Happy Birthday Officine Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge

At Voiles d’Antibes, Officine Panerai, icon of the sporting and refined haute horlogerie, celebrates 10 years of passion for classic sailing through the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge.

By lining up for the start of the Voiles d’Antibes regattas, eighty yachts built between 1892 and 2012 gave the kickoff of the Mediterranean Circuit of the 10th edition of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, the international regatta circuit reserved for vintage and classic yachts.

Ten years of partnership

In 2014, Officine Panerai is celebrating ten years of partnership and commitment with the world of classic yachting. Ten years of passion for the sea, the old riggings and their beauty, ten years of adventures, dreams and unforgettable memories that built the history of each boat through the sponsorship of the Italian brand.

Promotion of tradition and cultural heritage

These ten years of support to classic yachts reflect the long-term commitment of Officine Panerai for the promotion of a tradition and an extraordinary cultural heritage. The spectacle of vintage yachts, some of which reaching the century, is still fascinating, by the beauty and elegance of their lines mingling with the scum of the waves of the competition.

Eilean, ambassador of the brand

One of the stars of the 2014 season is Eilean, bought and restored by Officine Panerai, which will take part in the regattas in the Mediterranean as ambassador of the sporting Haute Horlogerie brand. This 22-meter long wooden Marconi ketch was built in 1936 by the shipyard Fife. Found in the Caribbean in 2006, it was restored by Officine Panerai in Viareggio, and is now used for promoting the culture of the sea and naval traditions. It also serves to welcome young sailors and share the passion for sailing.

The Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge

As is tradition, the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge opens in April with the great gathering of Antigua, the first stage of a circuit that, for the first time, includes eleven regattas to celebrate the tenth edition birthday. After the international Italian, French and Spanish events and North American Tour, the season ends in late September with the Cannes Régates Royales.

Hundreds of vintage and classic yachts will compete to show themselves off to an audience of enthusiasts and to win trophies and watches offered by Officine Panerai.

About Officine Panerai

Officine Panerai was founded in Florence in 1860 and was initially concerned with the production of nautical precision instruments. It was for years the supplier of precision instruments for the Italian Navy, equipping its first commandos of combat divers, equipped with the legendary diver’s watch “Radiomir”.

www.panerai.com

Click on pictures to enlarge