Bailli de Suffren race links St Tropez to Malta

The winners of the first Bailli de Suffren race - a classic yacht race that started in St Tropez in France and ended in Malta - were recently presented with their prizes at the Royal Malta Yacht Club.

The event aims to link yachting with art, culture and tourism, helping to boost Malta's image in the South of France, particularly St Tropez.

The race, which is for traditional yachts in the Vintage, Classic and Spirit of Tradition categories, covered 530 nautical miles with stops in Sardinia and Marsala, Sicily.

Special events in St Tropez during the week-long build-up to the launch of the race included an exhibition called 'Memories in Stone' by Luciano Micallef in the Salle Jean Despas in the heart of St Tropez (see The Sunday Times, June 2).

Of the eight classic boats that took part in the Bailiff of Suffren, only three arrived in Malta on Tuesday due to technical difficulties and inclement weather.

Willy Marreceau, owner of the Lelantina, was presented with the first prize - the Trophée Bailli de Suffren, an award bearing the name of a French knight and Vice-Admiral of the French fleet, who originated from St Tropez.

Piero Grandi, owner of the Owl, which came in second, was presented with a Vacheron-Constantin watch. Other prizes were awarded to Joseph Schengili, owner of the Volterra, as well as Pierre Boissier, owner of the Analia, which did not make it to Malta.

Those present at the prize-giving ceremony included French Ambassador Didier Destremeau, Royal Malta Yacht Club Commodore George Bonello DuPuis, Commodore of the Mare Nostrum Sailing Club Christian-Henri Schroeder, the director of the Malta Tourism Authority's Paris office, Dominic Micallef, and Royal Malta Yacht Club president Anton Valentino.

The race was organised by: Société Nautique de St Tropez, Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia di Napoli, Yacht Club Porto Rotondo, Circolo Velico Marsala and the Royal Malta Yacht Club.

The Maltese Embassy in France, the French Embassy in Malta and the Malta Tourism Authority sponsored the event.