British Gladiators Triumph in Saint Tropez
Saint Tropez win marks the end of 2018 Med season
Around 4,000 sailors and more than 300 sailing yachts gathered at Les Voiles de Saint Tropez 29 September to 7 October in an action-packed week which featured a series of daily races of modern, Wally and classic boats.
The 5 IRC (International Rating Certificate) groups all validated four races during the week in a very varied wind range which saw some mighty winners take the crown. In IRC class C, and very much in her stride in a very dense group of 31 modern boats, was Tony Langley’s British TP52 Gladiator who dominated play on the final day to take the coveted Edmond de Rothschild trophy.
The gale that swept across the bay and shook up Les Voiles at the start of the week finally dropped, leaving the way clear on day 6 for a very pleasant breeze from the south-east, the benefits of which were maximized by the various race committees, who launched two fine windward-leeward off Pampelonne for the Wally yachts, and a coastal course in the gulf for the classic yachts, whilst the modern yachts sailed a big triangular course of nearly 20 miles offshore.
The combination of classic yachts with ultra-modern boats is the main feature of Les Voiles set in the unique backdrop of the bay of Saint Tropez.
Watch event video finale here
Day 7 – TP52 Gladiator dominated play on the final day to take the first place in the modern boats IRC C category
Owner-tactician TP52 Gladiator, Tony Langley, receives the Edmond de Rothschild trophy
About Les Voiles de Saint Tropez
The origins of the regatta dates back to 1981 when two boats raced each other from St. Tropez around a mark and back to land and from that original challenge, the regatta was born.
It is an annual event and today attracts more than 300 racing yachts to compete in an end of season regatta which sees some of the oldest yachts, dating back 100 years or more, still racing out of the water with some of the sport’s most avant-garde designs and over 4000 sailors taking part in what is considered to be one of the most idyllic settings in the sport.
About Gladiator Sailing Team
In common with all Langley businesses, the group sponsored Gladiator Sailing Team represents the very best technology in its field, attracts highly talented can-do people and conducts itself with the highest standards of integrity.
About Langley Holdings
Langley Holdings plc is a diverse, privately owned engineering and industrial group based in the UK. The group comprises 5 operating divisions, based principally in Germany, France and the United Kingdom, with a substantial presence in the United States and more than 80 subsidiaries worldwide. The operating divisions produce equipment ranging from electrical systems for data centres and machinery for cement and steel plants, to food packaging lines, automotive welding equipment and printing presses. The group was founded in 1975 by the current Chairman and sole shareholder, Tony Langley, the group had annual revenues of circa $1 billion and employs around 4,500 people worldwide.