Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille - Day 4: The 'Thursday Day Off'
by Laura Muma 19 Apr 2019 14:43 UTC
14-20 April 2019
A day off at Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille © Christophe Jouany
A favorite day for the Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille crews is the Thursday Day Off. A much deserved lay day after the first three intense days of racing, the sailors come together at Saint-Jean and the famous Nikki Beach restaurant to relax, enjoy, and have fun.
Since Les Voiles' beginning in 2010, the organizers have struck the perfect balance between intense competition on the water, and a great social atmosphere on land that builds connections between the sailors. Under Thursday's sunny skies, the regatta team organized beach games like Tug-o-War, water polo, and the sailors' favorite - the Aquatic Treasure Hunt.
Organized with our partner Veuve Clicquot, the premise is simple for the Treasure Hunt - at "Go!", the sailors dive in to swim and search for the 10 hidden bottles of Veuve Clicquot in Saint-Jean Bay between Eden Rock and the beach.
Tomorrow the beach games will return to the on-water games of racing tactics, starting strategies and teamwork as the Les Voiles competitors return to the water for a 10 am start. And with good news: the forecast continues to look spectacular with the trade winds still well established and 15 - 20 knots expected.
These conditions just might tip the scales for the race committee to decide Friday is the day to launch the Maxis and the Multihulls on the course of the Richard Mille Record Trophy, a loop of 49 miles between the islands of Saint-Barth and Saint-Martin. They will be out to beat last year's record of 3 hours 01 minute and 58 seconds set by Rambler 88 of the American George David in the monohulls, and just 26 minutes more for the Multi50 French Tech Rennes St-Malo the Cancalais Gilles Lamiré.
lesvoilesdestbarthrichardmille.com/us