class sailed a 36-mile clockwise lap of St Barts, with a long leeward-windward dogleg northeast of St Barts.
Photo: Christophe JouanyVesper took the win by beating Hap Fauth’s Botin Partners 74 Bella Mente on IRC corrected time. This was the biggest margin to date with an impressive five and a half minutes. The peppermint coloured Maxi 72 had managed to win every race, bar the previous days’, to end the week on six points, giving her maximum points for this third event in the IMA’s Caribbean Maxi Challenge. Bella Mente comfortably retained second, while a third place for yesterday's winner, Wendy Schmidt's Botin Partners 85 Deep Blue, caused them to claim third overall in a tiebreak with George David's Rambler 88.
Photo: Christophe Jouany“We had a breeze on the other side of St Barts and a good high speed run down on the front edge of a rain cloud. That caught everyone out – we all had down-range sails on.” commented Vesper tactician Gavin Brady, “We were looking over our shoulder going ‘we need a heavier weather jib, Bella Mente changed, but we just hung on with our light jib and were able to roll them. Simon and Warwick did a nice job re-moding the boat and Jim Swartz was doing a really nice job driving.”
Photo: Christophe JouanyInternational Maxi Association President, Benoît de Froidmont raced on board Wendy Schmidt’s Deep Blue when she won yesterday’s Maxi race. He commented: “It was a fantastic week. Everything was there to make it a great success – lots of boats, great weather and a race committee and organisation as perfect as usual. Walking the pontoons, everyone seems very happy with this 11th edition.Photo: Christophe Jouany“The quality of the racing in the maxi fleet has been very high here – as high a level as we see in the Med.” he continued. “It shows that the top maxi teams are very keen to come. Everyone is very enthusiastic to have our IMA Caribbean Maxi Challenge and the RORC-IMA Transatlantic Race. We have been talking about it for a long time and it is certain to grow rapidly in the coming years.”
The IMA’s Caribbean Maxi Challenge continues with its final event, Antigua Sailing Week taking place over 30 April to 6 May.