Trophée Panerai

En baie de Cannes
du 18 au 25 septembre 2016
Trophée Panerai

En baie de Cannes
du 18 au 25 septembre 2016
Trophée Panerai

En baie de Cannes
du 18 au 25 septembre 2016

The unbearable lightness of the wind

No wind for the last day of the 38^th Régates Royales de Cannes, the bay of La Napoule looked almost totally flat, except for the occasional puff of breeze here and there. The crews and the organizers waited in vain for more than two hours for a decent wind to materialize but finally had to give up and go back to the Vieux Port of Cannes.

All sails up!

Today was the last day for the Dragon and the 5.5 Metre classes that crowned their 2016 champions. One-designs, Metre classes and Classics all profited from excellent wind conditions with a good southerly breeze and clear, sunny skies. The 150 boats, all sails hoisted, made a real display of power and colour for the many spectators crowding the beaches and the Croisette. The racing on the one-lap course in the bay of la Napoule was close and intense, bringing out the best from the crews.

Leaders still leading?

After yesterday's races, raced in excellent weather conditions (with a south-easterly of 12 to 15 knots) the early leaders confirmed their leadership in almost all the classes.

The Centenarians look good

The 38^th Régates Royales de Cannes -Trophée Panerai celebrated the anniversary of some of the oldest yachts on the international circuit: Nan of Fife and Eva at 120 and 110 years old, or the two New York 40s Chinook and Rowdy that just turned centenarian.

Ready for the tug of war?

Because of the rainy weather, yesterday the traditional tug of war contest has been delayed to today in the afternoon once the classic yachts will get back into the port. To make the social events schedule richer, today the most creative among the sailors can take part to the painting contest while all the others can put their skills to the test in the “blindtest”.

Stormy weather

A low pressure made its appearance on the bay of Cannes today at the 38^th Régates Royales, bringing in heavy, grey clouds and rain. Luckily a breeze from the North-East enabled the Classics to race on a shortened triangular coastal course, while the Dragons had a quite complicated day and the 5.5 Metre had the first two races of their series.

Stormy weather in Cannes today. Announced by loud thunder and punctually followed by dark grey clouds and heavy rain, the expected low pressure arrived over the bay in the early afternoon. It was an electric-charged atmosphere on the second day of the 38^th Régates Royales de Cannes and quite a complicated situation for tacticians who had to try to adapt to shifts, sudden gusts and rainstorms and for the sailors trying to choose the best possible sail configurations...

Thunder and lighting

It looked like the gods of thunder, lighting and rain were all meeting in the Bay of Cannes today. Thor, Tanaris, Tlaloc and Zeus convened to make the sailors' life hard. Still, the race committees managed to launch at least one race for each division, with the classics racing on a shortened course. The 150 crews had to put all their energy and skills to manoeuvre, hoist and take down the sails, tacking and jibing in the Bay of La Napoule and in the gulf of Juan.

The 5.5 Metre class had two races that confirmed the Swiss sailors' supremacy: Alain Marchand and his crew on Société Nautique de Genève won the first race and were second in the following one while the Dutch Arend Jan Pasman, Ron Azier, Kim Chabani on Feng Shui scored a third and a victory, but, behind them on the top of the leaderboard three German teams are tied at points (9 points): Atari, Prettynama and Silver Fox.

The Dragons spit fire

It was not an easy day for the Dragons today, the weather conditions were hard on the 50 one-design boats. After several general recalls the race committee hoisted the black flag: five boats were over the line, disqualified and forced to go back into port. The ensuing race was certainly tricky and was dominated by the Swedish crew of Johan and Cathanina Larson, Chris Winter on Dancing Queen that led the fleet from start to finish, while some favourites like German-flagged Smaug fell back and finished only in 17^th but still managed to keep her spot on top of the general leaderboard. The day smiled on France's Nénette (Gautier et Joseph Guillou, Gauthier Thomas) that finished in second place and the Spanish team on Gunter (Javier Scherk, Gustavo Lima, Paulo Manso) who got a third and climbed to fourth place overall after five races. Two more days to go and to bounce back for some of the crews, like the Russian crews of Annapurna and Even Better that keep their second and third place overall respectively.

Among the Twelves tactics were also the key, with Sovereign getting the best start and leading to the finsh line, keeping France and Chancegger behind.

In the Vintage Marconi >15 metres division Manitou succeeded in beating her sistership Enterprise. Among the < 15 metres the California 32 one-design Cholita with today's win climbed to first overall, as did a newcomer to Cannes, Patrizio Bertelli's New York 30 Linnet in the gaffers' division, keeping Fife's designed Eva in second.

The Classics too had a tough time today, trying to avoid the worst of rainstorms and getting the best out of shifty and patchy breezes under the dark grey skies. The gorgeous 23 Metre Cambria and the huge gaff schooner Elena showed the way to their little sisters but could not catch the leader Moonbeam IV in corrected time, that confirmed her domination in the class in front of Hallowe’en. Freya of Midgard scored her second win in the Spirit of Tradition, while Arcadia won today's race in the Classics division, with Ganbare keeping her first place in front of Outlaw.

The history of France in the America's Cup

Fascinated by the America's Cup, that he had fervently being following since 1964 and that pushed him to buy Kurrewa V (re-christened Ikra in 1976) sistership to Sovereign (a David Boyd's design from 1963), Baron Bich devoted himself totally to the AC challenge in 1967. He created the AFCA (Association Française pour la Coupe d'América) and acquired two 12 Metres: Constellation from the USA and Britain's Sovereign. Usually, the American defender only accepted one challenger but Baron Bich managed to persuade the New York Yacht Club that, if more yacht clubs put forward their challenge, they could have selections series before facing the Defender.

A story about boats...

It's not by chance that, since 1859, the world's yachting elite has chosen Cannes as its preferred race course.

In fact, there are a few places that enjoy such a pleasant environment and ideal conditions for sailing. True, sometimes wind plays hide-and-seek on the bay but that looks like part of its charm because for over a century the world's most beautiful yachts compete on this magnificent race course where the Lérins Islands, the Esterel and Mercantour massifs make for a unique background!

For over 70 days a year, the bay of Cannes gathers dozens of racing boats. Yet it is the Règates Royales that, represent the peak of the season with some 150 stunning yachts – from 10 to 50 metres long- each and every end of September choose to come sailing here.

Five days of racing under the sign of elegance

From September 18 to 25, the world famous Croisette will once again be centre stage of classic yachting with the Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai. A true armada of classic boats, including several centenarians, will line up for a unique gathering of competition, style and elegance.
Just days after the closing of the boat show, the Festival de la Plaisance (running from September 8 to 13), Cannes will showcase some of the most iconic classic yachts ever, mustering gaffers, fore and aft schooners, cutters, sloops, yawls, J Class, vintage one designs and 12 Metres boats... Five days of racing with the spectacular setting of the îles de Lérins for a fleet that will be divided into seven groups, according to size, age and rigging.
The gathering is nothing but definitely exceptional with some of the biggest and most renowned yachts from the 19th century with the likes of the majestic Eleonora (49,40 metres, designed by Nathanaël Herreshoff), Xarifa (49,70 metres, by JM. Soper), Mariquita (38,20m, by William Fife), Moonbeam of Fife III (30m, by William Fife), Karenita (23,20m, by John Alden), but also some of the hardcore racers from the 20th century like the MaxiYacht Il Moro di Venezia (20,40m, by German Frers) or again the leading characters of the RORC circuit during the 60s and 70s like Helisara (11,30m, Dick Carter's design), Palynodie (Olin Stephens), Stiren (14,25m, by Olin Stephens), Oryx (14,90m, by Illingworth & Primrose) and Ganbare (10,50m, by Doug Peterson).
In 2016 Cannes will celebrate the 38th edition of the renewed Régates Royales, one of the oldest inshore races in the Mediterranean, the debut event being held in 1929 to honour King Christian X of Denmark. The hosting Yacht Club de Cannes is also one of the most venerable in France, as it was founded in the spring of 1859 when Messieurs Béchard, Tripet-Skrypitzone, de Colquhoum and Bucquet created the Société des Régates and organised the first race in the Napoule Bay for yachts like Léro, Olga, Jeannette and Touriste but open also to small sailing and rowing boats owned by local sailors and fishermen.
For the past 11 years, the Régates Royales de Cannes marks the last rendezvous for the Trophée Panerai circuit, considered as a true classic yachts' world championship.

Where to watch the yachts?

The high pressure over Europe is well set but on the Atlantic low-pressure systems are superseding one another and are expected to melt on Sunday, announcing a real change in the weather over the coming days. Therefore the sky should be partly cloudy on the bay of la Napoule with a storm system forming over the Mercantour mountain and the southern Alps and a light north-easterly wind , veering to the right, increasing progressively to reach 10/12 knots for the last race of the 38th edition of the Régates Royales de Cannes-Trophée Panerai.
Weather forecast

It's a sunny, bright morning in Cannes. The race village is crowded with sailors and fans but the wind is very light so the race committee decided to hoist the postponement flag for some time. The weather forecast is for a breeze getting stronger with the passing hours. In the early afternoon it should become a good southerly of a dozen knots: ideal conditions for the Dragons and the 5.5 Metres to end their series in style with two or three races in the gulf Juan. This southerly breeze should accompany the Classics on the coastal course set off Cannes and the Lérins islands, thanks to the high pressure system over Switzerland and extending to the Côte d’Azur.
Actualité en direct du Village
Venez découvrir le village des Régates Royales Cannes

Quai Saint Pierre et quai Laubœuf (parking facile)
- De nombreux stands présentent des produits originaux : optique, vètements, objets artisanaux, bijoux, perles de Tahiti, etc…
- Une animation “ESCALADE ACCROVOILE” pour petits et grands
- Visite possible des voiliers en s’inscrivant au stand information du Yacht Club de Cannes
- Venez prendre un verre à la BRASSERIE du village, vous restaurez avec un Fish’n Ships ou quelques huitres d’Arcachon
- Tous les soirs profitez des animations musicales
- Venez voir les équipages en découdre au tir à la corde, ambiance assurée
- Participez à l‘animation du Rotary Club au profit de l’association “Sourire & Partage” pour les enfants malades

Five days of racing under the sign of elegance

Where to watch the yachts?

Weather forecast

Actualité en direct du Village

Where to watch the yachts?

Weather forecast

Actualité en direct du Village

Venez découvrir le village des Régates Royales Cannes

Quai Saint Pierre et quai Laubœuf (parking facile)