Officine Panerai, a Florentine based watchmaker, once the exclusive supplier of high-precision instruments to the Royal Italian Navy in the early nineteen hundreds, now highly coveted timepieces that blend Italian style, Swiss technology, and the companies passion for the sea.
For nine consecutive years, Panerai, has sponsored the North America Classic Yacht Circuit. Three different venues, that are steeped in rich traditions.
Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta – Marblehead, MA August 10 – 11, 2013
Opera House Cup Regatta – Nantucket, MA August 18, 2013
Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta – Newport, R.I. August 31 – September 1, 2013
The first venue is Marblehead, Massachusetts, the birthplace of the American Navy, home to six prestigious yacht clubs, the Boston Yacht Club, Corinthian Yacht Club, Eastern Yacht Club, Marblehead Yacht Club, Dolphin Yacht Club, the Pleon Yacht Club, and past home to three distinguished yacht designers. L. Francis Herreshoff, W. Starling Burgess and Frederick E. “Ted” Hood. In 1814, Marblehead harbor gave refuge to “Old Ironsides” the USS Constitution, which was being pursued by two British frigates through the rocky waters. Many of the crewmen were from Marblehead and, being familiar with there home waters, piloted the Constitution to safety.
The second venue is Nantucket, Massachusetts, Nantucket is an Algonquian, meaning “faraway land or island”, and was the Whaling Capital of the World. There are two exclusive yacht clubs, the Nantucket Yacht Club, and the newly formed Great Harbor Yacht Club. Two shipyards, Grey Lady Marine is located in the main harbor, and Madaket Marine, located on the Western Shore, with shallow waters.
The third and final venue is Newport, Rhode Island, home to Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War College, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, and a major United States Navy training center. “Summer White Houses” of Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy administrations. Five exclusive yacht clubs, the New York Yacht Club, Ida Lewis Yacht Club, Newport Yacht Club, Goat Island Yacht Club, and the Coaster’s Harbor Navy Yacht Club. Four notable shipyards, Newport Shipyard, Narragansett Shipwrights Inc, Brewer Street Boatworks Ltd, and Seaton Marine.
1938 Sparkman & Stephens yawl BLACK WATCH, helmed by co-owner Trevor Fetter and sporting an all-star crew, took home the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge NA Circuit Trophy for Overall Series Winner, as the classic yacht with the best combined score, between the three New England regattas.
We at ClassicSailboats.Org want to thank Panerai for creating the Classic Yacht Challenge. Great regattas, priceless timepieces to the winners, hospitality lounges at every Panerai regatta, a first class company that has elevated Vintage, Classic, and Spirit of Tradition Sailing to new levels
ah chalenge the SY Thendara could be 8 or more boots next time