Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy 2024 - Preview

12th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy © Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com

Join us on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024, in Saint-Tropez for the 13th edition of the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy. Once again, the Centenary Trophy will be the must-attend event for centenary yachts during the traditional challenge day of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez.

Onshore, the Gstaad Yacht Club will honour Switzerland at the Place des Lices on Wednesday, October 2, with the "Swiss Night."

The Centenarians Regatta

While the event shines with the elegance and class of its sailing yachts, it is above all a sporting event that attracts more and more competitors each year. Over the years, the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy has become "the race" that is essential for all crews sailing on these magnificent centenary yachts. Its unique "Pursuit Race" format—boats start according to their rating, and the first to cross the finish line is the winner—is highly appreciated by all owners who return every year with great pleasure to participate in the Centenary Trophy. For these legendary centenary boats, the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy is the highlight of this week in Saint-Tropez.

"We are very happy to welcome the Gstaad Yacht Club during the Voiles de Saint-Tropez for the 13th year. Organized with the race committee of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, the Centenary Trophy brings together boats over 100 years old every year. This event, on challenge day, is always a very beautiful regatta on the water," said Pierre Roinson, President of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez.

"The crew of the 12m JI Thea is international, with a majority of Scandinavians who are delighted to participate once again in the Centenary Trophy. We greatly enjoyed the event last year; it was our first time participating, and it was truly incredible to sail with all the centennial yachts. We are looking forward to returning this year and eagerly anticipate this memorable day for the 13th edition of the Centenary Trophy in Saint-Tropez." - Robert de Haer, representative of Thea's owner.

Swiss Crew Night!

For the second year, the Gstaad Yacht Club also offers all competitors festive and fun activities onshore to make the Centenary Trophy enjoyable. On the agenda, a Swiss evening at Place des Lices in Saint-Tropez on Wednesday, where all sailors will have the chance to taste Alpine specialties and participate in very Swiss activities, including a "cow milking" competition where two sailors from each participating crew will be tested, as well as a unique roller-ski race.

The Centenarian Award

The "Centenarian Award" of the year, organized by Classic Boat magazine and the Gstaad Yacht Club, was created in 2017. All boats 100 years and older that are still sailing are eligible. Each boat must have accomplished something significant in the past year, such as a long cruise, a race victory, a major restoration, or any other remarkable event. The winner is announced at the annual Classic Boat Awards ceremony held at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in London. The winner receives a sterling silver cup offered by Robbe & Berking. The cup, crafted in the Bauhaus style (1919-1933), embodies simplicity expressed through precious materials with a clean and modern aesthetic. The 2023 winner is Barbara (1923), designed in 1923 by Charles Ernest Nicholson and built at Camper & Nicholsons shipyard in Gosport, UK, currently sailing under the Italian flag.

For all nominees for the Centenarian Award, visit: Classic Boat Awards.

The Centenary Trophy, awarded each year during the Trophy Giving Owners dinner, is also a centenarian, created by Wakely and Wheeler in London in 1911, exactly 100 years before the first edition of the regatta.

Find more information and a gallery of stunning photos from previous editions on the Centenary Trophy website: GYC Centenary Trophy.

Centenary Trophy Winners:

2011: Bonafide (1899)
2012: Marigold (1892)
2013: The race did not take place due to unfavourable weather conditions, and the trophy was not awarded
2014: Olympian (1913)
2015: Oriole (1905)
2016: Spartan (1913)
2017: Tilly XV (1912)
2018: Tilly XV (1912)
2019: Olympian (1913)
2021: Olympian (1913)
2022: Kismet (1898)
2023: Spartan (1913)