Loading ...29 Jun, 2010
Leading British Classic Yacht Regatta joins the 2010 Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge
Posted by: admin In: Officine Panerai
JUNE 29th 2010 – Classic yacht owners from around the world will be making their way towards Cowes on the Isle of Wight in three weeks time as they prepare to take part in the 2010 British Classic Yacht Club Panerai Cowes Regatta from Saturday 17th to Saturday 24th July.
For the first time ever, the regatta will form part of the 2010 Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge series which features other classic global regattas including the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and the Régates Royales, Cannes.
This year’s regatta is set to be one of the most spectacular celebrations of classic yachting that the UK has witnessed for many years. More than fifty yachts will be competing as the crews battle it out to win the five races which make up the week’s events, the highlight of which is the Round the Island race taking place on Tuesday 20th July.
The Round the Island race will head West from the Royal Yacht Squadron start line. Last year’s Line Honours went to Savannah who completed the race in 7hrs 2mins 52 secs with the Overall Winner trophy going to Estrella who won on handicap.
The race programme for the regatta is as follows:
- Monday 19th July: Race 1
- Tuesday 20th July: Race 2 – Round the Island
- Wednesday 21st July: Challenge Day
- Thursday 22nd July: Race 3 & Race 4
- Friday 23rd July: Race 5
- Saturday 24th July: Parade of Sail
The British Classic Yacht Club Panerai Cowes Regatta, now in its ninth year, will see some of the world’s finest classic yachts gathered together in the waters of the Solent.
Three of the competing yachts at Cowes were designed by the late legendary yacht designer Olin Stephens, who has been described as one of the greatest 20th century yacht designers. Three other yachts from the Windfall fleet which share a dramatic and unique history have also been entered into the race.
‘Erida’, ‘Overlord’ and ‘Sea Scamp’ originated in Germany and during the Second World War were used by the Luftwaffe to hone the skills of their navigators. They earned their unusual name when, in 1945, as many as one hundred of these yachts were taken as prizes of war by the British forces and later included in the official reparations agreement. The British forces subsequently used the fleet of Windfall yachts over a period of around twenty years to introduce their own servicemen to the art of offshore sailing. Over time the yachts have been released into private ownership and many have since been the subjects of painstaking restorations.
This year’s regatta also sees the welcome return to Cowes of several of the international classic yacht regatta circuit’s most famous yachts, including the magnificent, 1911 built, one hundred and twenty five foot, gaff-cutter ‘Mariquita’, which last competed at Cowes in 2008.
Also making a welcome appearance once again will be the crew of the beautiful French twelve metre yacht ‘Wings’ who will be looking to reprise their line honours victory since winning the Round the Island race in 2008. Amongst the oldest boats racing this year will be the William Fife designed Bermudan Cutter ‘Mikado’ and the seventy-two foot, gaff rigged ‘Aeolus’, which were both built in 1904.
CEO of Officine Panerai, Angelo Bonati, said: ‘We are delighted that so many renowned yachts will be taking part in the 2010 British Classic Yacht Club Panerai Cowes Regatta and look forward to welcoming their owners and crews in Cowes at the end of July.”
Official racing will start on Monday 19th of July. Competing yachts will be berthed at Cowes Yacht Haven. Throughout the week Prize Giving ceremonies and events including an ‘Open Yachts’ Dock Party and Caribbean Crew Party will be taking place in the evenings.
ABOUT OFFICINE PANERAI:
Founded in Florence in 1860, Officine Panerai was for many years the official supplier of precision instruments for the Italian Navy. Purchased by the Richemont Group in 1997 and subsequently launched on the international market, Officine Panerai is now Italy’s only fine watch making company. Developing and producing its own movements and watches, Officine Panerai uniquely blends Italian history and design with renowned Swiss craftsmanship.
ABOUT THE PANERAI CLASSIC YACHTS CHALLENGE:
2010 sees the first inclusion of the British Classic Yacht Club Cowes Regatta in the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge series. Sponsored by Panerai since 2005, this high profile series features some of the world’s leading classic yacht regattas, including the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and the Régates Royales, Cannes.
ABOUT THE BRITISH CLASSIC YACHT CLUB:
The British Classic Yacht Club was formed in 2001 to provide a congenial environment for owners and other classic yacht enthusiasts to share experiences and enjoy each other’s company. Affiliated to the RYA, the BCYC strives to represent the interests of classic yacht owners and has developed good relationships with many leading yacht clubs in the UK and abroad. The officers of the BCYC are actively involved in both national and international discussions about the future development of classic yachting.
The membership of the BCYC now consists of more than eighty boats. In addition to the Club’s flagship annual regatta held in Cowes each July, the Club also organizes a full programme of other racing, cruising and social activities in the Solent and on the East Coast, including the popular East Coast Classic Regatta in early June. BCYC yachts also participate in many important sailing events, including classic regattas in the Channel, Mediterranean and West Indies.
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