Régates Royales de Cannes – Trophée Panerai - Luckier on day 2

by Les Regates Royales on 25 Sep 2014 Day two of the 36th Régates Royales de Cannes – Trophée Panerai was much luckier than the first one. Despite an unusual grey sky, yesterday's strong winds gave way to much more moderate conditions, allowing the Committee to launch a coastal race. In the Golfe-Juan area the 45 Dragons had three intense races whilst the la Napoule Bay staged the traditional show for the Classics and the Metre classes.

It was under overcast skies that the yachts docked out of the Vieux Port for the first races of the 36th Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai, closing event of the Mediterranean classics circuit. The starting line for the Classics, positioned not far from Cannes' breakwater, soon became alive with the first start of the bigger boats that fast reached towards the Lérins Islands, before crossing the bay to the mark at Théoule. Shortly after the rest of the fleet crowded the bay, in a stunning display of boats of most diverse sizes and rigs. Her full sail sets hoisted, for a grand total of 1,300 square metres, Elena of London sped along, overtaking several competitors in the very first miles. Yet, it was the huge Shamrock V to take command and snatch the overall victory.

In excellent wind conditions, perfectly suited to their characteristics, the four 12 Metres Trivia, Vanity V, Vim and Wings had three exciting and action packed coastal races. With two wins and two second places Vanity V came out on top of the provisional podium, followed by Trivia and Wings. The rest of the week will surely be intense for the crews who will do everything is in their power to challenge Vanity V, with her four point margin on Trivia and five on Wings and Vim.

In the other classes, Speedbird is the provisional leader among the Tofinous, Scherzo leads in the Spirit of Tradition, Natica in Vintage Marconi under 15m, Dorade the Vintage Marconi over 15m, Sagittarius in the Classics, Moonbeam of Fife III is the leader of the Big Boats and Chinook has won today's race and is on top of the scoreboard in the Vintage Gaffers.

The Dragon fleet had it race course set in the Golfe-Juan, where the 45 boats assembled for three intense and hard fought for races. The first one went to Jerboa skippered by past winner Gavia Wilkinson Cox, the second race saw the comeback of Russia's Strange Little Girl skippered by Dimitry Samokhin.

The third and final race for both these crews, can't certainly be considered as positive: the Russians got a 21st and the British a 32nd. The provisional results award the consistency of the German crew on Powwow, leading with a solid 18 points followed by Blue Haze at 21 points and Strange Little Girl at 27.

And while the sailors were still busy at sea, the race village welcomed a very special group of kids. Thanks to the work of the Sourire et Partage Association, children under treatment have the chance to live unique opportunities like discovering the world of sailing.

Once back to shore, several crews took part in the traditional tug-of-war competition, where in a much contested final match the crew of Elena of London beat Argyll, getting their second win of the day.

Thursday, September 25th, the Régates Royales will get into the third racing day. The Dragon fleet will have a very special time with a tropical flavour, as it will fly the colours of Mauritius, where the day's winner will have the chance to spend a Event website