32nd Annual Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta registration open

by Cynthia Goss on 2 Jul 2011 Registration for the 32nd Annual Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta sponsored by Officine Panerai is now open. The event, which is the third and final event in the North American Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, will take place in Newport over the Labor Day weekend, September 2-4.

This annual regatta includes two days of racing and will draw a fleet that stands as a time capsule of classic design—from small traditional one-designs to large, majestic yachts built over a century ago. A festive welcoming reception will be held on Friday evening, September 2. Racing takes place Saturday and Sunday, September 3-4, and a cocktail reception follows each day of racing. A final awards dinner will be held on the evening of Sunday, September 4. Sail Newport is the Organizing Authority of the event.
 
The Classic Yacht Regatta was first held in 1980, when a group of New England yachtsmen looked around Newport harbor and saw classic yachts that were once glorious decaying before their eyes.  The newly formed Museum of Yachting organized the first Classic Yacht Regatta to raise awareness for these endangered vessels.

Today, with sponsorship from Officine Panerai, the Classic Yacht Regatta is firmly established as a weekend of camaraderie and competition that draws meticulously restored classics and spirit-of-tradition yachts. In 2011, the event will draw sailors from throughout the region and classic-yacht fans who come to Newport each year to see the famous 12-Meters and landmark designs by designers such as Herreshoff and Sparkman & Stephens.  

As part of the North American Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, the event will follow the Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta, held in Marblehead, Massachusetts (August 12-14), and the Opera House Cup Regatta, held in Nantucket (August 18-21).
Online race registration and a Notice of Race can be found at the Museum of Yachting website.

For more information about the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, please visit www.paneraiclassicyachtschallenge.com.