Almost lost amongst the huge classic yachts moored in the harbour for Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez was the fleet’s smallest yacht, the 26 foot Solent Sunbeam, Dainty. The twists and turns that its owner Peter Nicholson followed over a number of years to get Dainty ‘invited’ to participate at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez in time for its 100th birthday is a wonderful tale; one that says as much about the unique spirit of the regatta as it does of Peter’s unrelenting tenacity.
As this was sadly to be Peter’s last appearance at Les Voiles (he had to get a friend to drive a new boom from England after breaking the original in Cannes!) we felt that his delightful story should be told in his own words.
