Skylark is back on the race course in 2012 with a full season’s racing ahead. It kicked off with the Ladies Cup, a new event organised by Andre Beaufils and his team at the Societe Nautique de Saint-Tropez (SNST) in early May, with two days of fleet racing around the Golfe for Classic and Spirit of Tradition yachts.
The 53ft S&S yawl Skylark was helmed by Jessica Getty who, on Saturday’s race, guided the yacht to a well-timed start at the pin end of the line. Once the wind backed left, Skylark tacked onto port and in a lifting breeze overtook several larger yachts in her 
class including the famous classic Moonbeam. As the fleet exited the Golfe the wind lightened, eventually leading to a flat calm. Skylark managed to keep momentum and in the light and variable conditions caught Manitou, a larger 63ft S&S yawl, once sailed by American President JF Kennedy. As the new breeze filled in from the north, Skylark gybed into Plage Pamplonne alongside Moonbeam and led Manitou to the finish 2m 30s ahead.
On Sunday’s race, Skylark was helmed by marine photographer Kos. The fleet again started in calm conditions, which built during the morning to a Force 4 to 5 for the long reach towards Saint-Raphael and back to Saint-Tropez.
Skylark’s main rival in the Coupes des Dames 2012 was the British 90ft Savannah, owned by Hugh Morrison and helmed by fashion designer Amanda Wakeley. The two yachts were tied on points at the end of the event.
Skylark now leaves Saint-Tropez with her mothership Bluebird for a week’s cruising in Les Isles des Porquerolles, before moving onto Les Regates Imperiales in Ajaccio, Corsica.
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