Day 2 of the Les Voiles de St Tropez Regatta dawned bright and sunny, but definatly lacked the breeze keen sailors were hoping for
4 knots of wind left J Class and the Wally Yachts sharing the same ‘field of play’ ideally needing more than that to race.
After lunch the breeze filled in a little, enough for the competing J Class yachts to manage a two lap windward leeward course again off Pampelone beach.
Lionheart, was fouled at the start by Hanuman in what could have been a protest situation, with Lionheart on starboard forced to luff up into the wind in order to stay free.
Fact is it did little to hinder her and she proceeded to take the first windward mark and then led for the remainder of the race.
This was a significant occasion for Lionheart, this was their first win over Hanuman and leaves her with equal points between Velshedaand Hanuman leaving the field wide open for any of them to win the contest
With the forecast for day 3 to be much the same, Velshedawho performs well in lighter airs needs to make good of this situation.
This regatta is all about the spirit of the event, the 4 J’s add to the story surrounded by the classics in the Port of St Tropez with Shamrock certainly the belle of the ball.
The J Class has come along way even since the Jubilee back in 1999, where Shamrock V, Endeavour and Velsheda were racing on much more of an even keel.
With a mix of conditions this week, and with the top 3 J’s currently on equal points, this could be an interesting regatta to end the season.