Spartan wins 6th Gstaad Yacht Club's Centenary Trophy at photo finish

The USA-flagged NYYC 50' class Spartan, dating from 1913, has won the 2016 edition of the Cen-tenary Trophy, the prestigious regatta raced during the Voiles de Saint-Tropez's and reserved to clas-sic yacht one hundred years or more old.

The regatta, raced in a pursuit format with staggered starts, began at 12.30 with the 19 yachts starting staggered defined by a special handicap system, considering their age, size and type of rig. Thanks to a good south-easterly wind of a dozen knots all the boats covered the 9-mile long course in less than two hours.

Spartan, sailed by an American-Finnish crew and debuting in the Mediterranean circuit, was the first on the finish line, off the French village's breakwater, beating 2014 winner Olympian, skippered by Bruno Trouble, for just a few seconds, proving once more that the format is ideal for such a varied fleet and guarantee fair competition and great show.

Third on the finish line was another Herreshoff design, the NYCC 40 Rowdy, at her first participation in The Centenary Trophy that just came of age, having been launched in 1916, exactly one century ago.

More information in English and French press release below

Past winners of the Centenary Trophy
2011: Bonafide (1899)
2012: Marigold (1892)
2013: due to adverse weather conditions the race could not be sailed and the title was not awarded
2014: Olympian (1913)
2015: Oriole (1905)
2016: Spartan (1913)

Gstaad Yacht Club organizes the Centenary Trophy in co-operation with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez.