A HUGE FLEET AT ANTIBES KICKED OFF

The 10th anniversary edition of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, the international circuit for classic and vintage yachts sponsored by Officine Panerai, got off to the best possible start with the 19th outing of Les Voiles d’Antibes on the Côte d’Azur. A total of 80 beautiful 10 to 41-metre vessels built between 1892 and 2012 did battle from June 4th to 8th next in this, the opening round of the Mediterranean Circuit.

The fleet was divided into five categories in all: Big Boats, Classic Marconi, Vintage Gaff Rig, Vintage Marconi and Spirit of Tradition. The prizes included Officine Panerai watches. The schedule spanned one race each day from Thursday to Sunday, followed by the prize-giving ceremony at the Race Village. Live music was provided each evening to fuel a fun, party atmosphere very much in tune with the deep-rooted maritime culture that inspires the event.

One of the most warmly applauded yachts was sure to be the famous gaff cutter, Moonbeam IV, built from teak and steel by the legendary William Fife & Sons yard in Scotland in 1914 and thus celebrating a remarkable hundred years afloat this year. As devotees of the classicsailing circuits was already aware, the 35-metre was owned by Prince Rainier of Monaco in the 1950s. In fact, he chose to honeymoon aboard her with his new wife, Princess Grace, after their marriage. Between 1998 and 2002, Moonbeam IV underwent extensive renovations in Myanmar. She subsequently took part in many of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge regattas, and won the Big Boats category in both 2011 and 2012.

Moonbeam IV was flanked by other members of the small and exclusive club of floating centenarians which represent a uniquely important part of the history of yachting. These include Lulu (1897) and Marigold (1892), while the Danish-designed and built schooner Sif is celebrating the astonishing 120th anniversary of her 1894 launch at Antibes.

Also competing at Les Voiles was four other former Panerai champions: the 15-metre Emeraude (1975), three-times winner of the Classic category of the PCYC (2006, 2007 and 2010); Naïf and Moro di Venezia, which triumphed in their category in 2012 and 2013 respectively; and Outlaw, the overall winner of the Circuit back in 2005 as well as the only craft to have taken part in all 19 editions of Les Voiles d’Antibes.

Debuting at Antibes this year in the Big Boats category was the gaff schooner Elena of London, which, at 41 metres, is the largest yacht participating in the event. Steel-built in Spain in 2009, Elena is an exact replica of a 1911 American design. She can spread up to 1,800 square metres of sail and has completed several crossings of the Atlantic since her launch.

Officine Panerai was also fielding Eilean, the ambassador and standard-bearer for the circuit. This 22-metre wooden Marconi ketch was built in 1936 by Fife of Fairlie in Scotland. She was rediscovered in the Caribbean in 2006 by Officine Panerai and then sent to Viareggio for a meticulous restoration. Eilean is now used to promote maritime culture and naval tradition. She also plays host to groups of young people to help foster a passion for sailing in the new generation.

The Spirit of Tradition category, which encompasses yachts inspired by the classic lines of the past but built using modern construction techniques, featured both the compact 9.5-metre Tofinous (Speed Bird, Pitch and Nirvana) and much large vessels such as Ilhabela II (2005) and the 20-metre Faiaoahe (2006).

The first stage of the Mediterranean Circuit looked set to be a truly memorable and important event not merely for the classic sailing fraternity but the wider world of sailing in general. In fact, Antibes is just the start of a busy season that takes in stages in Italy, France and Spain between now and September. A season during which hundreds of classic and vintage yachts not only showcased their talents to devotees but proved their mettle on the Mediterranean’s leading courses.

For the first time in its 10-year history, the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge followed up Antibes with five further stages in the Mediterranean, all counting towards the Panerai Trophy: the Argentario Sailing Week (Porto S. Stefano, Italy, 19-22 June), Vele d’Epoca a Napoli (Naples, Italy, 2-6 July), Copa del Rey (Minorca, Spain, 26-30 August), Vele d’Epoca di Imperia (Imperia, Italy, 10-14 September) and Les Régates Royales de Cannes (Cannes, France, 23-27 September). The other events on the calendar are the Panerai British Classic Week at Cowes (12-19 July) and the North American Circuit regattas (Marblehead Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta, 8-10 August; Nantucket Opera House Cup, 13-17 August; Newport MOY Classic Yacht Regatta 29-31 August).