Voiles d'Antibes Open Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge

Voiles d’Antibes will host from June 1 to 5, 2016, the finest Yachts of Tradition in the world for the opening of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge.

Les Voiles d’Antibes – 21st edition – will settle down from June 1 to 5, 2016, in Esplanade Saint-Jaume at Port Vauban. Sheltered by the ramparts of Old Antibes, the classic yachts will line up in the Port while the village will be established on the esplanade and under the vaults of the ramparts, close to the famous Quai des Milliardaires. For the opening of its season, the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge will then launch the finest Yachts of Tradition in the world into the Bay of Antibes.

The great history of International Yachting

Every year, Les Voiles d’Antibes – Trophée Panerai welcome at the beginning of the season some hundred of the most gorgeous Vintage Yachts (built before 1950), Classic Yachts (built before 1976) and Spirit of Tradition Yachts, as well as Metric Classes (6, 8 and 12 MJI, competitors of the America’s Cup from 1958 to 1987). The cream of Vieux Gréments made, since the late nineteenth century, the great history of International Yachting and highlighted its values of fair play, solidarity and respect.

First Regatta of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge

Created in 1996, Les Voiles d’Antibes are the first regatta of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, sponsored by the famous watchmakers, where adventure and luxury combine in a sporting and friendly tradition with Match Race and coastal courses over four days, engage Classic Yachts and Metric Classes.
For the participants, these prestigious regattas are the first key event of the Mediterranean season where mythical yacht find themselves such as Moonbeam, Cambria, Mariquita, Mariska, Stormy Weather, Bona Fide, Hallowe’en, Oiseau de Feu, Outlaw, Adria, Lulu.
Around these reference riggings, attending all regatas, some new boats join the circuit, after recent restorations and renovations.

A main event of the Mediterranean circuit

Appreciated for the quality of its racing along the 23 km of coast between the bays of Antibes and Juan-les-Pins, and for the great conviviality back ashore, in the Village, Les Voiles d’Antibes – Trophée Panerai are one of the flagship events of the Mediterranean circuit.
Antibes being the first big rally of the season, it creates an opportunity for all lovers of yachting and historical sailing ships, to appreciate the pure architectural lines, deck plans, harmony of auric Bermudians rigs. Before departure, the elegant ballet of crews preparing with passion and meticulousness their legendary yachts is a unique show on the waves of the Mediterranean.

Le Village des Voiles d’Antibes

As every year, the Village des Voiles d’Antibes, offers back to dock, a place of meeting and conviviality, where all international crews comment and share every night over a beer, their tactics, their options about the course of the day
Open free to connaisseurs or profane, the Village with its café and its exhibitors, allows the public to be part of the water festival and immerse in the culture of traditional yachting.
Antibes, famous worldwide for its Picasso Museum, for the Jazz à Juan, and its Nuits Carrées in the historical near by Fort Carré, combines culture and music with sailing and offers daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. many exhibitions and events on the topics of the Sea and the Environment. Concerts enliven every night in an amazing atmosphere the Village des Voiles and Port Vauban, the first yachting marina in Europe.