Régates Royales -Trophée Panerai preview

by Soazig Guého on 26 Jun 2012 Régates Royales - Trophée Panerai, organised by Cannes Yacht Club, gets underway from 23rd to 30th September when the world famous Croisette is once again going to be center stage of classic yachting. With its 50 boats strong Dragon fleet and an armada of around 24 classic yachts, some over a century old, and its colourful show the event will bring to life the bay of Cannes.

Gaff rigs, schooners, cutters, sloops, yawls, J Class, one-designs from last century and 12 Metre Class will bring back the glorious years of yachting over five days of racing on the courses around the Lérins Islands. It will be an exceptional gathering, with some of the biggest and most famous yachts from the last century such as the majestic Eilean (designed by William Fife III), Mariquita (William Fife III), Cambria (William Fife), Moonbeam III and Moonbeam IV, winning in 2011 (William Fife), Mariska (William Fife III), Manitou (Olin Stephens) and the 'tiny' Dainty (by Westmacott)…

'Every year, the most fascinating yachts sign in for the Régates Royales and every successive year this becomes a unique rendezvous. Big boats sailing alongside small ones, in a sporting atmosphere. After racing everyone gathers in the village to live and share its social events where the festive mood, laughter and good humour are always on hand.' Says Jean-Claude Montesinos, President of the Yacht Club de Cannes. The Régates Royales de Cannes is also the last annual event on the Panerai Trophy, the ultimate world championship for yachting.

The famous Pen Duick fleet symbolise French sailing, its tradition, the evolution of yachting and sail racing. These fascinating five boats all bring back the memory of a man: Eric Tabarly. For close to a decade, the Eric Tabarly Association in partnership with Banque Populaire works on a daily basis to maintain all the Pen Duicks in top form and from September the 23rd, they will return to Cannes after two years absence.

The Dragons will rally to the world-famous bay this autumn for one of the most beautiful class gatherings where some fifty boats are expected to compete with Giuseppe Duca (Cloud), last year’s champion, returning to defend his title. The anticipation for Les Régates Royales is already growing…

In 2012, Cannes will celebrate the 34th edition of the revived Régates Royales, one of the oldest races since the first edition was held in 1929 in honour of King Christian X of Denmark.
The Yacht Club de Cannes is also one of the oldest in France, having been founded in the spring of 1859 when Messieurs Béchard, Tripet-Skrypitzone, de Colquhoum and Bucquet created the Société des Régates and organised the first racing event in the bay of La Napoule where big vessels like Léro, Olga, Jeannette and Touriste rallied together with smaller sailing boats as well as several local fishermen’s rowing boats.

For the sixth time, during the 34th edition of the Régates Royales, from September 23 to 29 September, the organisers together with the Yacht Club de Cannes and the City of Cannes, will launch an amateur photo contest. This year the chosen theme is: 'The colours of the Régates Royales'. The award will also appreciate the values of sportsmanship, friendship and tradition.

Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai Programme

Monday September 24th
Welcome and entries
Racing – first start signal at 11.00 - Dragons
Welcome Cocktail at the race village

Tuesday September 25th
Racing – first start signal at 11.00 - Dragons
Racing – first start signal at 12.00 - Classics
Social events at the race village
Pasta party and rock concert at the race village

Wednesday September 26th
Racing – first start signal at 11.00 - Dragons
Racing – first start signal at 12.00 - Classics
Painting contest
Pasta party and music concert at the race village

Thursday September 27th
Racing – first start signal at 11.00 - Dragons
Racing – first start signal at 12.00 - Classics
Tug of war contest
Auction sale of marine objects
Pasta party at the race village

Friday September 28th
Racing – first start signal at 11.00 - Dragons
Racing – first start signal at 12.00 - Classics
Panerai dinner for the classic boats’ crews
Prize giving ceremony for the Dragon class at the Yacht Club
de Cannes

Saturday September 29th
Racing – first start signal at 12.00 - Classics
18:00 Prize giving ceremony at the race village for Classic and Spirit of Tradition Yachts

Sunday September 30th
Relay regatta to Saint-Tropez organised by the Yacht Club de France
Regates Royales website