The Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, an international regatta circuit for vintage and classic sailing boats, is now into its fifth year. The challenge takes place in some of the most prestigious yachting locales of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, visiting the French Riviera, Sardinia, Antigua, Nantucket and Newport. Its main sponsor is of course Officine Panerai.
What has watchmaking got to do with the world of sailing and vintage yachts? Well in the case of Panerai, quite a lot. Following its founding in 1860, the brand did after all supply the Italian Royal Navy with chronometers, mechanical calculators, sighting devices, depth gauges, and compasses. Panerai also supplied watches to the Italian Marina Militare between 1938 and 1993, so its naval background is sound to say the least.
My experience of the regatta was in Cannes where I tried to fully immerse myself in the exotic world of classic yacht racing. Each circuit consists of five main events and three offshore transfer races. The prize to be won is the Challenge Trophy awarded to those coming first in the two main classes: Vintage (yachts constructed before 1950) and Classic (yachts constructed by 1976). As someone who knows a great deal about motorboats but almost zilch about sailing boats, I was busily trying to brush up on the definitions of cutters, sloops, schooners, yawls, and ketches before trying to understand the intricacies of how to win a race.
Naturally, I was fully able to admire their prizes for the winners of each stage in the Vintage and Classic categories receive a limited edition Panerai watch. This year’s prize is the Luminor 1950 Regatta Rattrapante 44mm replete with a matt black diamond-like carbon finish. It is a split-seconds chronograph, featuring the characteristic cushion-shaped Luminor case. To further emphasise the connection to the world of the sea and yachts, Panerai highlighted both the chronograph seconds hand and the marking of the first five minutes on the minute counter - the most important in a yacht regatta - by painting them blue.
Even for someone not well versed in this field, I have to admit that it was difficult not to be overawed by the stunning beauty of the yachts on display. Painstakingly restored and maintained, each boat has an incredible story. Luckily Panerai had given me access to a captain with expert knowledge of those stories, making the experience all the more interesting. As he recounted the tails of each vessel, I looked on at the array of white hulls, blue hulls, even some naturally varnished hulls gleaming in rows.
With well over 200 vintage and classic yachts, the number of crew must have been over a thousand given that there's no automation on these boats. The crews had a lot of pressure on them yet it was quite remarkable how well all the boats performed, especially when you consider that it takes nearly 50 men to raise the wet cotton main sail on these winchless boats.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sailing regatta and Officine Panerai are to be complimented for putting together such an admirable event, hopefully it will spur on ever more enthusiasts to meticulously restore aged boats. With this sort of event we can all share in their glory.
REMAINING RACES IN 2009
Newport, Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta
September 5th – 6th, 2009
Vele d'epoca a Porto Rotondo
September 10th - 13th, 2009
Cannes, Régates Royales
September 21st - 26th, 2009
