Entries Booming for Panerai British Classic Week 2015

Already more than 70 entries have registered for Panerai British Classic Week 2015, which will take place from 18th – 25th July at Cowes Yacht Haven.

Leading the international visitors are French America’s Cup legend Bruno Troublé who will skipper ‘Jour de Fête’, a “Q Boat” designed by Paine/Burgess to Herreschoff’s Universal Rule and built by Lawley in Boston in 1930, and the awe inspiring ‘Eleonora’, which at just shy of 50m long is the largest yacht entered to date and was built to a Nathaniel G Hereschoff schooner design by Van de Graaf in 2000.

The oldest yachts competing include David Sherriff’s delightful 1897 Fife Gaff Cutter ‘Jap’, winner of Panerai British Classic Week in 2012, Richard Oswald’s 1902 Fred Shepherd Gaff Schooner ‘Coral’, and Pelham Olive’s 1903 Alfred Mylne Gaff Cutter ‘Kelpie’.

The regatta attracts classic yachts of all shapes and sizes and the smallest currently entered is Michael Frith’s 1964 Kroes en Zonen designed 7.4m Bermudan Sloop ‘Blue Eagle’, whilst the largest are ‘Eleonora” and the spectacular 29m long 1911 William Fife Gaff Cutter ‘Mariquita’, owned by John Caulcutt, Jamie Matheson and Stephen Hemsley.

Giovani Belgrano’s defending Panerai British Classic Week champion Whooper, comes to the regatta fresh from overall victory in the IRC Classes at the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. Other past winners of the event hoping to add their name to the event’s prestigious trophies again include David Murrin’s 1955 Laurent Giles Sloop ‘Cetewayo’, Jamie Matheson’s ‘Opposition’, the 1971 Sparkman & Stephens sloop built by Lallows for British Prime Minister Ted Heath, and Murdoch McKillop’s 1931 Fife designed International 8 Metre ‘Saskia’.

The Modern Classic Classes, for the Spirit Yachts and modern yachts built with the appearance of a classic, will be hotly contested as always with Stephen Jones’s self designed ‘Meteor’, Regatta Chairman Sean McMillan’s Spirit 52 ‘Flight of Ufford’ and Stephen O’Flaherty’s ‘Soufriere’, which famously starred in the 2006 James Bond movie Casino Royale, heading the list of possible Modern Classics winners.

Whilst the boats remain the stars of the show, there are nonetheless always plenty of human stars in attendance too. Making his first appearance at Panerai British Classic Week is double International Moth World Champion Simon Payne, who will be swopping his foiling speed machine for his extremely elegant but somewhat slower Nicholson Jolina 35 ‘Damian B’. TV star and well-known classic boat enthusiast Griff Rhys-Jones will make a welcome return to the regatta aboard his 1948 Olin Stephens designed Bermudan Yawl ‘Argyll’, and as always the crew lists will feature a host of internationally renowned sailors.

Also playing a key role in the regatta’s success are the event sponsors led by Title Sponsor Officine Panerai, and supported by Official Partner Sponsor EFG, Official Media Partner Classic Boat, Race Day Sponsor Sandeman Yacht Company, Official Rum Supplier Mount Gay Rum and Official Clothing Supplier Zhik.

Also playing a key role in the regatta’s success are the event sponsors led by Title Sponsor Officine Panerai, and supported by Official Partner Sponsor EFG, Official Media Partner Classic Boat, Race Day Sponsor Sandeman Yacht Company, Official Rum Supplier Mount Gay Rum and Official Clothing Supplier Zhik.

Ashore the Panerai Lounge will be the focal point for pre and post sailing gatherings and the social programme includes a Welcome Reception at the Royal Yacht Squadron, the traditional “Open Yachts” Pontoon Party, and the Prize Giving Dinner at Cowes Yacht Haven Events Centre.

Zhik Announced as Official Clothing Supplier to Panerai British Classic Week 2015

Panerai British Classic Week is delighted to announce that dynamic Australian based apparel brand Zhik has been appointed Official Clothing Supplier to the regatta, the 2015 edition of which takes place from 18 to 25 July off Cowes. The sponsorship agreement includes a substantial prize package to include Daily and Overall prizes, the opportunity for competitors to order embroidered crew shirts prior to the regatta and a special promotional offer for competitors through the recently opened Zhik Store in Cowes.

Zhik is at the forefront of innovation, pushing the boundaries in design and fabric technology for all sailors. Founded in 2003 Zhik’s range of wetsuits and dinghy gear completely changed the design approach for performance clothing and has been rapidly adopted by sailors across the globe. This approach helped Zhik secure partnerships with the Olympic teams of Great Britain, New Zealand, Singapore, Denmark and Australia.

Since then, Zhik has taken the same ‘clean sheet’ approach to performance yachting apparel for racing and cruising in all its forms from sports boats and classics through to extreme ocean racing. Recent product launches include the wonderfully soft, high-grip ZKG shoes which give limpet-like levels of grip on teak and varnished decks, and the lightweight Kiama jacket which gives exceptional protection without the bulk of an offshore jacket.

This move into the big boat scene has added Extreme 40s, America’s Cup and Vendee teams plus offshore crews such as Team Realstone (SUI), Melges 32 Team Bombarda (ITA) and Class 40 Arnaud Boissières (FRA) to Zhik’s list of partners. Most recently the company has kitted out one of the J Class yachts that will be attending the Royal Yacht Squadron Bicentenary Regatta and the Classic Superyacht “GAIA".

As well as being passionate about sailing clothes, all of Zhik's team are passionate sailors too. Global Sales Director and double International Moth World Champion Simon Payne and Zhik's Marketing Consultant Liz Rushall, a multi-class dinghy and day boat champion, are both entering their classic yachts in Panerai British Classic Week this year. Simon will be sailing his beautifully restored Nicholson designed sloop “Damian B” and Liz and her husband Mark will race their gleaming Honey Bee “Ragdoll”

“We are delighted to welcome Zhik as Panerai British Classic Week’s Official Clothing Supplier,” said Regatta Chairman Sean McMillan. “Zhik’s innovative approach and the great match between the product range and the needs of our sailors make it a natural partnership. The personal enthusiasm of the Zhik team for classic yachts is the cherry on the cake and I am delighted that both Simon and Liz will be entering their classic yachts for the regatta this year.”

“Damian B” and “Ragdoll” join a rapidly growing list of entrants which already features Herreschoff schooner “Eleonora”, Fife cutter “Mariquita”, the Sparkman & Stephens designed “Opposition”, Fife gaff cutter “Jap”, Laurent Giles sloops “Whooper” and “Cetewayo”, Spirit 52 “Flight of Ufford” and many more.

Strong International Fleet anticipated as entry opens for Panerai British Classic Week 2015

Entry is open for the Panerai British Classic Week 2015, which will take place from 18th – 25th July at Cowes Yacht Haven. Now in its 14th year, the regatta continues to grow in popularity and this year the number of international visitors is expected to be particularly high with yachts from around the globe making their way to the Solent for this very special regatta.

Looking forward to the 2015 edition, Regatta Chairman Sean McMillan commented, “This year we have the great good fortune to be holding our regatta the week immediately preceding the Royal Yacht Squadron’s 200th anniversary regatta. We anticipate a strong attendance at Panerai British Classic Week with many famous yachts already expressing their interest in participating prior to joining the RYS event.”

The regatta is open to classic and vintage yachts and forms part of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge Series, the leading international circuit for these vintage craft, sponsored for the eleventh consecutive year by the Italian watchmaker Officine Panerai. With yachts from the drawing boards of designers such as Fife, Mylne, McGruer, Illingworth, Nicholson and Sparkman & Stephens, plus many whose background stories are truly extraordinary, the fleet is always both beautiful and fascinating.

Among the international entrants will be the Paine/Burgess designed Jour de Fête, sailing under the burgee of the New York Yacht Club. Built in 1930 by Lawley in Boston, Jour de Fête is a “Q Boat” designed to Herreschoff’s Universal Rule. She will be skippered by her owner, America’s Cup legend Bruno Troublé, who tells us, “I look forward to coming back to Cowes as I have many friends there. This will be our first time racing the boat under IRC, but we will use only Dacron sails and the whole crew will be pure amateurs.” Bruno will bring to bear his extensive knowledge of the Solent gained racing in multiple Cowes Weeks and the Admiral’s Cup and through his close involvement in the organisation of the Royal Yacht Squadron’s America’s Cup Jubilee Regatta in 2001. He does, however, promise not to replicate one of his more infamous Solent exploits when he “Sank a boat, a Two Tonner, Xeryus in the late 1980s on the Varvassi wreck near the Needles while racing around the Island.”

Racing is once again being organised by Royal Yacht Squadron Racing and will feature a seven race series including the special Around the Island Race sponsored by EFG International on Monday 20th July. The ever-popular Ladies Race will be held on Wednesday 22nd July and the regatta will conclude with the Parade of Sail past the Royal Yacht Squadron and Cowes Green on Saturday 25th July.

Ashore the Panerai Lounge will be the focal point for pre and post sailing gatherings. The evening social programme is always packed with fun events and this year is no exception. From the Welcome Reception at the Royal Yacht Squadron to the Prize Giving Dinner at Cowes Yacht Haven Events Centre, via the traditional “Open Yachts” Pontoon Party, there will be plenty to keep the competitors and their guests entertained.

As always the yachts will be moored at Cowes Yacht Haven where members of the public are welcome to tour the dock and view the stunningly restored and maintained historic yachts and speak to their owners and crews.

Panerai British Classic Week 2014 concludes in spectacular style with victory for Christine and Giovanni Belgrano's Whooper

The final day of racing at Panerai British Classic Week could not have been more exciting as the podium positions for all classes were decided. The Race Committee sent the boats on a lovely course that zigzagged around the Central Solent in a moderate southwesterly wind. For some, who were in with a chance of victory, it was tense and exciting racing, while others simply enjoyed the fun of one final sail in the company of their fellow classic yacht enthusiasts.

All set for a dramatic final day at Panerai British Classic Week 2014

“25 Miles of sheer heaven.”  Is how David Orton, owner of the 1963 Illingworth and Primrose designed forty footer St David’s Light, described today’s Panerai British Classic Week Long Inshore race sponsored by Classic Boat in association with Wight Vodka.  The week has been blessed with truly outstanding weather and today the fleet was once again caressed with hot sunshine and balmy breezes.

Girls in charge on day four of Panerai British Classic Week 2014

With five races now completed the rankings are tightening up at Panerai British Classic Week.  The fourth day of the regatta featured one class race and the traditional Ladies Race, which proved to be just as thrilling as the class races.

Two Races and Plenty of Drama on day three of Panerai British Classic Week 2014

Cowes produced near perfect conditions for day three of Panerai British Classic Week where Squadron Racing Ltd ran two more excellent races in the Central Solent for the 52-strong fleet.

Nausicaa Beats the Big Boys on Day Two - Panerai British Classic Week 2014

Day two of Panerai British Classic Week in Cowes featured the Around the Island Race sponsored by EFG International for Classes 1 to 4 and a further Solent race for the 8 Metres.

Panerai British Classic Week 2014 got off to a spectacular start

Panerai British Classic Week 2014 got off to a spectacular start off Cowes today with an opening race in dappled sunlight under scudding clouds and a variable west to northwesterly wind ranging from sub ten to almost twenty knots.

Saskia Wins British Classic Yacht Club Trophy And A Panerai Watch At Panerai British Classic Week 2013

Racing at Panerai British Classic Week 2013 came to a spectacular close in Cowes with yet another day of sun drenched sailing and a sixth and final race, sponsored by Sandeman Yacht Company, for the 44-strong fleet.  It’s been a quite stunning week combining great weather, superb racing afloat, outstanding hospitality ashore and a unique sense of camaraderie and fun.

Saskia Overall Race Winner On Day Five Of Panerai British Classic Week 2013

A long inshore race was the order of day five at Panerai British Classic Week with the fleet enjoying a massed start off Cowes followed by a 27 mile course that took them as far west as East Leap and as far east as North Stourbridge, with plenty of bumps and circuits in between.  This fifth race in the series was a tough one with a very shifty breeze ranging from sub-five to over twelve knots.  Mix in some tricky tidal conditions and it all added up to a tough but wonderfully sunny day on the water.

Clarionet In Perfect Harmony On Day Four Of Panerai British Classic Week 2013

She may have only come out of David Heritage’s refit shed last week, but Clarionet and her crew are in perfect harmony at Panerai British Classic Week where day four saw them claim their fourth race victory of the week.  Cowes continued to deliver outstanding sailing conditions for the fourth day of the regatta with glorious sunshine, azure waters and a northeasterly breeze of 10-18 knots, which pushed the yachts around the Central Solent course in true style for race four of the series.

The Sun And The Ladies Shine On Day Three Of Panerai British Classic Week 2013

More glorious sunshine and balmy breezes ensured that competitors at day three of Panerai British Classic Week in Cowes came home relaxed and glowing with health and happiness.  The day featured races two and three of the regatta series, and the Ladies Race, which was run in conjunction with race two.

Champagne Sailing On EFG International Race Day At Panerai British Classic Week 2013

With glorious hot sunshine and 6-10 knots from the east-north-east, competitors in EFG International Race Day at Panerai British Classic Week enjoyed champagne sailing for their first race of the regatta. After yesterday’s light airs frustration the teams were delighted to get afloat and race. Race Officer Tony Lovell set his courses in the Eastern Solent giving the crews plenty of challenges as they balanced finding the best wind with keeping out of the tide.

Sunshine And Fun But No Wind On Opening Day Of Panerai British Classic Week 2013

There may have been no sailing on the opening day of Panerai British Classic Week in Cowes, but that didn’t stop the competitors having a fabulous time. The schedule called for the Panerai Classic Around The Island Race, with a 7.30am start time, but with little or no wind forecast the Race Committee wisely opted to change the programme and instead proposed a Solent inshore race.