Prince Henrik of Denmark is a faithful guest of the Régates Royales-Trophee Panerai, usually racing on his Dragon WHITE LADY (DEN-166) His Highness took a sail today on TUIGA, the 15MI representing the Yacht Club de Monaco. The Régates Royales de Cannes were created to honour the King of Denmark “King Christian X” used to own a villa in Cannes where his family spent some time, and raced in the Bay with V.G. Graa’s 6MI DANA. The local authorities, the Societe des Régates de Cannes and the International Yacht Club were granted permission by the King to call their week-long racing event, first organised during the spring of 1929, the Régates Royales. Unfortunately after his death, the tradition stopped. When I came back to Cannes, sailing in the 6MI class and later on a Dragon, the city asked me if their autumn series could be named Régates Royales once again, and I happily agreed” You have been racing in Dragon class for many years, especially here in Cannes. “Some forty years ago I used to sail in another class, the Klar I switched to the Dragon class when it ceased to be an Olympic boat. This relaunched the Dragon in my country, because before it was almost a professional-only class. Suffice to say there were only three boats back in 1981. I’m still the International Association vice-president, but unfortunately I no longer race. At my age one knows when to stop…” Says the Prince with his usual irony. Is sailing popular in Denmark? “Its a sailors country because we are surrounded by water. We have a strong maritime heritage and very good sailors. Danes have always performed well at the Olympic Games, like four time gold medalist Paul Elvstrom or triple champion (two golds and a silver) Poul-Richard Hol-Jensen.” Sailing seems to be a family tradition for you, right? “Since the times of King Christian X, not really. But King Juan Carlos of Spain has been racing a lot and my brother-in-law, Constantin of Greece won a gold medal in the Dragons at the 1960 Rome Games.” You’re back to Cannes racing “Prince Albert of Monaco has invited me to be on board TUIGA. It’s my first time on a 15MI, and the weather conditions look fantastic today. If they ask me to take the helm, I will say no!”
