55m ELENA OF LONDON Wins Big Boat Class at Les Voiles 2026

A single point separates the first two yachts

ELENA OF LONDON has won the Big Boat division at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2026, finishing on four points after a close contest against SUMURUN and LELANTINA. SUMURUN ended with five points and LELANTINA with seven, leaving little margin for error over the regatta. The win brought the 55-metre schooner the Trophée Voiles de Saint-Tropez.

The outcome was significant because the event was decided by performance across a sequence of races rather than a single exhibition sail. ELENA began the series with a victory and maintained sufficient consistency to stay ahead through the final contest.

The result continues a strong sailing season

Earlier in 2026, ELENA won Class One at the Richard Mille Cup. The Saint-Tropez trophy adds to that result and reverses a narrow disappointment from 2025, when the yacht finished a point behind CAMBRIA in the same regatta's Big Boat standings.

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez attracted approximately 253 yachts in 2026, including 51 maxi yachts and three J Class vessels. Competing successfully in such a fleet demands reliable manoeuvres and teamwork alongside design and sail performance.

The yacht is a modern recreation of a 1910 design

Built in 2009, ELENA OF LONDON was created as a modern interpretation of the original schooner ELENA commissioned from Nathanael Herreshoff in 1910. That historic project developed from a design tradition associated with the notable yacht WESTWARD and the great racing schooners of the period.

The modern vessel preserves the striking gaff-schooner profile while using contemporary construction and equipment for sailing and cruising. Her size and sail plan make the work of crew coordination especially important during close-course racing with similarly large classic vessels.

Classic racing has a commercial connection to the yacht market

ELENA is marketed through Camper & Nicholsons for both charter and sale, so competitive success can raise her profile among potential clients as well as sailing enthusiasts. That interest does not mean a sale or charter contract has been completed because of the trophy.

Owners evaluating a yacht of this type will consider the character of traditional sailing, the size of the professional crew, maintenance of the rig and the ability to use the yacht comfortably away from regattas. Racing pedigree is one element of a much larger ownership decision.

The trophy adds another chapter to a historic design story

A century after the original ELENA, the modern yacht remains visible at significant classic-yacht events. Success at Saint-Tropez demonstrates that the design continues to participate actively in a demanding racing programme rather than existing solely as a historical showpiece.

The verified result is the four-point win in the 2026 Big Boat class. Any subsequent commercial changes, new racing commitments or adjustments to her programme should be reported separately when confirmed.