Régates Royales de Cannes / Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge

After the meetings of Antibes (FR), Porto Santo Stefano (IT) and Port Mahon (ESP), it will be in Cannes, Côte d'Azur, officially from 26 to 30 September the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, the most important of the international regattas dedicated to classic sailing boats. In Cannes, at the 39th edition of the Royal Regatta, Oficine Panerai will award the Panerai trophy to the winners of the season for the Epoch, Classics and Big Boats categories. This will be an opportunity for the winners to put their name on the Guest Book of the circuit.

This thirteenth edition saw more than 250 historic boats participating in the various stages, with about 2,000 crew members. In Cannes are expected about 90 sailboats divided into different categories, depending on the type of rigging and the year of construction, and coming from more than 10 different countries. It is one of the largest and most varied fleet of sailboats in the world, with wooden or metal boats manufactured between the end of the 19th and the 20th centuries according to the plans of the best architects and by major shipyards, from the Scottish Fife to the Americans Herreshoff or Sparkman & Stephens, not to mention the English Camper & Nicholsons. In addition, there is a fleet of at least 40 Dragons, the world's most common monotype keel class, created in 1929 by Norwegian naval architect Johan Anker and celebrating 30 years of participation in French regattas.

The most spectacular category is that of the Big Boats, giant seas of 55 meters long, such as the schooner Elena of London, replica of a schooner of 1911. Also present two sailboats already registered in the Golden Book of the Trophy Panerai: the 40 meters Cambria (1928) and CANOE-TIME REGGADES FOR THE LAST STAGE OF PANERAI CLASSIC YACHTS CHALLENGE 2017 3 Moonbeam IV (1914), which belonged to Prince Rainier of Monaco and Grace Kelly. In addition to Hallowe'en (1926), one of the winners this season in his category alongside Moonbeam of Fife (1903), will also be Tuiga (1909), flag bearer of the Yacht Club of Monaco, who often seen at his helm Prince Pierre Casiraghi.

In the Epoch category, battle will be rugged between prestigious competitors, including Linnet, a New York Yacht Club 30 of 1905, Spartan (1913), Enterprise and the two New York 40, Rowdy and Chinook, launched by the American shipyard Herreshoff in 1916, but with different rigging. Tilly XV (1912) was also rewarded with an impressive track record as it was the first and only sailboat to compete during the same season on the Caribbean regattas of Panerai in Antigua, on the north- and the Royal Regatta of Cannes. In the Classic category, Ardi (1968) from the Nautical Club Versilia of Viareggio, Encounter (1976) and the historic boat Il Moro di Venezia I, in search of their third title of the season after their previous victories in 2013 and 2015. Lulu, of 1897, celebrates this year its 120 years. He participated in the regattas organized during the Olympic Games in Paris in 1900.

As for the two Véronique masts, it celebrates the 110 years of its launching, which took place in England in 1907. Among the more recent timber sailboats are Cholita, Ellad, France, Swedish Havsornen and the American Manitou, on which President JF Kennedy sailed, as well as Skylark (1937), all launched 80 years ago. This will be the last regatta of the season for Eilean (Epoch category), the 1936 ketch restored by Officine Panerai. Since its restoration, these two wooden poles defend the colors of the Marque during official events and gatherings of vintage sailboats. Whether it is for sailors or for visitors who have stayed at the dock, there is no shortage of activities: tug-of-war competitions, painting exhibitions, boat festivities celebrating an important anniversary, the most elegant boat contest, concerts and stands dedicated to the arts and crafts of the region.

The official program includes an opening ceremony on Monday 25 September. Starting on Tuesday, September 26th, classical and vintage sailboats will compete in five regattas, one per day, which will take place between the Gulf of La Napoule and the islands of Lérins. After each regatta, crews can relax and comment on the results of the day in the Panerai Lounge.

The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday September 30th in the afternoon at the Vieux Port, which will house the boats.