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Press release, September 28, 2013 Action packed final day
Excitement, fun, close racing, good breeze: the bay of Cannes guaranteed all the necessary ingredients for the grand finale of the 35th Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai. Today's racing was action packed and crucial to award victory in several classes. After a long week series, consistency paid off for some, like Moonbeam of Fife III winning among the Big Boats or EA among the Classics, while in other classes classes the scoreboard was totally shaken at the very end of the regatta. In the Dragon Class British skipper Gavia Wilkinson – Cox on Jerboa succeeded in bouncing back on the two Russian teams and getting a last-chance, last-race win. The prize giving ceremony closed one of the most successful editions of the Régates, filled with action on the water and social events ashore.
“This year weather conditions were excellent, giving us the chance to have top-end racing and to launch at least one race every day. The atmosphere has always been great and the village was packed after racing. Not to mention the success of the Panerai dinner. We need to thank all the people who, with their hard work, contributed to the success of the event. Without them the Règates Royals would not happen. The Yacht Club the Cannes has been working hard to offer what competitors deserve and, for 2014, we hope to be able to welcome an even bigger fleet.” said a contented Jacques Flori, President of the Yacht Club de Cannes during the closing ceremony.
The final day was key to determine winners in some classes, but not in the Big Boats division where Moonbeam of Fife III finished with a large margin on Moonbeam 4 and Mariska. “The courses were not ideal for us this year, but we managed to make up with good tactics, good navigation and an excellent helmsman. Even on the days the wind was very light, we managed to keep our competitors at bay and score some wins. It's very positive for us, we are really happy for this win, winning here in Cannes has a special meaning because the level is always so high.” said Erwan Noblet, Moonbeam III's skipper.
Among the Vintage gaffers, Graham Walker's Chinook had to fight to the very last race to get a victory at her debut on the Régates Royales, distancing Oriole and Eva, respectively finishing in second and third. Italian-flagged Ea easily maintained her lead among the Classics on Arcadia and Sagittarius. Likewise in the Vintage Marconi of more than 15 metres, victory went to Skylark of 1937 and the podium was completed by Leonore and Rowdy. The gold in the Spirit of Tradition division went to Catleya, the silver to Freya 2003 and the bronze to Savannah.
World famous Argentinian architect German Frers helmed Sonny, a 1935 Bermudan cutter designed by his father that made her debut at the Régates Royales this year. After a week long battle with Vagabundo and Sirius II, it was the latter to get the win in the Vintage Marconi of less than 15 metres, Sonny finishing in second. But the Frers' family honour was safe because Vagabundo too is a Frers Sr. design, and two steps out of three on the podium is not a bad result at all. “Among the boats racing here in Cannes, Il Moro di Venezia was designed by me, but both Sonny and Vagabundo II are my father's creations. We could call it a “family fleet”...” said Frers “It's exciting to race here, these are the kind of boats I grew up admiring. I'm very happy that there is a sort of revival for classic boats, it's important to restore, keep and show them to the world. And they're stunning to watch sailing. They can show us designers how to create modern boats as fascinating as classic yachts, slim, elegant, harmonious. There is a lot we can learn from these boats.”
The queen of the Dragons
With a brilliant last race, British skipper Gavia Wilkinson – Cox on Jerboa made up for 9 points in the overall standing and thanks to two second places today and two wins yesterday, won the 2013 Régates Royales in the Dragon class, followed by the two Russian crews of Integrity and Annapurna.
Antoine Pecheur's Slim won among the Requin followed by Daniela skippered by Roger Quenet while Aubrey Finburgh's Johnny III completed the podium. In the Broad One Design class it was James Tubby's Marsh Harrier to become the 2013 winner, Stuart Rix's Guillemot got the silver and Philip Harstson's Puffin the bronze.
Gérard Pascalini, General manager of the Société des Régates de Cannes declared: “Unlike last year, we have been very lucky as far as sailing conditions are concerned. Excellent breeze on the first two days and no less than 10 knots later in the week. We are very, very happy with this 2013edition. This year we focused on the 35th anniversary, with more activities on the village open to the public. As usual the volunteers, have given an enormous contribution to the success of the Royales and have showed great professionalism both ashore and on the water. I also wish to thank exhibitors and sponsors. See you next year!”
During the prize giving ceremony, French media partner Bateaux magazine awarded four special prizes.
Heritage: to Sagittarius for the long lasting relationship of the Lafitte family with the boat.
Passion: to Yves Laurent on Nin for the passion he always showed to his centenary yacht.
Elegance: to Oiseau de Feu, listed as national heritage and first 12IM built to take part to offshore races.
Press release, September 27, 2013 Perseverance
A lot of perseverance was needed on the penultimate day at the 35th Régates Royales de Cannes – Trophée Panerai. The situation was not looking very encouraging when the crews gathered for the usual morning skippers' briefing, but luck was on the organisers' and sailors' side and a finally around 2 pm the breeze made its appearance in the bay and the Race Committee was able to launch a coastal race in the bay for both the Big Boats and the Classics. On the same course as yesterday, the bigger boats completed two laps and the smaller one, to get one more crucial result for the overall standing. The Dragons, after a long wait ashore, had one race that turned into a real duel between the two Russian crews on Annapurna and Integrity.
Weather forecasts often draw an accurate image, but sometimes time can change things over and turn the situation to the sailors advantage .Only expected in the late afternoon, the breeze decided instead to come in early and, at around 2pm, with some 10 knots of wind the Race Committee was able to fire the starting signal and free the crews from a long wait on the water. Racing on the same course as yesterday, the fleets encountered conditions good enough to complete the 13 mile long coastal course (23 for the Big Boats). The overall standing, almost unchanged after yesterday's results should not be shaken up too much, even if some surprises could well come after the calculation of corrected time.
One owner, two boats
After having been the very happy owner of Rowdy for seven years, Graham Walker is a man that loves competition and new challenges. The latest deed of this gentleman sailor is called Chinook, the New York 40 gaff cutter he recently bought and completely restored. “I had seven years of absolute happiness on Rowdy, and a huge success. We got to a point that where we knew the boat by heart, she was at her top. Chinook is the start of a new adventure; we still have a lot to learn and so many things to get better at. The two boats are from the same class, the NY40, but Chinook has a different rig, she is a gaffer while Rowdy has a Bermudan rig. Boat handling and manoeuvring is not at all the same, and we need to learn new techniques to sail her.” said Graham Walker, just after docking in. “The fact that I'm on a different boat, though, allows me to admire Rowdy from the outside, and I must say that she's absolutely magnificent” declared Walker with a bit of nostalgia.
Russian duel
It's been going on since the very first race, and now the Russian duel between Annapurna skippered by Anatoly Loginov, currently leading, and Mikhail Senatorov's Integrity in second is becoming even more intense. Separated by only two points, the Russian crews on the eve of the final day will sure leave no cards unturned to get this year's title. Today's winner was Jerboa skippered by female sailor Gavia Wilkinson – Cox, who now has nine points from the leaders, a win is not impossible but very hard, because no doubt the Russians will be there to control her every move.
In the One Design division, Roger Quenet's Requin Daniela is at the top of the provisional scoreboard, followed by Johnny III and Sum whilst in the Broad One Design class Moorhen leads by one point on Marsh Harrier. Guillemot is in third.
For tomorrow, the last day of the 35th Régates Royales de Cannes the weather forecast is for light conditions again, with an easterly not stronger than 7 knots.
Press release, September 26, 2013 A tropical air
Warm weather, blue skies and a gentle breeze, one could not ask for more ideal conditions to salute Mauritius, official sponsor for the Dragons racing today on the 35th Edition of the Régates Royales Trophée Panerai. The Classics enjoyed the moderate conditions that allowed for one race to be completed whilst the Big Boats battled it out on a longer course.
Midway in the 35th Edition of the Régates Royales de Cannes, weather conditions have definitely become milder: after some stiff breeze yesterday, topping 20 knots, today the wind has not exceeded 10 knots. There was enough however for the Race committee to launch a coastal race of around 13 miles for the Classics. The Big Boats Class, which includes Altair, Elena, Eleonora, Mariquita, Moonbeam of Fife III, Moonbeam IV, Mariska, Hallowe’en and Cambria had a ten mile longer course set especially for them. In the overall results for the class updated to last night, Moonbeam of Fife III is leading Altair and Moonbeam IV but everything could be different tonight because the trio is even on points and well distanced from the rest of the competitors, so it looks like the will be a three-boats close fight for the lead overall.
Among gaff cutters, where Nan of Fife and Oriole who are separated by just one point, today's light conditions may well reshuffle cards whilst success looks nearer for world renowned Argentinian designer German Frers sailing on Sonny, who is literally dominating the Marconi class. “The first two days it was more like a submarine than a sailing boat... but this 1929 yacht designed by William Fife, is more at ease on windward/leeward courses with real upwind and downwind legs, less on reaching.” says French skipper Lionel Péan, sailing on Nada. “Today we had between 6 and 12 knots, so it was less tricky, but our rating is very punishing. Our aim is to have fun, and with my crew there is no problem with that. The human factor is almost more relevant than winning, no matter what. And I try to help people enjoy racing. There is a Turkish sailor, an Irish guy, a Scotsman and some French and we are more used to racing in class championships, but sailing here in Cannes is great. We are going to change crew for Sunday's delivery race to Saint Tropez and will have all-female team. We will try to win it again, as we did last year.” declared Alexia Barrier, also sailing on Nada.
The island of the Dragons
The Dragon crews, docking out today, had a set goal: be the most consistent, the fastest, the best. As a matter of fact, the best crew on today's two races would have been awarded with a trip to Mauritius offered by Beachcomber, main sponsor of the day. One more drive to do well for the sailors, who have been pushing hard from the beginning, and in pretty rough conditions. The wind was lighter today, never stronger than 12 knots, but excitement on the water was running high. With a second and a third, it was finally Italy's Giuseppe Duca with his crew Jean Sébastien Ponce and Patrick Aucour on Cloud, to win the exclusive prize. The trio looked very happy to receive the special prize, but also to have bounced back in the overall standings. The scoreboard has been reshuffled with the first discard caming into the play, allowing Anatoly Loginov on Annapurna to jump to the top of the leaderboard, followed by another Russian skipper, Mikhail Senatorov on Integrity. The provisional podium is completed by Martin Payne's Bear.
The weather forecast for tomorrow, Friday and second to last day of the Régates Royales de Cannes, is for even lighter wind, but hopefully enough for the Race Comittee to continue to set the race courses.
Press release, September 25, 2013
What else?
What else could the 35th edition of the Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai offer competitors on the second day of racing but the perfect conditions of 18 to 20 knots southwesterly breeze and choppy seas in Cannes? The boats, sailing upwind or downwind in stiff breeze, the water spraying the decks, sailors pushing hard to hoist or take down the spinnakers as fast as possible, all made for the “usual” superb show. Judging by the big grins on the crews' faces once they docked in and by the public crowding the pontoons, the day was a huge success on all fronts. From a purely racing point of view, today's results contribute to draw a clearer outline of the battles that are in store for the rest of the week.
No sooner had the Race Committee fired the starting signal for the first race of day 2 in just bore midday with a good breeze of around twenty knots, the skippers sent their boats full speed off into the bay. From the îles de Lérins towards Cap Esterel, after a weather mark midway and a fast reaching leg to Mandelieu La Napoule, the boats crisscrossed the Bay on a 12 mile long course to the finish line moored just a few dozen metres from the Vieux Port de Cannes, for the delight of the many spectators crowding the Boulevard du Midi to watch the spectacle. Last to start, the bigger yachts quickly overtook the rest of the fleet, at times causing weird and close encounters as did the 50 metre long Elena of London and the tiny 9,5 metre long, British sloop Jessie.
Some opted for more conservative tactics on the reaching leg to Mandelieu La Napoule, taking down their gennaker, Elena kept pushing on - almost on the edge - with her huge sails, literally jumping on the finish line. Line honours went to the big J Class Shamrock V, who easily passed her competitors to cross in a record time of just 1 hour and 20 minutes.
The smallest boat of the “giant” class, Moonbeam III, added another first place to yesterdays opening race. “The conditions were exactly what we were expecting. But twenty knots is a bit too much for us. We kept almost all the sails up. Being the smallest boat in our class, we absolutely wanted to start in clean air and staying at the committee boat end of the line, we got a good start, pushing Moonbeam IV out. We even hoisted the spinnaker but it was a bit at the limit,” said tactician and offshore sailor Sébastien Audigane.
Germany, UK and Russia lead the Dragons
The Dragons had two races today, in similar wind conditions as the classics but in easier, flatter water. With two more results the overall scoreboard positions have been shuffled, and thanks to a win and a fourth, Germany's Pow Wow skippered by Michael Zanke has taken the lead, followed by Martin Payne's British flagged Bear and Russian Mikhail Senatorov on Integrity, who made an impressive comeback from seventh to third. The competition will no doubt be even hotly contested tomorrow for the Mauritius Day as the winning team is to be awarded a trip to the tropical island.
The weather forecast for tomorrow is again for a sunny, warm day, possibly less windy than today, with a breeze that should not exceed ten knots. It will be turning point for the 35th Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai, as every scored point will become crucial.
Press release, September 24, 2013 Good start, all clear!
Despite being a bit late, the breeze finally set in on the Bay of Cannes on the opening day of the Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai and the fleet enjoyed ideal conditions for the first skirmishes. The Classics and the Broad One Designs completed one race, while the Dragons had two.
“I've rarely seen such a show on the water. It was a bit hot at the mark roundings with so many different boats, but we had a great day” declared offshore single-handed star sailor Florence Arthaud, who's racing on board Sonda, a French Bermudan sloop from 1951. “We've made our tactics not so much based on the course but on the competitors, because if you happen to be to the leeward of Elena that has some 1,000 square metres of sail area, you need to be prepared to deal with it. I took the helm after the first windward mark, even if generally I let the owner steer at the start, which is always a bit tricky with so many boats on the line.”
The faster and bigger boats quickly covered the 12 mile long course in the Bay of Cannes, hoisting their huge sails. The first line honours went to Elena, followed a few minutes later by Cambria, the J Class Shamrock V and Savannah.
Confronted with these giants, smaller boats like the Wianno Senior struggle to find clean air on a very crowded and mixed race course. “We made a few mistakes, but hopefully we are going to get better. We were second to last at the start, just in front of the big boats, and with our tiny 7,6 metre boat when they roll us we feel very small. We had to be very cautious, but it was really fun.” said Yula de Sambuy, skipper of Wianno, the replica of the very first boat owned by US president John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Fighting one-designs
Conditions in the Bay of Cannes proved to be almost to the limit for the Broad One Design Class, more at ease on their familiar protected waters. “The conditions were pretty tough today. The Broad One Design is a boat that thrives in choppy waters, but it was almost un-sailable for us today. Unfortunately, one of our boats dismasted”. said Guillemot's skipper Stuart Rix. Despite the difficult conditions the BODs managed to complete one race that was won by Mark Duffield's Moorhen with a slight margin on Ken Clabburn's Flittermouse, that shortly after was dismasted. Daniela, the only French-flagged BOD, skippered by Roger Quenet, scored a fourth.
The Dragons, faithful to their reputation, were the only class to wind up two races both sailed in pretty tricky conditions, debuting at the Régates in the best possible way. Soaking wet but happy, the 36 crews made it back to the Vieux Port of Cannes with one goal set in their minds: climbing back on the general scoreboard tomorrow. After two races it's Martin Payne on Bear to be on top, thanks to a very consistent opening day (3,2). With more races scheduled for tomorrow it will be imperative for some of the more accredited teams to bounce back. Russian title holder Anatoly Loginov on Annapurna, who had a disastrous first race finishing 27th , made up for the lost terrain on the second one with a win and is currently 8th, 23 points shy of the leader.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, the weather forecast is set for calmer conditions with a SSW wind that should not exceed ten knots.
Press release, September 23rd, 2013
From all over the world
The big day is approaching. Tomorrow just about 200 boats, coming from twenty different countries, will be on the starting line of the grand opening of the Régates Royales de Cannes 35th edition. On the eve of the first race, while crews are giving the final touches to their boats, the public gathers on the pontoons to admire the classic yachts that come back to the French riviera year after year. Classics, Dragons, Requins and Broad One Designs will enliven the bay over five days of intense racing. The show is about to start.
Warm weather, blue skies, a pleasant breeze: the right ingredients for the pre-start day of the Régates Royales de Cannes – Trophée Panerai were all there for the crews to complete their preparation, have the boats fully ready to go and to finalize entries.
The spectators on the quays of the Vieux port de Cannes can once again take pleasure in these magnificent yachts and, at the same time, discover new chapters in the history of boats that on different levels have all left their mark in the last century's books. From the world-famous Manitou, once owned by US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, to the replica of his very first boat, the Wianno Senior, to Il Moro di Venezia, one of the first modern Maxis, to the two twin 50 metres long fore and aft schooners Elena and Eleonora. This 35th edition of the Régates Royales de Cannes will also welcome in its very exclusive club, Nin a centenary gaff cutter that, despite her age will make her debut to the racing scene here in Cannes. There are so far no less than twelve boats who can boast one hundred or more years of age: Bona Fide (1899), Elena of London (1911), Eva (1906), Kelpie (1902), Mariquita (1911), Mariska (1908), Moonbeam III (1903), Nan of Fife (1896), Oriole (1905), Véronique ( 1907) and Wayward (1908).
A sailing melting pot
They come from Argentina, Malta, the Caymans, from the Isle of Man; from Russia, Finland, Denmark, Jersey but also from closer countries like Italy, the UK, Germany, Switzerland and, obviously, France. They have all converged to Southern France to a town that has always had an intense international flavour to it. On canoe-sterned Sonny the South American accent will be stronger, as internationally renowned designer German Frers will be on board, defending Argentinian honours.
Still, the 1,500 sailors that make up this year's crews speak the very same language, the language of the sea, the wind and the passion. “The Régates Royales de Cannes keep getting better from a quantity and quality point of view. The crews' level is also getting higher and higher. For this 35th edition, we have even more nationalities, 20, and the size of the competing boats is also increasing, with 5 or 6 boats longer than 50 metres. I'm really delighted with this year's lineup” said Jacques Flori, Président of the Yacht Club de Cannes.
Before skirmishes start tomorrow, some of the crews have profited from the ideal conditions to round off the final arrangements on the water and ashore to these very demanding but rewarding yachts.
One-design type close encounters
The Dragon class, will once again be the focal point of the racing week in Cannes with it's fierce battles, where boats get to the finish line literally within seconds. The 2012 podium, Anatoly Loginov's Annapurna (Russia), Giuseppe Duca's Cloud (Italy) and Soren Pehersson's Blue Lady (Denmark), are ready to defend their titles but will have to watch out for Tommy Muller on Finito, who recently scored an excellent fourth in the Gold Cup, just one place ahead of Longinov.
After some fifteen years' absence, the traditional one-design Requins come back to Cannes. For the more unexperienced eyes, they may look like Dragons, but in fact these 9,60 metre long boats are different because they have a cabin. Fast and seaworthy, the Requin was designed in Finland in 1930, but it is in France that she has found her glory.
And finally, there will be no less than seven Broads One Designs on the starting line tomorrow. This class dates back to the last century, when the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club in Lowestoft decided to have its own racing boat. The Broad One Design is 7,30 metres long and was originally built in wood and later in fibreglass. Hull number 3, Flittermouse (UK) will compete against the French crew on Dipper and five more Anglo-Saxon teams.
Summer is not over
The high pressure system over France is producing almost summer-like conditions on the Maritime Alps region. For the opening day of the Régates Royales, the forecast is for a good wind progressively strengthening during the day from force 2 to force 5 with gusts, and shifting from NE to SSW in the afternoon. And the conditions look set to stay almost the same for the remainder of the week and enabling the Race Committee to launch the highest possible number of races, for the pleasure of sailors, journalists, photographers and the spectators alike.
Six days to the start
From next Saturday, September 21st, 90 classic yachts, 40 Dragons and 8 Broad One Design (BOD) will take part to the 35th edition of the Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai.
In the magnificent backdrop of the Bay of Cannes, some one thousand sailors from all over the world will gather and compete with the ultimate goat of winning. Before being able to put set ones hands on the prestigious Trophy, the sailors will have to show a steadfast consistency and team spirit to race these yachts, some of which are over a century old, in first position over the finish line on the different courses designed by the Race Committee.
After an intense summer season, many sailors would do anything not to miss the Regates Royales, one of the most cherished rendez-vous in the French and international sailing calendar. Once again, for their 35th edition, the “Royales”, will set a record number of participations, with over one hundred confirmed entries expected to gather on the French Riviera.
The Classics in numbers
There will be at least 90 classic yachts competing for the title throughout the regatta. Behind this double digit number, though, there are 45 designers, 12 centenaries, 22 measuring more than 20 metres in length, 9 over 30 metres and 3 over 40 metres long with sail areas as large as 1,200 square metres, that is to say as much as an Olympic swimming pool… Just numbers, one may say, but these majestic boats sailing off the Lérins Islands and Cap Roux, will get more than one admiring head turn. Back ashore, the quays become a living yachting history book, for the enjoyment of enthusiasts who will have the chance to be just inches away from these beautiful craft, savouring their looks and distinctive wooden perfume. It’s a show, that is for sure, but it is also and foremost the true competition what will be at the centre of the sailors’ talk. Year after year, the Régates Royales is centre stage for real sailing battles and victory is always much fought for with even scores at times, as it was the case in 2012 for Thendara and Moonbeam III.
Dragon and BOD, may the best win
Things could not be simpler than with the one design Dragons and Broad One Design classes. The first to cross the line is the winner; the second is second and so forth. It’s one design sailing and Russian skipper and title-holder Anatoly Loginov (Annapurna) is a master of this game. The Régates Royales would not be what it is without the Dragons as every edition dozens of crews come from all over Europe to have their 8,90 metres long boats ready to align for the first start on Tuesday. During the week long series, the Race Committee will launch some ten races for a group of competitive sailors who will fight to the last inch for a win. A superb show is guaranteed every day, and especially on Thursday the 26th, a day dedicated to Mauritius.
We can expect great things too from the Broad One Design (BOD), a new class to watch closely and one that will ensure both exciting and fun racing to watch.
A tribute
Jean-Claude Montesinos, President of the Yacht Club de Cannes, organiser and soul of the Régates Royales, recently passed away. His good spirits, his joie de vivre, his famous sense of humour and his incredible energy will be deeply missed on the pontoon this year but, surely, the 35th Royales will be the best tribute to the man, the organiser and the sailor.
For over 8 years the Société des Régates de Cannes and the Yacht Club de Cannes has been organising the Régates Royales. The regatta is supported by the City of Cannes, a title sponsor Panerai.
Rendez-vous from 21st to 29th September 2013From September 21st to 29th the town of Cannes will once again roll out the red carpet, for the 35th edition of the Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai. Throughout the week classic and vintage yachts, metric classes, Dragons, Requins and Broad One Design boats will gracefully unfurl their sails in the in the stunning backdrop of the Bay of Cannes.
Legends live onFrom September 21st, the town of Cannes will welcome with open arms an array of Gaff rigs, schooners, cutters, sloops, yawls, J Class, one-designs and 12 Metre Class… the event will represent an exceptional gathering, with some of the biggest and most famous yachts from the last century like the the majestic Elena (55 metres, by Nathanaël Herreshoff), Cambria (40 metres, by William Fife), Mariquita (38,20 metres, by William Fife), Sunshine (38 metres, by William Fife Jr), the J Class Shamrock V (36,50 metres by Charles Nicholson) and the two Moonbeam III and Moonbeam IV (31 metres, by William Fife)…
What better an occasion to admire the purity of the yacht lines, the shining woods and stylish and talented crew competing in such elegance? Like film stars, they will show off their flair and charm sailing off the îles de Lérins. Everyone will have the opportunity to watch them and be fascinated by these legendary yachts, many classed as part of historical maritime heritage, as they gracefully liven up the sea with colour and life.
DragonsThe Dragons will rally to the world-famous bay this autumn for one of the most beautiful class gatherings where more than fifty boats are expected to compete with Russian reigning champion Anatoly Loginov (Annapurna) returning to defend his title. Anticipation for Les Régates Royales is already growing.
Metre classes are backCannes will see the return of the Metre classes this year. The 5, 5, 6, 8 and 12 IM metric classes will be back this year and will be accompanied by new classes like the Requins or the et Broad One Design (BOD).
35th Birthday In 2013, Cannes will celebrate the 35th 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. The first racing event organised in the bay of La Napoule saw the likes of large yachts such as Léro, Olga, Jeannette and Touriste rally with smaller sailing yachts as well as several local fishermen’s rowing boats.
The Société des Régates de Cannes and the Yacht Club de Cannes have been organising the Régates Royales for over 8 years. The event is supported by the Cannes municipality that once again will be an essential backer for the event and by main sponsor Panerai.
Bye Cannes, see you next year!
The 34th edition of the Régates Royales -Trophée Panerai has officially ended with the prize giving ceremony at the race village where organizers and authorities got together with crews and fans to say goodbye to the boats that have enlivened, despite the often tricky weather conditions, the Vieux Port and the Bay of Cannes over last week. Now some of the boats will be going to Saint-Tropez for another week long regatta, some will go back to their home ports for winter works. Hopefully, all of them will be present again next year.
Jean-Claude Montesinos, Président of the Yacht Club de Cannes :
“This 34th edition of the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai was actually also meant as a way of getting ready for the 35th. Because we will try to do even better next year... despite the weather non being very helpful, there was always a huge public on the quays and the staff did a great job adjusting to the situation. I want to congratulate and thank all that have taken part to the event, sailors, owners, judges, volunteers, sponsors... We succeeded in having four good races in variable conditions that I reckon the crews enjoyed anyway. They had to be careful and focused, play with the clouds and the effects of the coast, the tacticians had a lot of work to do!”
Gérard Pascalini, company manager for the Société des Régates de Cannes :
“It was a first for me and I'm extremely satisfied, le atmosphere has been great at the village, on the water, among the crews and the volunteers. We were helped by over 150 volunteers to organize the Régates Royales de Cannes, forty-two sponsors to support the event, some twenty judges to have everything go smoothly on the water, an important financial backing and 2,500 sailors! It was anything but easy to sort everything out in tricky conditions and I can only hope to be able to do as well next year with this same crew...”
Overall results
Vintage gaffers
1-Avel (Chris Austin) 7 points
2-Bona Fide (Beppe Zaoli) 8 points
3-Nan of Fife (Philippe Menhinick) 9 points
Big Boats
1-Thendara (Markus Schweiger) 6 points
2-Moonbeam of Fife 3 (Erwan Noblet) 6 points
3-Moonbeam IV (Mickaël Créac’h) 6 points
Marconi +15m
1-Leonore (Brad Swain) 3 points
2-Skylark of 1937 (Tony Morse) 9 points
3-Mercury (Jordi Cabau) 14 points
Marconi -15m
1-Cholita (Bruno Roma) 4 points
2-Dainty (Mike Hollis) 8 points
3-Sonda (Pascal Borel) 9 points
Spirit of Tradition
1-Catleya (Jacques Fauroux) 3 points
2-Highlander (JN Bonaletoff) 6 points
3-Nada (Marcus Fitzgerald) 12 points
Vintage
1-Arcadia (Raphaël Coldefy) 4 points
2-Maria Giovanna 2 (Jean-Pierre Sauvan) 11 points
3-White Dolphin (Yann Delplace) 13 points
Dragons (after ten races, one discard)
1-Anatoly Loginov (RUS) Annapurna : 40 points
2-Guiseppe Duca (ITA) Cloud : 62 points
3-Soren Pehrsson (DEN) Blue Lady : 78 points
4-Ivan Bradbury (GBR) Blue Haze : 92 points
5-Helmut Schmidt (GER) Kleine Brise : 98 points
6-Bo Selko (DEN) Bonobo : 100 points
7-Martin Payne (GBR) Bear : 105 points
8-Victor Fogelson (RUS) Sunflower : 116 points
9-Joseph Varoqui (FRA) Rusalka : 117 points
10-Vassily Senatorov (RUS) I Feel Good : 125 points
The Cannes cocktail The strong winds and heavy rainstorms sweeping the Bay of Cannes put a halt to the conclusive day of competition on 34th edition of the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai. The classic yacht fleet with a total 87 entries did however enjoy a whole week of racing in the most varied conditions offering a spectacular show for the public crowding the quay and the bay.
From over thirty knots or zero wind, from bright sunshine to heavy downpours, millpond flat seas to steep and choppy waves, wind shifts and shining light, but above all, the week will be remembered for the close racing, high-adrenaline mark turnings, packed starts, traffic jams on the finish line, reshuffles and big comebacks... a magnificent show, watching the immense Herreshoff's designed fore and aft gaff cutter Elena (50,71m) flying with all the sails up, the J Class Shamrock V hoisting her huge spinnaker in twenty knots, Mariquita crossing Thendara or Moonbeam, seeing Aloha and Lady Van close upwind or the Pen Duick fleet aligning in a sort of parade of sails.
A gaff rigged Dragon
In the Spirit of Tradition class the battle was fierce among the twenty competitors and especially between the brand new small boats that have stamped their name on the series. On a Dragon hull Jacques Fauroux with a gaff rig that has boosted the 1929 Anker designed boat's performance. Catleya skippered by Fauroux himself and Highlander helmed by Jean-Nicolas Bondaletoff have dominated the regatta, with the exception of the third race, which proved to be too windy for them. Only 6M Nada succeeded in keeping the pace and finishing in third while Sea Lion won Thursday's breezy race.
The Vintage class included old glories from the IOR days such as Sagittarius, Ojala II, Running Tide or the world famous Il Moro di Venezia, and the mythical Pen Duick II and Pen Duick V but it was the 1968 Olin Stephens design Arcadia who triumphed over her sister-ship Maria Giovanna 2… Among the big Marconis, with a LOA of over 15 metres, Leonore formerly known as Cottom Blossom II, the Q-Class created by Johan Anker in 1925 beats Skylark, the yawl that made her debut at Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai. Among their smaller sisters measuring less than 15 metres, Cholita, created in 1937 by Nicholas Potter took the top step on the podium, succeeding in leaving behind Dainty one of the smallest boats competing in Cannes, and Sonda the first 8M designed by Mc Gruer in 1951.
Towering sails...
Some of the biggest classic yachts taking part to the Régates Royales de Cannes sport more more than 1,200 square metres sail area. And when such boats weighing over 200 tons slam and fly on the choppy sea in twenty knots, sea water spraying set the pace it is not easy for other boats to follow. In the Big Boats, dominated by William Fife's designed yachts, division three boats finish tied at points, after a hard fought series. But, thanks to a double win Thendara, the 1935 gaff ketch signed by Alfred Mylne gets gold followed by Moonbeam of Fife 3 and Moonbeam IV. In fourth place the19M Mariquita while her small sister, the 15mJI Mariska looks to be less at ease in stiff breeze.
Cannes provided perfect conditions also for the Vintage gaffers and the beautifully restored and maintained masterpieces, battled at the highest level for the top spot. Five of them could have jumped to the podium, but finally it was 1896 Camper & Nicholson's Avel to get gold followed by Bona Fide and Nan of Fife, the oldest classic yacht designed by William Fife III still sailing. On Sunday at around noon some fifty crews who took part to the 34th Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai will leave Cannes on the feeder race to Saint-Tropez.
Overall results Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai 2012
Vintage gaffers
1-Avel (Chris Austin) 7 points
2-Bona Fide (Beppe Zaoli) 8 points
3-Nan of Fife (Philippe Menhinick) 9 points
Big Boats
1-Thendara (Markus Schweiger) 6 points
2-Moonbeam of Fife 3 (Erwan Noblet) 6 points
3-Moonbeam IV (Mickaël Créac’h) 6 points
Marconi +15m
1-Leonore (Brad Swain) 3 points
2-Skylark of 1937 (Tony Morse) 9 points
3-Mercury (Jordi Cabau) 14 points
Marconi -15m
1-Cholita (Bruno Roma) 4 points
2-Dainty (Mike Hollis) 8 points
3-Sonda (Pascal Borel) 9 points
Spirit of Tradition
1-Catleya (Jacques Fauroux) 3 points
2-Highlander (JN Bonaletoff) 6 points
3-Nada (Marcus Fitzgerald) 12 points
Vintage
1-Arcadia (Raphaël Coldefy) 4 points
2-Maria Giovanna 2 (Jean-Pierre Sauvan) 11 points
3-White Dolphin (Yann Delplace) 13 points
Annapurna on top
On the last competition day the 43 Dragons sailed three races in ideal conditions: flat sea and a good and steady north-easterly breeze. The week long duel between the Italian skipper Giuseppe Duca on Cloud and Russia's Anatoly Longinov came to an exciting end today with the latter taking top spot on the podium, followed by Duca with Soren Pehrsson from Denmark. The classic yachts enjoyed excellent racing conditions despite the overcast skies with a big coastal course in the bay of La Napoule sailed under a steady 12 knots easterly breeze.
There was no respite for the Dragon sailors today, the final and decisive racing day in the Golfe Juan. Three races where sailed with a good breeze of around ten knots from the north-east that shifted progressively to the east/south-east and changed in intensity. It was then a question of not only being fast but also of taking taking care to choose the right course whilst maintaining a watchful eye on the closet rivals for the overall scoreboard.
As it happens it was Russia's Anatoly Loginov on Annapurna, who has won on past editions of the Régates Royales to show better consistency and score a fourth a third and a second place that paid huge dividends. Consistency was key as some crews lost their chance to be on the podium due to mediocre results over the first days of the series. This was the case for Ivan Bradbury (Blue Haze) from the UK who didn't finish the first race and slipped down to an unusual thirtieth in the sixth one and finish in 4th overall. A black flag forced German Helmut Schmidt (Kleine Brise) to a fifth overall. For Danish Bo Selko (Bonobo) it was an OCS that would shatter hopes to do better than sixth while UK's, Martin Payne (Bear) had to abandon the second to last race which left him in seventh overall.
One just needs to see the overall results to realise that the three leaders were never in real danger throughout the whole ten-race regatta, despite some poor performances which they were able to discard.
Yet it was the last racing day that would provide the name of the 34th Régates Royales champion. Anatoly Loginov (Annapurna) got gold, Italian Giuseppe Duca (Cloud) who was on top of the leader boat up to the mornig of the last day of racing, saw his lead drop with a sixteenth, a tenth and an eighth relegating him to second overall while Soren Pehrsson (Blue Lady) from Denmark, who started well with a win was unable to maintain the consistency over the final races and takes third, or bronze overall.
Dragon Final overall results after ten races and one discard
1-Anatoly Loginov (RUS) Annapurna: 40 points
2-Giuseppe Duca (ITA) Cloud: 62 points
3-Soren Pehrsson (DEN) Blue Lady: 78 points
4-Ivan Bradbury (GBR) Blue Haze: 92 points
5-Helmut Schmidt (GER) Kleine Brise: 98 points
6-Bo Selko (DEN) Bonobo: 100 points
7-Martin Payne (GBR) Bear: 105 points
8-Victor Fogelson (RUS) Sunflower: 116 points
9-Joseph Varoqui (FRA) Rusalka: 117 points
10-Vassily Senatorov (RUS) I Feel Good: 125 points
A tour in the Bay
Despite the greyish sky and the hazy atmosphere, the large classic fleet was able to sail another race in variable conditions, in a shifty and often fluctuating easterly. Tight starts, close mark roundings, lots of manoeuvres to hoist gaffs, staysails, jibs, spinnakers or gennakers as the course provided the crews with almost every possible point of sail. Some, like Paulena even zigzagged near the marks to avoid dangerous traffic jams. In such conditions, tactics and good manoeuvring were paramount and there was an intense battle for the lead. Among the Vintage Gaffers, Nan of Fife won on corrected time followed by Avel and Bona Fide, whose crew nonetheless looked extremely focused and fast.
In the Big Boats division, the two Moonbeam “brothers” triumphed in style with number 3 crossing the line just seconds before number 4 and Mariquita stole third place to Thendara by a hair's breadth. Arcadia largely dominated the Vintage class while Paulena surprised her competitors with some unusual manoeuvres at the back of the fleet. Leonore won among the Big Marconi leaving behind Manitou and Rowdy and among the small Marconis Cholita scored a precious win. Finally one more victory for the Dilong Catleya on Highlander and the 6M Nada.
For all classes tomorrow's grande finale will be crucial to decide the winners of the 34th Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai, especially because the weather forecast does not look easy at all, with strong breeze forecast to play a major role of the final act.
One date, one class
The “Fighting Forties” are incredible racing machines despite being created for corinthian sailors looking for fast cruisers, suited for day-sailing off Newport. But the “Bristol magician” was not a man to compromise and when he wanted his ideas to be accepted (and he had plenty) he never dithered to push forward radical designs. These boats are actually very extreme, with a huge beam and a large V-shaped hull, a light displacement and a big sail area.
Nathanaël Herreshoff explored the whole world of naval architecture from the young age of sixteen (Violet was designed in 1864) until the very last years of his long life (Belisarius from 1935) that ended on June 2nd 1938 when he was 90. he produced over 18.000 designs for more than 2,000 boats that were mostly built by his brother's shipyard. When the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) board decided to create a one-design boat especially for its members, they naturally went for the most titled of all naval architects, designer of six America's Cup winners. Vigilant (1893), Defender (1895), Columbia (1899 et 1901), Reliance (1903), Resolute (1920) are among the most fascinating yachts of their times, but the architect who graduated in engineering at the famous Boston MIT, also designed motor boats, cat-boats, dinghies, sloops, ketches, schooners and even a catamaran, Amarylis in 1875.
The new rule allowed to explore new trends and set as the only limit a maximum waterline length of 40 feet, giving Nat Herreshoff plenty of ideas on shapes. In 1900 he already created four 70' one-design boats (followed by nine more some years later) for the NYYC that became a benchmark for their extreme lightness, fine lines and flat deck: “The main feature of these Herreshoff's designs is that they look absolutely unperturbed by the waves” commented Casper Withney.
The Fighting Forties turned into an immediate success, twelve boats were built in just one year 1916 among which Pauline, Maisie and Rowdy, later two more Marilee and Rugosa are launched in 1926. With their large gaff sloop rig and the wide beam, these one-designs were particularly fast in stiff breeze so much to make the eminent NYCC's member Edwin J. Schoettle said: “They're excellent boats in the breeze and easy to steer and manoeuvre in strong winds. I'm told that nobody has never seen a Forty taking a reef...” and they were designed to be sailed short-handed too, by three crew only! Shortly after the first launches, the New York One Design 40 were equipped with a bowsprit further increasing their sail area.
In 1924, Memory, transformed into a Marconi yawl, won the popular Bermuda race and in 1930 the last boat to be built Rugosa scored a double in the same offshore event. Today, Rowdy is the most successful Forty still racing following her predecessors' triumphs as Graham Walker's and his crew have taken almost every race they have competed in the classic yachts circuit.
British owner Graham Walker has a long experience having raced in the America's Cup in 1987 and to several Admiral’s and Ton Cups in the 90s with his fleet of boats all called Indulgence has later discovered and fallen in love with classic yachts. He had one of the last New York Yacht Club Forty restored in Maine, in the USA. The tally speaks loud: since Graham Walker started sailing on Rowdy (NY-49) in Maine, this one-design has almost won every race as did her older sister ship Marilee (NY-50) built in 1926 and re-launched in 2001 that won also the America's Cup Jubilee in Cowes.
Fighting Forty
Designer: Nathanaël Herreshoff
Shipyard: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company
LOA: 20,10 m
LWL: 17,90 m
Beam: 4,40 m
Draft: 2,40 m
Displacement: 21,770 kg
Upwind sail area: 225 m2
Mixed bag Wind, waves, clouds, shifts and abandons for the fourth day of the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai. A great race for the classic yachts in 25 plus knots of breeze and two more for the Dragons in tricky conditions.
Cannes looked more like Brittany than the Cote d'Azur today with its cloudy sky, choppy sea, a westerly/south-westerly topping twenty knots that put boats and crews to the test over a coastal course some ten miles long. Sure, the image of an imposing J Class flying downwind under asymmetric spinnaker just off the marina entrance will be rememberd as one of the most exciting moments on this 34th edition of the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai.
Double winners in the breeze
Take a good start, not easy with a strong swell, sail a good first upwind leg, manouevre well in the fresh breeze, take the right tactical decisions... easier said than done. And very challenging indeed. So much so that some of the crews decided to head back to port after some minor breakages and technical hitches or due to the conditions being too strong for the rigs and boat builds. The sailing off Aiguille were exremely tricky, especially for the older boats.
Today too the course was coastal, with an upwind tack to the îles de Lérins, then a long reach to the point of l’Esquillon, downwind to La Napoule and finally back towards Cannes. In the Spirit of Tradition division Shamrock V got her third consecutive line honours and her first win on corrected time, followed by Nazgul of Fordell while four boats chose to head back in due to the heavy weather. Some like Dainty among the small Marconi, Leonore among the big marconi, Thendara in the Big Boats division, got another consecutive win. One of the oldest boats in Cannes, Marigold (1892) earned a brilliant win amongst the gaffers. Finally White Dolphin succeeded in crossing the line in first in the Vintage class.
An Italian/Russian duel
The Russian crew on Annapurna put together a good performance to close their gap on the Cloud from Italy, provisional leaders, who had the worst day in the series on the windiest and most challenging day so far. It was even worse for Denmark's Soren Pehrsson (Blue Lady) who impressed for his consistency but today scored only a 27th. By good fortune, having sailed more than five races, these opaque results can now be discarded. On the second race of the day it was UK entry Bear, skippered by Martin Payne, who got to shine and jump up the provisional scoreboard thanks to a second. As the breeze got stiffer, the Race Committee launched the seventh race and it was Payne again to cross in first, followed by fellow countryman Yan Bradbury (Blue Haze) and by Giuseppe Duca (Cloud) while Anatoly Loginov (Annapurna) was only tenth. A good reshuffle of the cards on the table of the Dragons, since the first four crews are all in for the overall win on Friday.
Provisional overall rankingafter seven races
1-Guiseppe Duca (Cloud): 2, 8, 3, 5,7, 17, 3 = 28 points
2-Anatoly Loginov (Annapurna): 5, 1, 13, 13, 1, 1, 10 = 31 points
3-Martin Payne (Bear): 6, 14, 5, 30, 8, 2, 1 = 36 points
4-Soren Pehrsson (Blue Lady): 3, 7, 2, 10, 17, 24, 6 = 45 points
5-Helmut Schmidt (Kleine Brise): 7, 4, 9, 20, 44, 21, 4 = 65 points
One date, one class
5.5m I.R, 6m I.R, 8m I.R as well as the 12m I.R (that raced in the America's Cup from 1958 to 1987), 15m I.R and other classes that didn't last, they all derivate from the metre rule created in 1906 in London. At that time yachting was fast developing worldwide, from the USA to Germany, Australia, Spain, Switzerland, Scandinavia as well as in France and Italy. Yet, every country and almost every yacht club adopts its own rating rule for a very varied fleet, with very different boats adapted to the local race conditions. Thera are only a few international events apart from the ones on the Swiss lakes or in southern Britain.
These are called “restriction rules”, that is to say they limit the value of a certain number of parameters in order to guarantee similar boat performances, still not forcing to build strictly identical one-design boats. In 1901, the New York Club takes action to reform the Universal Rule in co-operation with designer Nathanaël Herreshoff. Owners from Germany, Sandinavia, the UK and France agree and during a meeting held in London in 1906 they would create the International Rule (I.R.) that will give birth to a number of metre classes that would be more or less successful. Three years later, there were 195 I.R. boats among which 91 6m, 59 8m, 22 10m, 14 12m and nine 15m. The North Americans soon take on the new rule called “metric” that takes into consideration the waterline length, the girth, the freeboard, and the sail area.
From 1907, the best designers all use the rule, especially for the “Eights” that are 14 metres long, have 80 square metres of sail area and weigh nine tons thus allowing to play on different parameters to find the right balance. Scottish designer Alfred Mylne and William Fife, the Norwegian Johan Anker (who also signed the Dragon) and Bjarne Aas, Morgan Giles and Charles Nicholson from the UK, the American Olin Stephens and Thierry Guédon François Camatte, André Mauric from France, all work on this boat, that then becomes an Olympic class from 1908 to 1936. From 1958 the focus switches to the 12m that become popular thanks to the America's Cup, going from wood, to aluminium and later to composite materials (carbon excluded). The other metre classes evolve at a steady pace according to the latest technical innovations.
The Régates Royales welcomes several famous “metric” boats like Mariska (Fife, 1908) one of the few surviving 15m or Seven Seas of Porto (Clinton Crane, 1935) that is the oldest 12m competing in Cannes while among the 8m it's the famous Aile VI (Pierre Arbaut, 1928) that brings back memories of the charismatic female skipper Virginie Hériot which took her to the highest step on the podium at the Games in 1928, together with Helen (Alfred Mylne, 1936) and France (François Camatte, 1937). And finally, sailing on the bay of La Napoule there is one of the oldest 6m, Nada (William Fife,1937). With boats created by the best designers, winning in the metre classes is all but an easy task!
A valuable prize...
For the fourth consecutive year, the “lifestyle” supplement of the daily Les Echos called ”Série limitée” will support the Yacht de Tradition of the Year prize. The prize will be awarded to the traditional yacht that best represents elegance, authenticity and art of living. For this edition, the PYTA will be open to all classic yachts wishing to take part and sailing in British, Spanish, Italian or French waters. All the selected yachts will be judged by a group of qualified experts who will make their decision next November and let it known during the Paris Boat Show and present the winner with the Tradition Yacht of the Year prize. The jury has already made two pre-selections and a third one started on September 15th and will end on October 12th.Classic Yacht owners have still time to enter the PYTA competition and join the boats that have already been selected:
Vintage gaffers: Nan of Fife, OWL, Javelin
Vintage Marconi: Chisando, Oiseau de feu
Classic Marconi: Sonda, Palynodie II, Hilaria
One day, one boat
There are nine “Il Moro di Venezia”, three white and green hulled ones, five that took part to the America's Cup in 1992 and a maxi yacht, later to be named “Il Moro IX”. The saga started in 1976 when Italian Raul Gardini, decided to built the first maxi, the very one that is now racing at the Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai 2012.
Il Moro di Venezia was one of the first IOR Maxi Yachts, and the frontrunner of a series of boats bearing the prestigious name and designed by Argentinian master German Frers culminating with Il Moro III, the very first Italian boat to win the Maxi Yacht Championship in 1988, plus five America's cuppers. Launched in 1976 and built by Cantiere Carlini in Rimini on the Italian Adriatic Coast, Il Moro di Venezia is a sloop measuring 20,45 metres and made entirely in wood, seven layers of strip planking construction and rigged with a 27 metres mast that at the time was considered to be absolutely innovative. All designed and built by America sailor and sailmaker Ted Hood. Il Moro I is still regarded as one of the most advanced and futuristic yachts from the late 70's, designed and created with the latest technologies available at the time. The years after her launch Il Moro took part and won the world famous Channel Race leading the fleet at the Fastnet Rock. In 1978 she crosses the Atlantic to compete in the SORC and later literally dominating the classic Miami to Nassau race. Il Moro I obtains many victories in the national and international IOR circuit, including the dramatic 1979 edition of the Fastnet Race, and has many records to her name like the popular Barcolana race in Trieste where her record held for nearly twenty years, from 1987 to 2005.
Raul Gardini had five America's Cup boats to compete in 1992 Louis Vuitton Cup (ITA-1, IT1-7, ITA-15, ITA-16, ITA-25), the latter winning on New Zealand with four wins out of five matches. But the italian team had to capitulate to Bill Koch's America3 in the AC final… Unfortunately, after Il Moro di Venezia IX (the former Windward Passage II) rasul Gardini's death put an end to the saga.
Il Moro di Venezia
Rig: Marconi
Shipyard: Cantiere Carlini di Rimini - Italy
Year: 1976
Architect: German Frers
LOA: 20,41 m
LOA: 21,41 m
LWL: 18,10 m
Beam: 5,08 m
Mainsail area: 65,2 m2
Genoa: 116,8 m2
Scottish showers in Cannes
The Scottish designer and builder would have liked the second day of the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai 2012. William Fife has signed no less than twelve yachts that got a win in their respective class. Gusts and light air, sun and rain, it was all there.
Nan of Fife (1896), Pen Duick (1898), Iona (1899), Moonbeam of Fife 3 (1903), Mariska (1908), Mariquita (1911), Moonbeam 4 (1914), Hallowe’en (1926), Cambria (1928), Eilean (1936), Vanity V (1936) and the replica Sunshine (2003) are all boats signed by William Fife and successfully racing in Cannes.
The weather conditions were all but stable today, strong gusts alternating to light airs, transforming the Bay of La Napoule almost in a mountain lake. Finally the five classes started in a flimsy five knots south-easterly to cover a coastal rectangular course around 9 miles long. It was a short lived pleasure as the wind almost completely disappeared, leaving sails flapping, boats trailing in the residual waves.
The fleet was left scattered over the bay while a massive rainstorm, almost a flood, hit. Luckily enough and shortly afterward the sun and the wind made their reappearance allowing the race to be sailed, albeit on a reduced course. Only Milena, was not able to finish due to an unfortunate dismasting caused by a broken backstay: the mast fell down and broke in two pieces forcing the crew led by skipper Jacques Anderruthy to motor back to the marina to clear up the chaos on deck.
The first boat to cross the line was, once more, Shamrock V but on corrected time the win went to Jacques Fauroux's Dilong Catleya in the Spirit of Tradition class. In the Vintage class Arcadia signs her first victory at the 34th Régates Royales de Cannes while one of the smallest boats racing, Dainty scored a first in the under 15 metres Marconi class, Leonore in the over 15 metre class. Thendara won in the Big Boats division and Bona Fide confirmed her leadership among the gaffers.
Dragons under the clouds…
Today's races could well represent a turning point for the 43 Dragons competing in Cannes because after the fourth race in a flimsy five knots north-easterly gaps are starting to become important, especially between the two leaders and the rest of the fleet. Actually, after a first windward/leeward leg in an almost steady breeze where the left side was favoured, the air died progressively down on the downwind tack. The fleet split in two groups with the inshore one profiting from a huge wind shift. In a match-racing style finish was the Italian crew of Massimo Buzzi, Tommaso Buzzi and Marco Borzone (Little Hook) to cross in first. They were followed by USA's Edward Simmons (Grendel) and Germany's Timann Krackhardt (Hausdraken) while Briton Ivan Bradbury (Blue Haze) finished in third. Reigning champion Giuseppe Duca with French crew Jean-Sébastien Ponce and Guillaume Berenger (Cloud) was fifth, a result that put them on top of the provisional scoreboard as their nearest rivals didn't score brilliant results today. Yesterday's leader Soren Pehrsson from Denmark (Blue Lady), Russian Anatoly Loginov (Annapurna) and German Helmut Schmidt (Kleine Brise) finished tenth, thirteenth and twentieth respectively. After the first race the Race Committee sent the crews ashore to avoid an enormous rainstorm that swept any breeze away from the race course. After some waiting, a new southerly managed to get in on the La Napoule bay and shortly before 4 pm, the 43 Dragons went out heading for the fifth race, in some fifteen knots strong southerly. It was Russian flagged Annapurna to get in first, ahead of UK's Jerboa and Sunflower, thus consolidating her second overall behind Cloud that with a seventh place manages to keep the lead.
There are two days left and the weather forecast for Thursday is for sunny skies and a good breeze, the two provisional leaders can't rest on their laurels...
One date, one class
Exactly like the Régates Royales, firstly held back to 1929 to honour HRH Christian X of Denmark, the Dragon class celebrates its 83th birthday this year. 8,90 metre long, 1,95 metre wide the one-design weighs 1,700 kilos and has an upwind sail area of 27,7 square metres. She was designed by Johan Anker in 1929 and since then more than 3,000 boats have been produced. The Dragon was selected to participated to the Games and was an Olympic class from 1948 to 1972. The class' champions were the Norwegian Thor Thorvadlsen who won the title in London (1948) and Helsinski (1952), Folke Bohlin from Sweden in Melbourne (1956), Greece's HRH Constantin II in Rome (1960), danish Ole Berntsen in Tokyo (1964), US' George Friedrichs in Mexico (1968) and finally Australia's John Cuneo in Munich (1972).
The Norwegian designer created the boat further to an international competition launched by the Royal Göteborg Yacht Club in 1927 to produce a one design boat that would be relatively cheap and suited for a crew of three. The first 20m2 (as the boat was originally called) was built in 1928 but the class started to become popular on the following year. In 1935 she started to be sailed in Scotland, and in 1935 the soon to become Queen Elizabeth was presented with a Dragon called Bluebottle as a gift. The boat was modified in 1945, the sail area was increased to 27,7 square metres and a spinnaker was added to the sail inventory. A French fleet was created after WWII, with boats racing mainly in Deauville and in Arcachon. Traditional hunting ground for crews from Scandinavia, over the last decades the international racing circuit has been dominated by sailors from Eastern Europe: Russians, Ukranians, former Iugoslavians... yet at the golden age of 68 Danish Poul Richard Hoj Jensen still reamains one of the biggest names in the class.
It seems that the name of the boat was born out of a pronunciation mistake when Johan Anker introduced his design to the International Sailing Federation to get an international class status, an interpreter called it “Draggen” and the Anglo-saxons translated into “Dragon”. The one-design became Olympic class in 1948 for the London Games and took part to the last Olympics in Munich in 1972. In 1970 the class rule opened to aluminium masts and thanks to Borge Borresen's efforts fibreglass hulls were accepted. In 2012 the class registered 1,391 boats competing on a regular basis to racing events in 29 different countries. Every year some fifty new boats are built, mainly by Vejle Yacht Service (Denmark), Borresen (Denmark), Doomernik Dragons (Holland), Markus Glas (Germany), Petticrows (UK) and Ridgeway Dragons (Australia).
The Dragon:
Hull length: 8,90 m
Beam: 1,95 m
Draft: 1,20 m
Displacement: 1,670 kg
Ballast: 1 000 kg
Mainsail: 16,00 m2
Jib: 11,70 m2
Spinnaker: 23,60 m2 The Pen Duick saga: the Ostar great innovator
This is the boat that will make Éric Tabarly famous not only to the public but also to the Franch Navy, it's a revolutionary design that combines a very light displacement to a very sophisticated strip plank construction, reinforced by a steel structure and a ketch rig that makes her an high- performance boat under all points of sail...
To think that this mythical boat risked to never been built... as a matter of fact when, in June 1962 Éric Tabarly reads in a magazine about the second edition of the Ostar, 3,000 miles single-handed from Plymouth in Cornwall to Newport (Rhode Island) to be raced at the end of May 1964 he decides to take part. Based on the experience of the skippers from the first edition in 1960, he opts for a light displacement boat of a a “reasonable” size for a solo sailor. Together with his mates Marc and Gilles Constantini who manage the shipyard to the same name, he starts building an optimized version of a Tarann.
This class III boat, owned by the Constantini brothers, was called Margilic V was built between October 1962 and April 1963. Compared to the previous models, this Tarann was equipped with a bigger cutter rig (previously she was a sloop) as required by Tabarly. She took part to several races and Tabarly trained extensively single-handed over the autumn getting through a storm and more than 60 knots between Bénodet and La Trinité sur Mer.
Éric Tabarly understands that the boat is too small to try and win the race and, since the end of summer 1963, works with Gilles Constantini to design and build a new light displacement boat especially conceived for the solo transatlantic race. In October the design is almost complete. But the budget is tight and the original Tarann boat has to be sold to start the new construction. At the end of the year Tabarly is about to give up when he meets a friend who offers to lend him the sum necessary to build the hull. The works start in January 1964 (and the race start was scheduled for May!) when Tabarly visits the Paris Boat show to look for equipment, deck hardware, sails, pilot, rigging...
Pen Duick II it's a revolutionary boat for these days, not only she weighs less than 7 tons ready to sail (Chichester's Gipsy Moth is 13 tons) but she is also built in an extremely sophisticated way. The hull is made of marine plywood panels cut in 15 metres sections to run all along the hull and make it stronger. The structure is further reinforce with steel plates running in the area between the masts, bolted to the keel and jointed to the chainplates too. The boat is ketch rigged but the masts are spaced in order to decrease windage and increase aerodynamics, lower the sail centre and especially allow for a huge number of sail combinations to maximize the boat's performance under all points of sail. This concept will play a major role in Éric Tabarly's victory in Newport because three days after the start from Plymouth, the wind pilot designed by the Italian engineer Gianoli breaks. And more... Tabarly equipped his boat with a plexiglass dome to be able to see outside without leaving the nav station while seated on a Harley Davidson saddle!
The skipper wins the Ostar in 21 days and 23 hours leaving second-placed Francis Chichester more than one day behind… Onboard Pen Duick II, Éric Tabarly wins the RORC in 1964, then changes her into a schooner and a wishbone in 1966 to participate to the races in the Caribbean but has to shorten the hull to be able to race with the CCA rule. In Pen Duick II is bought by 1966 the École Nationale de Voile of Quiberon, but after a bad accident and a wreckage she becomes a sad trophy sitting at the entrance of the club's parking lot. The boat is in a state of complete abandon when she is taken to the Pichavant shipyard in Pont-L’Abbé to undergo a full restoration and in 1994 the famous “number 14” is the one of the main attractions at the Paris Boat Show. Completely restored Pen Duick II goes back sailing and is now used to teach young navy officers and to promote yachting to the public. In 2007, she was in Lorient for the opening of the Cité de la Voile-Éric Tabarly.
Pen Duick II
Designer: Gilles Constantini
Shipyard: Chantier Constantini (Saint Philibert – Morbihan France)
Launch date: April 5th 1964, first navigation May 10th
Length: 13,60 m
Hull length: 10,00 m
Beam: 3,40 m
Draft: 2,20 m
Displacement: 6, 700 kg
Ballast: 3,300 kg
Upwind sail area: 60 m²
Autumn breeze
The weather conditions were almost perfect for the opening day of the Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai with a good easterly/south-easterly breeze between ten and twelve knots, flat sea and blue skies. The classic yacht were able to fight for the first points over a coastal course in the Bay of La Napoule while the 44 Dragons completed two races.
Once more, the weather took central stage in Cannes during the morning hours, with huge, grey and menacing clouds hovering over the city and the race village. But, as it happened yesterday, a heavy shower gave way to a bright sun, blue skies and a variable wind that took some time to set in onto the race course. The Race Committee thus opted for a rectangular coastal course with the first mark just off the Lérins Islands, a downwind tack to Théoule, a long reaching to Mandelieu to finish upwind close to the marina entrance.
Shamrock V gets the first one
Eight miles to cover, all sails up, a magnificent show: the big J Class designed by Charles E. Nicholson opened the party for the hundred boats participating to the 34th edition of the Régates Royales-Trophée in a light easterly/south-easterly of ten to twelve knots. Shamrock V finished in a bit more than 1 hour and twenty minutes, before Teewa 5 and the Tofinou 9.50 Speedbird both competing in the Spirit of Tradition division… But on corrected time it was the brand new Dilong (a Dragon hull equipped with a gaff rig) owned by Jacques Fauroux, Catleya to get the top spot .
Leonore, the Q-Class formerly Cotton Blossom II, leads in the Marconi over 15 metres class followed by two Olin Stephens' designed yachts, Skylark et Manitou, while Mariquita won among the Big Boats crossing the line a mere two minutes after the gigantic J Class Cambria… Cholita finished in first with an almost 15 minutes lead on her adversaries, the marconi less than 15 metres long class. The fight was closer among the Vintage yachts where White Dolphin won, followed by Italian Navy's Stella Polare. Avel confirmed his leading role among the Gaffs, despite Kelpie's and Nan of Fife's brilliant performance.
A Cloud over the Annapurna
The 43 Dragons finally found the right conditions, albeit quite tricky for tacticians, to finish two windward/leeward races on the Golfe Juan bay. With the Iles de Lérins shadow and a southerly breeze of around six to eight knots all the crews opted for the left hand side of the course. If the first race had to be abandoned because the wind completely died away, the second race was won by Russian Anatoly Loginov (Annapurna) followed by his countryman Vassily Senatorov (I feel Good), while the second race went to one of the few female skippers in the fleet, UK's Gavia Wilkinson-Cox (Jerboa) followed by ever-consistent Danish crew led by Soren Pehrsson (Blue Lady) and the reigning champion Guiseppe Duca (Cloud) from Italy.
After three races the overall scoreboard is led by the Danish at 12 points, the Italian with 13 points and the Russian at 19 because of a not so brilliant second race of the day. In fourth Germany's Helmut Schmidt at 20 points.
Tomorrow's racing is expected to be tricky as the weather forecast speaks of heavy rainstorms and, as a consequence, very variable and shifty airs.
One date, one class
It's 1904, the New York Yacht Club together with designer Nathanaël Herreshoff, decide to update the so called “Seawanhaka” rating rule that is twenty years old and replace it with the Universal Rule. The previous rule, as a matter of facts, did not take into account displacement or overhang that had become the norm and at times even excessive. Reliance, the most extreme of all the America's cuppers and winner of the “Auld Mug” the previous year was 27,37 metres long bit her overall length amounted to no less than 43,79 metres, that is to say 6,70 aft and 7,92 forward!
The new rule defined a rating (R) taking into account the hull length (heart) multiplied by the square root of the sail area (S) and by a fixed 0,182 coefficient, the result divided by the displacement cubic root. The hull length had to be balanced with the max beam, in order to reduce overhangs. The Universal Rule also gave origin to another ten classes, including the famous “J Class” that would compete in the America's Cup from 1930 to 1937 (Entreprise vs Shamrock V in 1930, Rainbow vs Endeavour in 1934 and Ranger vs Endeavour II in 1937).
Among the newcomers to the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai, is the Q-Class Jour de Fête designed by Frank Paine in 1930 competing against famous Cotton Blossom II the totally restored in 2003 by AC legend Dennis Conner and that is now owned by Mark Faulkner and went back to her original name Leonore. This latter was designed by Norwegian Johan Anker built by Anker & Jensen near Oslo in 1925, while Jour de Fête is the sixteenth Q-Class, launched in 1930 under the name of Falcon II.
Sixty-seven Q-Class boats have been built between 1904 and 1938 like Dorothy Q (Q-2) and Eleanor (Q-3) by Francis Herreshoff in 1907, More Joy (designed by Francis Herreshoff in 1909), Virginia (W. Gardner, 1913), Grayling (Francis Herreshoff, 1923). Yet as the class was fast losing its appeal among North American owners so the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead tries to re-style the Q-Class by increasing the length and reducing the sail area by 10% by introducing a Marconi rig.
These new rules pushed owners to start building again and a series of boats follow: Cotton Blossom II (designed by Johan Anker and built by Anker & Jensen in 1925), Rascal (J.G. Alden built by Hodgon Bros. in 1925), Hornet (Frank Paine built by Lawley in 1926), Taygeta (J.G. Alden built by Lawley in 1926), Nor’easter V (Q-10, designed by Francis Herreshoff and buikt by Lawley in 1928), Robin and Cara Mia (Q-11 and Q-12, Franck Paine built by Lawley in 1928), Hope (Q-13, J.G. Alden built by Hodgon Bros. in 1929), Questa (Q-14, Francis Herreshoff, built by Lawley in 1929), Falcon II later named Hayday, and Jour de Fête (Q-16, Frank Paine and Lawley 1930), Stormy Petrel (designed by F.C. Brewer and built by South Coast Boat in 1937) and finally Tantalus the seems to be the last Q-Class to be created (design N.S. Potter built by Fellows & Stewart in 1938)…
One boat a day
She's debuting at the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai 2012. Skylark is an Olin Stephens's design dating back to 1937, built in the same year John F. Kennedy launched Manitou, also known as “the floating White House” that he owned until 1955. Skylark, tough, is a 53 footer (16,20 metres), 12 feet wide (3,70 metres) while the US President's yawl measured 62 feet (18,50 metres). Built by shipyard Pendleton Yard in Maine, the boat is drawing number 146 by Sparkman & Stephens and was inspired by Stormy Wheather (1934 - drawing number 27) and Manitou (1936 - number 99) that opened the way to the following series of fast cruising yawls signed by the renowned American architects like Comet (1940 – design number 522) or Argyll (1948 – number 628). Owned by Tara Getty, Skylark displacement is 20,741 kg, her sail area is 184m2 and in Cammes she will be battling against her “compatriots” Manitou et Argyll…
Over the years the name Pen Duick has become the epitome of French yachting, since sailing legend, Eric Tabarly, decided to restore and totally rebuild the boat fifty-four years after her launch in Carrigaloe, Ireland. From then Pen Duick has not ceased sailing both in Brittany and in the Med as she will do again for the 34th Régates Royales, this time in the company of her “younger sisters”.
The very first owner of the famous boat designed by William Fife III was Mr Neil Balfour who in 1898 had her built in Ireland by N&J Cummins et Bros and named her Yum. Four years later he sold her to Monsieur Hachette who changed her name to Griselidis just to sell her shortly later to a gentleman from Le Havre whose name still remains unknown. Later Pen Duick was bought by a member of the Cercle de la voile de Paris, Monsieur Mac Henry who sailed her on the Seine river up to qui Meulan, close to Paris. In January 1907, Mister Pierre Tacon purchased her and just six months later sold her to Georges Rus, who registered her under the name of Manda.
In 1909, Monsieur André Raillard took possession of her and named her Griselidis, flying the burgee of the Société des régates de Brest, in 1913 the boat changed owner again being acquired by Monsieur Cailleux but she remained four years without actually sailing during World War I. It was Monsieur Jacques Richepin who take her back to Brittany, where she will later be owned by Mr Ganuchaud and Mr Le Goff. The boats changed name again and became Astarée then Panurge in 1931. She was taken back to Le Havre in 1933 as Butterfly and finally on July 17th 1935 she was renamed Pen Duick by her new owner Jean Lebec.
In 1938 she lied abandoned on the Loire river bank when Guy Tabarly acquired her and delivered her to Bénodet. Éric Tabarly became her fourteenth owner in 1952 when his father gave her to him as a present. But the wooden hull was too ruined by the long war years spent in a shed at the Costantini shipyard in La Trinité sur Mer to go back into the water. Éric Tabarly thus chose to build a new fibreglass hull, using Pen Duick as a male mould. It will take three years for the fife designed boat to get back in shape before Tabarly can get her sailing after returning from his round-the-world circumnavigation onboard the French Navy's ship Jeanne d’Arc. In 1959 Pen Duick took part to the RORC in the UK and from 1962 to 1983 she underwent more works at Raymond Labbé's shipyard in Saint Malo. On July 6th 1989 the cutter was equipped with a brand new Oregon pinewood deck as well as a new set of sails produced by Victor Tonnerre. After Eric Tabarly's death in 1998, the boat went to his daughter's care and today is one of the main attractions at the Cité de la Voile-Éric Tabarly in Lorient. Together with the other Pen Duick and thanks to the support by Banque Populaire, the Fife designed classic participates to several races in Europe.
Pen Duick
Designer: William Fife III
Shipyard: N&J Cummins et Bros
Year: 1898 in Carrigaloe (Ireland)
Hull lenght: 15,10 m
Overall length: 10,04 m
Beam: 2,93 m
Draft: 2,15 m
Displacement: 10,000 kg
Ballast: 6,000 kg
Upwind sail area: 160 m²
Opening day opens... late
The forty-four Dragons were expected to officially open the 34th edition of the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai in a light south-westerly after a massive rainstorm hit Cannes in the morning. Unfortunately, the breeze played hide-and-seek well into the afternoon and the fresh south-westerly was late in setting, later increasing and gusting 25 knots, allowing the one-design fleet to finish only one race on the opening day.
There were some high-tension moments today at noon at the Vieux Port in Cannes as a huge, massive black cloud hovered over the pontoons and the race village, to release its charge of heavy, torrential rain. No more than half an hour of big raindrops, a gusting wind blowing at more than 30 knots and then the sun came out again, warm and bright, drying up the place. The wind also went back to a more acceptable intensity and the Race Committee decided to send the 44-boats strong fleet out shortly before 15. A south-easterly of around ten knots welcomed the sailors but, as the sun went slowly down, the breeze almost completely died out. Actually it was a new wind from the south-west to cause this patch of very light air. The boats were then moved to a different race area in looking for a decent breeze to race.
By 16:30 the situation changed dramatically and the Dragons were sailing in over twenty knots and choppy sea. The Committee quickly launched the starting procedure, as the wind gusted to 25 knots. The race, on a double windward to leeward course of 1,2 miles, was won by Russian expert Vassily Senatorov (I feel Good), followed by reigning champion Giuseppe Duca from Italy (Cloud) and by Denmark's Soren Pehrsson (Blue Lady) while the first French crew to cross the line was Gérard Blanc (Tsuica II) finishing in twelfth.
Old beauties in Cannes
There are seventeen “old beauties”, more than one hundred years old, at the 34th Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai. They are all splendidly maintained and restored and some have truly exceptional stories. The oldest of all is the gaff cutter Victory, designed by Hitchens and built in 1884 while the youngest one Esterel that is also a gaff cutter and is going to celebrate his hundredth birthday this year. Between them and rigorously by their birth date: Marigold (Charles Nicholson-1892), Avel (Charles E. Nicholson-1896), Nan of Fife (William Fife-1896), Lulu (Raibot & Caillebotte-1897), Pen Duick (William Fife-1898), Tigris (Alfred Mylne-1899), Bona Fide (Sibbick-1899), Iona (Willaim Fife-1899), Kelpie (Alfred Mylne-1902), Moonbeam of Fife 3 (William Fife-1903), Oriole (Nathanaël Herreshoff-1905), Véronique (AR. Juke-1907), Mariska (William Fife-1908), Wayward (Shepherd-1908) and Mariquita (William Fife-1911).
Twenty countries
Classic yachts sometimes come from very far away to be in Cannes, like the two Canadian boats especially delivered by cargo ship to participate to the Mediterranean circuit Aloha (Edson Shock-1923) and Lady Van (Charles Nicholson-1928). The most represented country at the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai is France with thirty-three boats, followed by the UK with twenty-seven and Italy with nine. Montecarlo (3), Canada (2), the Isle of Man (2), Malta (2), Holland (2), the Cayman Islands (2) are also present as well as the USA, Tortola, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland… not to mention the Dragons coming from Finland, Germany, Ireland, Russia and Sweden.
Dragons first
The famous bay of La Napoule is ready to welcome the 34th edition of the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai. Tomorrow, Monday, some fifty Dragons will set in motion the week long regatta while a hundred classic yachts to start the “big party” organised by the Yacht Club de Cannes.
The weather will be crucial this week as the forecast speaks of mixed and varied conditions, from light wind to stiff breeze, from sunny to overcast skies and even some possible rainstorms. A full agenda is planned for the 34th edition of the Régates Royales, the last rendez-vous of Trophée Panerai a true classic yachts world championship. Some one hundred fascinating boats are already moored in the Cannes Vieux Port: from small ones like Dainty, the1922 Westmacott designed 8 metre long vintage sloop, to the impressive 55 plus metre Elena by Nathanael Herreshoff. Along Quai Laubeuf, already packed with spectators and fans, one can also admire the late Eric Tabarly full Pen Duick fleet of boats, exceptionally reunited in Cannes. All go to sea on Tuesday from 11:00 with the classics starting the racing: gaffs, vintage Marconi (up to or over 15 metres), Spirit of Tradition, Big Boats, Classics…
“The best boats will once again be present, making the event really unique. Big boats side by side with small ones, all united in sportsmanship and fair play. And after racing at the race village everyone can enjoy the festive mood and take part to the numerous social activities.” Explains Jean-Claude Montésinos, President of the Yacht Club de Cannes.
The Dragons to start on Monday
Once again, it will be the Dragon fleet to kick off the 2012 event: some fifty boats will compete fiercely for a prestigious win at the “Régates”, as it is the case of Italy’s Giuseppe Duca on Cloud who is back to replay last year’s success but who will have to watch out for some serious contenders in the likes British experts Ivan Bradbury on Blue Haze, Ron James on Fei-lin’s Flirtation or Gavia Wilkinson-Cox on Jerboa. The strong Russian contigent will feature champions Anatoly Loginov on his Annapurna and Victor Fogelson on Sunflower, not to mention the French armada, ten crews will try to triumph on home waters among which Gérard Blanc on Tsuica II, Pierre François on Imagine or Joseph Varoqui on Rusalka. Action is guaranteed for tomorrow, with a light south-westerly breeze of around ten knots in the early afternoon…
Star studded Cannes
From Tuesday 25th September some the most glamourous classic yachts will get together once again on the French Riviera to guarantee sailors and spectators alike a unique show of beauty and sailing. For a whole week the magic will be back in the beautiful Bay of Cannes with the best international classic yachts competing in the 34th edition of the Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai.
Sailing and social events
The Régates Royales de Cannes, the last and conclusive rendez-vous of world renowned Panerai Yachts Classic Challenge, will be a true and highly competitive sailing event. A golden opportunity to admire some of the most majestic and fascinating fleets, among which can be found some historical heritage yachts. But the show and fun will also continue throughout week ashore, where crews will gather in the old port to discuss the day’s racing and participate to the full programme of social events.
“High level racing, conviviality, seamanship and an ever cheerful atmosphere make the Régates Royales a rendez-vous everyone is looking forward to. Crews, skippers, sailors, volunteers and professionals, lovers of these beautiful boats meet for this very special occasion. The best boats will once again be present, making the event really unique. Big boats side by side with small ones, all united by sportsmanship and fair play. And after racing at the village everyone can enjoy the festive mood and take part to the numerous social activities.” Explains Jean-Claude Montésinos, President of the Yacht Club de Cannes.
The Regates Royales de Cannes Company has been masterminding over the past eight years all the activities that bring the Regates Royales festivities on shore alive. This year the party should be wonderful…” Explains Gérard Pascalini, the Régates Royales de Cannes Company Manager.
They will be there…
More than 80 boats are expected this year in Cannes, and among them famous ones such as: Nan of Fife, Avel, Moonbeam IV, Moonbeam of Fife III, Mariquita, Arcadia, Rowdy, The Blue Peter, L’Oiseau de Feu, Leonore, Cholita, Shamrock V, Jessie who competed in 2011 return once again. After two years’ absence, this edition will also see the comeback of late Eric Tabarly’s Pen Duick boats. As always the Dragons will enliven the bay with a strong, competitive fleet of more than 40 boats and some of the best crews from all over Europe including current defender, Guiseppe Duca from Italy on Cloud.
Besides being a catwalk of elegance and craftsmanship, the Régates Royales has always been a genuine sports event that keeps attracting some of the best sailors as well as a huge public. With racing close to the coast these magnificent yachts will beyond doubt offer a great show as nobody can resist the appeal and beauty of these ladies of the seas.
As tradition and for everyone’s pleasure, the Régates Royales - Trophée Panerai thanks to their intense social programme, with music concerts, prizegiving ceremonies and exhibitions open to the public will cheer up the pontoons of the Vieux Port from September 22nd to 29th.
Régates Royales de
Cannes, September rendez vous
From September 23 through 30 the world famous
Croisette is once again going to be center stage of classic yachting for the
Régates Royales -Trophée Panerai. 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 Pen Duick fleet returns to Cannes
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.
Dragons
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…
34 years!
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.
In images
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.
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