From September 21 to 29, the 35th edition of the Regates Royales-Trophée Panerai brought together in the bay of Cannes the most beautiful classic yachts for one of the most prestigious international stages of the Trophée Panerai.
Nearly 200 monohulls from a dozen countries, including classic yachts (the oldest dating from 1896), Sharks and other Dragons (small sizes boats), came to compete in one of the most beautiful bay in the world. Cruising off between Cannes and the Lerins Islands, without instrument of automatic guidance, crews contested the trophies awarded in the categories Epoque Classic and Big Boat
It was an incredible “ballet” of pontoons, moorings and tents that animated the Quays of the Old Port. Thousand crew, to which added accompanying sailors, technical assistants, visitors, the press, all intersected with images of postcard and distant paradise in mind, or imagining himself in the shoes of a deep sea captains at the helm of these historic boats that went through the twentieth century to get to Cannes, the time of a regatta.
Many spectators gathered on the Croisette, the Old Port or the beaches of the Midi attended the grand spectacle of the traditional yachts with elegant and impressive gaits, including the famous Manitou, replica of U.S. President JFK’s first yacht, the Wianno Senior, Il Moro di Venezia, one of the first-ever Maxis in the modern era or even the two beautiful twin 50-meter schooner Elena and Eleonora.
This 35th edition of Regates Royales de Cannes has been marked by the growing number of boats competing, and also by the entry into the club of old sailing ships of Nin, a new gaff cutter arrived in the competition. They are now a dozen to proudly bear this threefigure 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), Veronique (1907) and Wayward (1908).
Suspense victories
At the last day of the Regates Royales, a change in the overall ranking in many classes allowed Ea, Chinook, Skylark of 1937, Sirius, Cattleya and Moonbeam III to win in extremis in the different categories of conventional monohulls. In the Dragon class, Jerboa de Gavia Wilkinson – Cox has managed the incredible challenge to draw level and could beat by a whisker the two Russian teams by winning with class. Slim and Marsh Harrier won in Shark and BOD categories.
During the awards ceremony, new Cannes Yacht Club director Jacques Flori emphasized the increasing level of the Regates Royales-Trophée Panerai, and praised the quality of participating vessels, their beauty and the professionalism of the sailors engaged on this competition. Then he said: “On the 35th, we had even more nationalities – 20 this year – and the size of the competing boats has exploded with units ranging from 5 to 50 meters. The award ceremony was held Saturday, September 28 in the village of the Regates Royales and a closed an edition of great beauty with the competition, gorgeous weather and the atmosphere were to go during the week.
Mauritius Soirée Blanche at Cannes Yacht Club
One of the social highlight of the Regates Royales was the Dragon Soirée Blanche at Cannes Yacht Club sponsored by Mauritius. The event brought together yacht owners, officials and personalities from Mauritius for a brilliant evening with white dress code. An award ceremony rewarded the best Dragon crews.
On Sunday, September 29, the 58 participants unmoored the classic yachts and sailboats to navigate to the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Twere was to run the new French Riviera step of end-of-season regattas with the Voiles de Saint-Tropez.
Fair winds and following seas! See you next year in Cannes.
See also our report on Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge 2013
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