SEPTEMBER 2013 – Between September 24th and 28th, approximately 90 yachts will do battle in the course of the 35th Régates Royales de Cannes, the final round of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge 2013. After the Antibes, Porto Santo Stefano, Naples and Mahon events, the famous Cote d’Azur city stage brings the presentation of the much-sought-after trophies in the Vintage, Classics and Big Boat categories. The victorious boats will go down in the annals of the Mediterranean Circuit of the international competition for classic and vintage yachts sponsored by Officine Panerai for the ninth consecutive year. The fleet - the oldest member of which was launched in 1896 - hails from more than 10 different nations and represents over a century of yachting history, spanning the spectrum from the sport’s earliest days to the present. The hull lines and rigs of the yachts competing are the work of the finest naval architects of all time, including Americans Olin Stephens and Nathanael G. Herreshoff, Fife of Fairlie in Scotland, Camper & Nicholson of England and Italians Cesare Sangermani and Carlo Sciarrelli. Most are also built from hard woods of the likes of teak and mahogany. Each of the participating yachts has her own story to tell. Many have sailed the world’s seas and participated in historic regattas of the likes of the America’s Cup or completed long cruises across Mediterranean, Northern Europe or the world’s oceans. In fact, White Dolphin, winner of the Panerai Transat Classique 2012, and The Blue Peter, a 1930 Bermudan cutter and Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge regular since the event’s inception, have both recently returned to the Mediterranean from the Atlantic. White Dolphin’s owner will be presenting the Panerai Transat Classique 2012 trophy he won just a few months ago at Barbados, at the Officine Panerai stand where we will also be welcoming owners, crews and journalists from all over the world each day. Already inscribed with the names of the winners of the two previous editions, the Cup will also be presented to the winner of the next Panerai Transat Classique, scheduled for winter 2015. Plenty of spectacular racing is guaranteed too by the presence of yachts varying in size between 7.62 metres (the little gaff sloop Wianno) and 50 metres (the majestic schooner Elena, built recently in Spain to original plans from 1911). Other larger craft competing include the 50-metre gaff schooner Eleonora, the 1931 Altair and the 1930 Shamrock V, the fifth and final America’s Cup challenger fielded by legendary English tea magnate Sir Thomas Lipton, and also the sole surviving wood-built J-Class. Previous winners of the Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge Cambria (1928), Emeraude (1975), Leonore (1925) and Naïf (1973) also make a welcome return to Cannes. The 20-metre 1916 Nathanael G. Herreshoff-designed Bermudan sloop Chinook (ex-Pauline and Banshee) is expected to provide some exhilarating action on the water too, as the New York 40 only emerged from a complete restoration in Tunisia a few months ago. We are also marking two important milestones at Cannes: the French gaff cutter Nin celebrates the 100th anniversary of her launch, while Outlaw (1963) celebrates her first half century on the water. The 15 or so Spirit of Traditions attending include RùM, the 13-metre wooden gaff sloop strip-plank-built by the Vels of Medemblik shipyard. The D&D One Design takes her inspiration from the hull lines of the legendary Fife of Fairlie yachts. Needless to say, the lovely Eilean, the 1936 wood-built twomaster Fife rescued in the Caribbean and loving restored by the Officine Panerai, will be attending the final round of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge 2013 too. Eilean is much more to us than a mere brand ambassador: she also hosts the “Captain for a Day” initiative organised in collaboration with various not-for-profit associations. At Cannes, our partner for the second consecutive year for this event is the Monte Carlo-based Les Enfants de Frankie charity which helps disadvantaged young people skipper a vintage yacht for a day. A string of dockside events also flanks the racing. These include daily cocktail parties at the Panerai Lounge and several outdoor concerts. Painting and photography stands in front of the area where the yachts are moored will also be open to visitors. Joining the fleet at Cannes also are 40 9-metre Dragons. The former Olympic class was originally designed in 1929 by Norwegian Johan Anker. Thousands have been built in the intervening decades and dozens of Dragon regattas are organised all over the world each year. Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge The Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, the leading international circuit for vintage and classic sailing craft, is making ready for the 2013 season, and is also pleased to announce the addition of a new host city and event to its ranks. Naples, one of the world’s most extraordinary cities, joins the PCYC’s Mediterranean circuit this year, with its legendary Bay providing the backdrop for the 10th edition of “Le Vele d’Epoca a Napoli” between June 26th and 30th 2013. This debut on the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge international circuit is an acknowledgement of the Neapolitan regatta’s burgeoning status on the classic sailing scene. It also crowns the partnership between its organisers of the last decade, the exclusive Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia (ryccsavoia.it) and the Italian Navy’s Staff Sailing Office, and the Officine Panerai haute Horlogerie brand, itself a sponsor of the circuit for the last nine years, thanks to its historic links to the sea and seafaring. The calendar of the ninth edition of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge opens, as per tradition, with the big Antigua regatta in the Caribbean. The long-standing events on both international circuits (Mediterranean and North America) also return as does Cowes on the Isle of Wight which is gaining in impetus with each passing year. In 2012, the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge regattas attracted more than 600 entries in the course of the ten international events on the calendar. All of the most important yachts from sailing history took part in at least one of the rounds, in fact. The winners of the Mediterranean Circuit were Moonbeam IV in the Big Boat category, Leonore in the Vintage class, and Naïf in the Classic. On the other side of the Atlantic, the 12-metre Valiant took the overall trophy on the American circuit. OFFICINE PANERAI Each Panerai watch is as unique as the heritage it embodies. A heritage that has its beginnings in Florence, where Giovanni Panerai, a businessman, craftsman and innovator, opened the city’s first watchmaker’s shop in 1860. A heritage that links every single detail of a Panerai watch to the purpose for which it was designed and made to fulfil. A tradition which has kept a close eye on the future, through on-going research for technical excellence which is the main feature of every new Officine Panerai collection. Combining Italian design and Swiss horological perfection, each year Officine Panerai – part of the Richemont Group since 1997 - re-interprets its 150-year-long passion: the creation of high precision timepieces with a strong identity rooted in distinction, aesthetics and function.
Posted on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 19:50:09 +0000
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