Who will revive traditional sailing in Saint Barth?

For ten years, like many children in Saint Barth, Elie Blanchard learned the basics of sailing at the Saint Barth Yacht Club school. This sparked a passion that has stayed with him ever since. In 2023, at the age of 44, Elie Blanchard won the Virtual Regatta of the Transat Paprec under the pseudonym Barbe noire SBH. In 2026, this sailing enthusiast embarked on a much more concrete project that also involved a challenge. Namely, to revive traditional sailing in Saint Barth. His goal is to restore it to the place it occupied in the not-so-distant past. Interview.

Elie Blanchard

How did you come up with the idea for this project?
At various times in its history, Saint Barthélemy has played an important role in traditional Caribbean sailing. The sea and sailing are an integral part of the island's identity and the expertise of its sailors. The participation of a crew from Saint Barth in the Traditour in 2016 and then in 2017 marked the beginning of the revival of traditional sailing on the island. This experience helped to bring this maritime tradition back into the spotlight and sparked new interest in traditional boats. By 2017, three traditional boats were already sailing in Saint Barthélemy. Unfortunately, this momentum was brutally interrupted by Hurricane Irma that same year, which destroyed all three boats.
I have personally had the opportunity to participate in several traditional sailing races in Saint Barth, and I know what it means, both on the water and on land. There was a real atmosphere, a sense of pride, healthy rivalry between crews, and above all, a large crowd following the races.

Do you think this enthusiasm still exists on the island?
The island's inhabitants are deeply committed to sailing. You can see it at every nautical event: it brings people together and inspires passion. I am convinced that there is still a very large pool of young and not-so-young people ready to get involved if the project is structured.
Reviving traditional sailing would bring different generations together around a common project, while preserving an important part of the island's maritime heritage. I would also like to see women fully involved in this revival. In Guadeloupe, we are seeing more and more women on board traditional boats, which is a very good thing. Why not imagine a mixed team in Saint Barth, or even a 100% female team? It would send a strong message.

What is your goal today?
It is to revive this dynamic in order to preserve this maritime heritage, pass on this know-how to new generations, and restore Saint Barth's place in the major traditional sailing events in the Caribbean, such as the Traditour in Guadeloupe.

You have already taken concrete steps, such as contacting professionals to obtain a quote to estimate the cost of building a boat. Do you already have an estimate?
Quotes are currently being requested in order to obtain an accurate estimate of the cost of building a traditional boat that complies with regional standards. We already know that building such a boat represents a significant investment, in the order of tens of thousands of euros. That is why this project must be carefully thought out and structured. The aim is to have a clear picture of the costs before considering the various financing and organizational options.

How do you plan to carry out this project?
The first step is to identify the people who are truly ready to get involved in this relaunch. This is not just an idea, but a project that must be carried out by a group of sailors and enthusiasts who are ready to make a long-term commitment. Since I posted my message, several people have already contacted me to say they would be interested in joining the crew, taking the helm, or supporting the project as partners or sponsors. This shows that there is still a real enthusiasm for traditional sailing on the island. The next step will therefore be to structure the project: define a clear framework, estimate costs, identify potential partners, and see how the Collectivité could support this initiative. The goal is to move forward gradually so that this revival can be sustainable.

If you succeed in reviving traditional sailing in Saint Barth, do you already have ideas for showcasing these boats?
Yes. A first step could be to participate in Traditour 2026 in Guadeloupe. We have the support of a well-known figure in the traditional sailing community in Guadeloupe, who is willing to provide us with a recent canoe, worth around €18,000, free of charge. However, we are still waiting for the official invitation for this edition. To prepare seriously for this participation, we have already taken concrete steps. In particular, we will need to provide the sails, flock the sails with the colors of Saint Barth, rig the boat, and provide crew uniforms (lycra tops, T-shirts). In addition, there are logistical aspects to consider: accommodation for the crew for a week before the championship so they can train on site, the rental of an escort catamaran to follow each stage of the Traditour and allow the crew to sleep on board, as well as living expenses on site for a little over two weeks. Fuel costs for operating the catamaran throughout the competition will also need to be factored in. Regarding transportation between Saint Barth and Guadeloupe, we are also looking into maritime solutions with sailors who have motorboats in order to optimize costs. Naturally, fuel costs for the crossing will need to be added to this.

Traditional sailing honored during the 2007 neighborhood regatta celebrations. (Archive photo)

What would the overall budget be?
The total budget is currently estimated at around €30,000, to which fuel costs will be added. Then, if we manage to build at least four boats in Saint Barth, we could launch an annual championship on the island, with one or two races per month. The regattas could be integrated into neighborhood festivals, Bastille Day, August 24, and other major local events. But the goal would be to go further. In the heyday of traditional sailing in Saint Barth, a dozen boats would line up at the start. Recapturing that momentum would be a real success.
In the longer term, we could imagine a week- or ten-day event, in the spirit of the Traditour, with several races and invitations to boats from Guadeloupe, Les Saintes, and other islands.
The idea is simple: to restore Saint Barth's rightful place in regional traditional sailing, step by step.