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EBONY ISSUE - n° 15 - 2018 - € 10 www.theoney d.com
The Art of Sailing Sanlorenzo SX8
QUART ERLY - P.I. 21/07 /2018 Intern ationa l € 10, Poste Italiane S.p.a. Chf 10,50 , UK £ 7,50 Spedizione in Abbon amento Postale
- 70% - LO/MI
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[ HARBOUR LIFE ]
ADRENALINE 186
Super windy, super sporty and always, always super chic, Saint Barth has put the devastation wrecked by Hurricane Irma behind it to provide the perfect backdrop to the 9th Les Voiles de Saint Barth Richard Mille
MICHAELGRAMM
by Paola Bertelli
CARIBBEAN-STYLE! 187
[ HARBOUR LIFE ] The horse shoe-shaped harbour in Gustavia (left), the capital of Saint Barth. Right and opening shot, Sorcha, Peter Harrison’s Maxi 72 and one of the protagonists of the 2018 Les Voiles de Saint Barth Richard Mille. Exclusive parties, a crystal clear sea and unique vistas make Saint Barth the Caribbean’s most CHRISTOPHE_JOUANY
glamorous island
W
e’ll take 20 brave warriors as our starting point to talk about a unique island and a unique event. The island is Saint Barth in the French Antilles. Pearl
of the Caribbean and the glamour destination to beat all glamour destinations, this is where the jet set come to play. The event is Les Voiles de Saint Barth, one of the musts on the Caribbean social scene which had its ninth outing this spring. But to return to those warriors for a moment. They are, in fact, the crew of Sorcha, the Maxi 72 owned by Peter Harrison, CEO MICHAELGRAMM
EMEA of luxe watch maison Richard Mille, seen in action in the opening photograph. The 20 guys on the team have made sailing their life and between them share Olympic medals, round the worlds and America’s Cups aplenty. Professionals that in such perfect harmony they have something of the smooth action of the ultra-sophisticated movements that drive Richard Mille’s watches.
are too close to the edge,” declared a delighted Peter Harrison
You can read the tension that such high-level racing generates, in
who was very satisfied with his final day’s racing at the wheel
their faces when they switch to pro mode. Also aboard are several
of Sorcha after a dazzling final reach in a brief rainstorm with
guests, amongst them The One.
gusting winds that saw the boat fairly galloping over the waves
Sorcha is a Maxi 72, a 20-metre, in other words. These are the
at 24 knots. An achievement that probably went a long way to
Formula 1 cars of the sea. Edgy, demanding, adrenaline-fueled
wiping out the memory of the second day of competition which
and, most of all, very, very fast.
was complicated by two gennakers and a Code 0 exploring in the
Both weather and sea conditions were textbook perfect at this
space of 20 minutes.
year’s Les Voiles de Saint Barth with steady breezes of between
The five days of racing also allowed Saint Barth to show the world
18 and 30 knots and big seas paving the way for tense, taut racing,
that is very much back in the game having been so badly hit only
tricking upwind sailing and exhilarating reaching with the ocean
last September by Hurricane Irma which devastated many of the
waves breaking joyfully over the decks. Even for the seasoned likes
Caribbean Islands. They were bustling fun-filled days of partying
of our warriors, these were exceptionally good conditions: “You
on the dockside in the island’s capital Gustavia, with large crowds,
often wouldn’t be allowed to race in conditions like this as they
entertainment and concerts in the 1,500 sqm race village, and the
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MICHAELGRAMM
WIMCO VILLA
CHRISTOPHE_JOUANY
local restaurants and bars all packed to capacity. Work has already
we’re up to 85%,” explains Nils Dufau, depty president of the French
commenced on the 2019 edition (14 to 20 April), when Les Voiles
Overseas Collectivity. “Nineteen out of 28 hotels have reopened and
celebrates its 10th birthday… a great show is guaranteed!
we’re counting on that being 100% by the end of the year.” The
Richard Mille, which has sponsored Les Voiles de Saint Barth since its
rebuilding and replanting started in the immediate aftermath of Irma.
first outing, had full confidence that the island would get back on its
But there really was no other option for an island that makes its living
feet very rapidly and supported that process by upping its commitment
entirely from tourism. Saint Barth is just 25 square kilometres in size
and becoming main partner, resulting in the name change to “Les
and has a very high concentration of hotels, restaurants (70), designer
Voiles de Saint Barth Richard Mille”.
boutiques and around 800 luxury villas. Most of the latter are available
The damage caused by Irma is still clear to see – the island’s lush
for rental through a bespoke rental service and are tucked away in the
tropical vegetation looks like it has had a huge comb pulled through
lush tropical forest with their own terraces and infinity pools gazing
it and not all of the famous red roofs have been repaired yet. Some of
out on to the ocean. The island is also the destination of choice for
the beaches were devoured by the sea too. But the tourist business is
all the top superyachts for the winter season, in great part because
back on its feet. “The public harbour reopened by the end of October
the signature St Barth Style reigns supreme: no one will ever ask you
and the island was operating at 25% capacity by December. Now
for an autograph here no matter how rich or famous you might be.
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