JEANNEAU YACHTS OWNER’S MEETING 2024, S.TROPEZ at its 25th edition
Every year, the French shipyard Jeanneau gathers the owners of Jeanneau Yachts models at this dedicated location for grand sailing. Three days filled with passion for the sea and camaraderie. The owners of these magnificent yachts come together in this bay to friendly compete and rediscover the pleasure of sailing in these waters. This edition marks the 25th anniversary, and the feeling is that of being among family—a family that has grown over the years thanks to this event that promotes encounters and idea exchange between owners and the shipyard.
On Saturday morning, during the briefing, the weather doesn’t promise anything good; the sea is already white, and gusts reach up to 35 knots with the Sirocco wind pressing in the bay and causing rough seas, with further deterioration expected in the afternoon.
The owners discuss what to do, and four out of the ten boats present head out to see if the planned sail is feasible.
The wind directly enters the bay, and the boats are exposed to the crosswind. The maneuver to leave the mooring is more complicated than expected. The captains, using the bow thruster, counteract the bow’s falling as soon as the windward line is released. The crews throw the stern lines ashore, and the boats are free.
The Jeanneau yachts 55 “Les Quatr Vents”, Jeanneau Yachts 65 “Catari” and Jeanneau Yachts “A u sole III” leave the dock and as soon as they exit the breakwater, they face the sea head-on with the wind on the bow. Some hoist the mainsail with two hands of reefs and partially unfurl the jib, leaving the other half rolled up. The boats find their balance, and despite the challenging conditions, they tack against the wind to get out of the bay. The waves make their presence felt, and the crews bear off to reduce the heeling. The boats continue their course towards the edge of the bay before tacking and returning to port with a broad reach.
I also head out on the Jeanneau Yachts 60 “Sublime” .We wear our oilskins and jackets because the waves are now over 1.5 meters high. Despite the crosswind, we manage to leave aided by the bow thruster. Just outside the port, we hoist a small piece of mainsail and the staysail, already set with a whisker pole on the second forestay.
We’re at 27 knots of true wind and very rough seas. We tighten up, and the boat accelerates quickly without heeling too much. Certainly, a 60-footer makes a difference today; it would have been really challenging to go out with smaller boats. Clearly, the race is canceled, and we’re heading out just for the pleasure of testing the Jeanneau Yachts boats in these conditions. Thanks to the large roll bar and the protection of the bimini, we don’t feel the cold, and the cockpit stays completely dry while the waves wet the deck up forward.
Lines ashore and double wire, I think our outings for today are over. The owners are thrilled with their Jeanneau Yachts, which, despite these conditions, have provided great excitement without any safety issues. The Jeanneau Yachts range includes the Jeanneau Yacht 55, the Jeanneau Yacht 60, and the flagship Jeanneau Yachts 65, three models of sophisticated and modern ergonomics, designed to adapt to everyone’s needs for a dreamy sailing experience.
The day concludes with the Gala dinner at “Domain Bourrian,” just a few minutes from St. Tropez, with the awards ceremony and the customary hat toss symbolizing friendship and the shipyard’s commitment to keeping in touch with its owners. See you next year for this JEANNEAU YACHTS OWNER’S MEETING with the same spirit that characterizes this event but hoping for better weather.
