The regatta, which is part of the Panerai Classic Sailboat Challenge, has been held every year since the America’s Cup Jubilee was held in Cowes in 2001.
Entry forms will be available early April, so if you are not already on the mailing list please contact the Regatta Office to ensure you are kept up to date with all the latest news.
The 2013 regatta will be taking place from the 6th to 13th July, with the Panerai Classic Around the Island Race on Sunday 7th following the original clockwise course of the first America’s Cup and a five-race series racing starting on Monday 8th July – racing will be demanding and competitive but will still retain that Corinthian spirit synonymous with classic boat racing. In addition to the exciting racing, there will be whole host of social events held in the sailing clubs of Cowes, including the prestigious Royal Yacht Squadron.
Panerai British Classic Week is to yachting what Goodwood Revival is to car enthusiast. It brings together sailors from around the world who share a love of classic yachts for a weeklong celebration, honouring the yachts and the people who sail and maintain them.
Held annually in Cowes, the historic home of British yachting, the event has been sponsored for the past three years by luxury watch brand Panerai and forms part of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge global regatta circuit. Panerai’s long tradition of excellence and understated elegance are the perfect foil for this thoroughly British regatta, where the boats are the stars of the show and an atmosphere of fun, camaraderie and a certain quiet pride prevails.
The 2012 edition of Panerai British Classic Week saw a record entry of 83 yachts. From the opening day’s race around the Isle of Wight, using the traditional clockwise course as set for the first America’s Cup in 1851, through five days of serious racing and partying, to the traditional Parade of Sail past the Royal Yacht Squadron which closed the regatta, the event was declared a resounding success. The weather may have been terrible with torrential rain almost every day, but the racing was terrific and nothing could dampen the spirits of these ever so slightly eccentric enthusiasts.
The boats span the generations and there is something rather wonderful about the fact that regatta winner David Sheriff’s Jap, a delightful little Cork Harbour One Design, was launched in Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee year of 1897, whilst the newest boat racing, Harri Roschier’s 8 Metre Luna, was launched only a few weeks ago, coinciding with Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. New boats built to traditional designs are encouraged to take part in the week and any concerns that the newer boats might have a speed advantage are quickly dispelled, as demonstrated in the 8 Metre Class where Richard Self & Mark DeCelles’ Raven, launched in 1937 and brought all the way from Canada for the regatta, beat the brand new Luna.
As well as looking utterly ravishing with their gleaming varnish and polished brass work, many of the yachts have fascinating histories too. The oldest boat entered was David Aisher’s 58’ gaff cutter Thalia. Built in 1888 she spent her early years racing under the burgee of the Royal Cork Yacht Club for then Commodore R Foley, whose descendents race very successfully today. David himself comes from one of Britain’s great yachting dynasties, started by his grandfather Sir Owen Aisher who successfully raced a series of yachts called Yeoman, one of which was also racing here this week under her current name of A Day At The Races. Designed by Peter Nicholson to the old One Ton Rule she was built by Camper & Nicholson in 1966 as Yeoman XIV.
Other boats with interesting stories included Panerai’s own yacht Eilean, a 1936 William Fife designed ketch, perhaps best known for her staring role in Duran Duran’s iconic 1980s Rio video. Jamie Matheson’s Opposition was built as Morning Cloud in 1971 for British Prime Minister Ted Heath’s Admiral’s Cup campaign of that year. The past successes of Saskia, a 1931 8 Metre now owned by Murdock McKillop, include winning the 1931 Seawanhaka Cup and 1954 Sayonara Cup, two of the biggest trophies in international yachting, and representing Britain in the 1936 Olympics. Zoom, the last yacht ever designed by the legendary Charles E Nicholson in 1952, was originally owned by Group Captain Teddy Haylock, then editor of Yachting World magazine who loved to sail with his friends, and her visitors’ book reads like a Who’s Who of yachting from that era.
Size isn’t everything in classic yachts and the smallest boat taking part was the diminutive Blue Eagle owned by Michael Frith. At just 24’ long she put in an impressive showing in what were often very rough conditions and her crew clearly enjoyed every minute of the event. At the opposite end of the size spectrum was Hugh Morrison’s 90’ Savannah, which made a majestic sight sweeping down the Solent under her enormous red spinnaker. Her well-drilled crew put in a series of impressive performances to win Class 1.
When racing classic yachts good seamanship is just as important as good tactics and a fine example of this came when Robin Richardson’s 6 Metre St Kitts broke her mast during racing. St Kitts has no engine and, having made quick work of clearing away the damaged rig, Robin and his crew were just wondering how to get a tow in when out of the spray came fellow 6 Metre Georgia, owned by Tom Richardson, who had pulled out of the race to assist. Tom’s crew rounded up neatly alongside, threw across a line and, in a display of outstanding seamanship, towed St Kitts home under sail.
Classic boat crews love nothing more than being able to show off their yachts and exchange stories and ideas and Panerai British Classic Week provides the perfect platform for this. From first thing in the morning when proper Italian coffee and delicious pastries are served in the elegant Panerai hospitality area, through the post racing dockside debriefs and into the evening at the daily prize givings and parties, there are endless opportunities to exchange stories, ideas and tips. The atmosphere is always welcoming, members of the public are encouraged to tour the docks and ask questions and new classic boat owners are welcomed to the fold with open arms. The 2013 edition of Panerai British Classic Week will take place from Cowes between 6 and 13 July, so whether you are a keen sailor or simply someone who appreciates beautiful yachts, put the date in your diary and be part of the spectacle next year.