There are still five more days of racing to go before we discover the winners in the Vintage, Classic and Big Boat categories of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge 2017. After rounds at Antibes, Argentario and Mahon, the glorious stars of the Mediterranean Circuit will get their final opportunity to make a play for the coveted titles at Cannes.
And those titles are still very much up for grabs in all in all three categories. In the Big Boat, Hallowe’en (1926) and Moonbeam of Fife III (1903) lead on equal points followed by current trophy-holder Moonbeam IV (1914). In the Vintage, the standings are topped by PatrizioBertelli’s Linnet along with two stunning New York Classes, Chinook and Spartan. Il Moro di Venezia I is out in front of the Classic fleet but has Encounter and Ardi both nipping at her heels. All in all, it looks like Les RégatesRoyales de Cannes will once again be pivotal to the overall standings and that we will have to wait until Saturday, September 30, for the winners to be revealed.
Almost 90 boats will be gathering at Cannes to compete in absolutely unparalleled surroundings. The weather is looking excellent too with a mix of sun and wind perfect for a classic sailing fleet forecast. Spectacle aplenty is assured by the prestige classic and vintage beauties moored in the port. One of the most glittering of which is bound to be the queen of the fleet, the 59-metre Germania Nova and also the 55-metre Elena of London. The oldest vessel taking part, however, is Bona Fide (1899), which took gold at the Paris Olympics in 1900.
