Notre service de conciergerie

Every autumn, as the summer crowds leave, Saint-Tropez gives itself back to the sea. For a week, around 250 yachts, from century-old classics to giant maxis, race across the Gulf, and the old port becomes the most beautiful sailing village in the Mediterranean.

A bet between friends that became a legend

It all began in 1981 with a challenge between two boats, the 12 Metre Ikra and the Swan 44 Pride, racing from the port of Saint-Tropez to the Nioulargue shoal off Pampelonne and back to the finish line in front of the Club 55. The duel became a regatta, the regatta became La Nioulargue, a Provençal name that evokes a nest out at sea, and the most elegant yachts of the world soon made it a fixture of their season.

After the 1995 edition, the event paused, before being reborn in 1999 under its current name: Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, organised by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. The Club 55 Cup, named after the famous beach restaurant, still reminds everyone of where it all started.

When does it take place?

Les Voiles take place each year at the turn of September and October. The 2026 edition ran from 26 September to 4 October, and the 2027 edition is announced from 25 September to 3 October 2027. The first days are usually devoted to modern yachts and maxis, while the classic yachts, gaff cutters, schooners and Metre boats, take over the Gulf in the second part of the week.

Where to watch the regattas

The Citadel. From the ramparts overlooking the village, the view embraces the whole Gulf: the best free grandstand to watch the starts and the fleets heading out to sea.

Le Portalet and the lighthouse. At the entrance to the Gulf, near the Tour du Portalet and the Môle Jean Réveille, the boats pass so close that you can hear the sails flap and the crews call out.

From the water. Nothing compares to following the race aboard a spectator boat, a respectful distance from the course. Our concierge can book a skippered yacht or a classic launch for the day, with lunch on board.

Life on land

In the evening, the Village des Voiles on the Môle Jean Réveille comes alive with live music, the crews gather on the quays and Place des Lices hosts its traditional pétanque games. It is the perfect moment to walk along the port when the yachts are moored side by side, varnish gleaming in the evening light, before dinner at one of our favourite tables in the village.

“During Les Voiles, the light is golden, the sea still warm and the village belongs to the sailors. It is, for many of us, the most beautiful week of the year in Saint-Tropez.”

Where to stay

Hotels in the village fill up months in advance for the regatta week. A private villa, close to the port or overlooking the Gulf, lets you live the event at your own pace, invite friends and come back between two races. The end of the season is also a lovely time to enjoy the villas of our collection, with milder temperatures and a calmer peninsula.

Dates and programme: official website of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Tourism. Always check the official programme before you travel.