The Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai. Supplied image.
by Soazig Guého and Carla Anselmi
From September 20th to 25th, Cannes will be the heaven of Classic Yachting. The Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai will animate and cheer the streets and cocks of Cannes, where exceptional yachts will take the public on a magic journey.
The Cannes Yacht Club is turning 150 this year and preparing to welcome the beautiful Classic Yachts, Spirit of Tradition and Dragons boats. More than a hundred yachts have already confirmed their participation in the Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai. The Dragon fleet alone will bring together more than fifty competitors while the Classic Yachts will recreate the atmosphere the great era of yachting from the past with Mariquita, Moonbeam IV, Tuiga and Thendara all expected to unfurl once more their vast and immaculate sails in the bay of Cannes.
The Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai. Supplied image.
Eilean is back
2010 Régates Royales will be the stage for a very yearned for comeback: the magnificently restored and truly unconventional Eilean.
Built in 1936, Eilean crossed the Atlantic more than 36 times. From fame to neglect – since her owner could not pay for a refit - the yacht experienced many ups and downs in the Caribbean. Officine Panerai discovered this beautiful Fife design in 2006 and decided to bring it back to Italy for a complete restoration. After thirty months and 40.000 work hours, Eilean was back to her top form for her launch on October 22nd 2009. The ketch will take part in the Régates Royales - Trophée Panerai, a unique chance for media and classic yachts fans to see this jewel of a yacht sailing again.
The Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai. Supplied image.
The Régates Royales on shore
On the occasion of the international biodiversity year, the WWF association (World Wildlife Fund) will be in Cannes to inform the public and the sailors about serious environmental issues. The ambassador boat WWF Columbus will be moored in the harbour as she was last year and activities led by WWF will be presented on the association’s stand in the village. The public will be welcome to assist at three conferences:
Tuesday, 21 September at 17.00, a meeting with Serge Orru, Director of WWF France
Wednesday, 22 September at 17.00 with Charles Barine, on fishing and environment
Thursday, 23 September at 17.00 (speaker to be confirmed)
For the fourth consecutive year the organisers, in association with Cannes Yacht Club and the City of Cannes have set up an amateur photo contest which will run from September 20th to 25th, this year theme being “Régates Royales Beauties”. Sportsmanship, fair-play, friendship and tradition will be evaluated by the jury.
The Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai. Supplied image.
The Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai gathers some of the most beautiful yachts in the world.
From September 20th to 25th, the majestic sailboats will race in the bay of Cannes and around the Lerins islands.
Régates Royales
