Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai Cannes - 19.-26.09.2009 Übersicht 24/09/ 2009 The battle of the Titans New oldies and old replicas, every day the deep blue waters of Cannes witness a friendly battle among some of the most spectacular yachts; with  polished woods, sparkling copper and bronze, stranded ropes and  interiors in old leather and dark mahogany. Vintage keep up the pace with Classic yachts, all sailing side by side offering a majestic display of elegance out on the water.  Fotos: James Robinson Taylor – Régates Royales –Trophée Panerai There are no less than sixteen one hundred year-old yachts competing in the Régates Royales de Cannes. Venerable restored old ladies, exact replicas of end of the 19thor beginning of the important races on the Solent, able of finding safe harbour in the foggy Newport Bay, hosted royal and presidential meetings, went aground on some desolate beach, were abandoned in a far away canal or transformed into family houseboats. And then were found by passionate owners or keen shipbuilders who took them back to their original charm for the happiness of the ones lucky enough to crew them and the pleasure of the ones watching their elegant hulls gliding by. Sailing on these historical boats is pure emotion even if manoeuvring them requires special skills and abilities. The sailors had to be skilful competing today as the breeze on the racecourse was very, very light topping only 8 knots and decreasing progressively, so much that the Race Committee was forced to move the finishing line near La Fourmigue. With the yachts slowly approaching the finish, under a hot sun, the wind died down completely. Yet, on the Régates Royales racecourse there are three yachts that have already shown their supremacy on the first two days: Peterowned by Italian Claudio Mealli among the Vintage Marconi of less than 15m; Rowdyskippered by Graham Walker in the vintage Marconi of less than 23m category and Chaplinrepresenting the Italian Navy among Classic Marconi of less than 15m. The victory seems still there to grab in the other categories like in the Spirit of Tradition where the 12M French Kisshad to fight back against the assault by the Swiss on Choices(owner Beat Kuehni) and Duclop(Robin Detraz). Oriole(Francis van de Velde) is a tough competitor even for Bonafide(Giuseppe Giordano) that is well accustomed to be on the higher step of the podium and Avel(Nicolas Draminsky) among the Vintage Gaffers. Sagittarius(Florence Laffite), Swala(Luciano Brovelli) and Astrée III(Jacques Guillaume) still need to duel if the want to be the champions in the Classic Marconi of more than 15 metres. And finally, nothing is decided yet for the 15M Tuiga(Bernard d’Alessandri), Moonbeam IV(Mikael Creac’h) and the J Class Cambria(Chris Barkam). One more for the Dragons Despite the very light wind the big Dragon fleet, which were the first to leave the pontoons today, could go for one windward/leeward race. After a general recall, the Committee decided for a second start with Black Flag. The victory went to the American Ivan Bradbury on Blue Haze, followed by the expert British skipper Lawrie Smith (who was disqualified yesterday) and by the Russian Longinov. The overall, provisional results are then taking shape and the last two days promise close racing. As of today the three top spots are occupied by Bradbury, Longinov and the Italian/French crew skippered by Giuseppe Duca. Complete results at the official website www.regatesroyales.com http://www.regatesroyales.com Chaplinshines for the Italian Navy Chaplinhas been dominating the Mediterranean circuit in the Classic Marconi division since her debut. Owned by the Italian Navy, the Sciarrelli designed boat is being used to teach young cadets and by top-level sailors and is skippered by Captain Bruno Puzone Bifulco, in charge of the Navy vintage fleet. “It’s our debut at the Régates Royales de Cannes. Actually it’s our debut in the Mediterranean circuit, we’ve started with the Voiles d’Antibes, then it was Ajaccio, La Spezia, the Elba Island, Naples, Porto Rotondo, Monaco… and we won each and every one of the races we took part in! Eight to nine top-level sailors who are all enlisted in the Italian Navy make up the crew. It’s a tradition in our country and it is intended to help young athletes to get to the Olympics. Chaplin is based in Naples, where the index training centre can be found. Chaplin, was designed by the same architect who created Sagittario, Carlo Sciarrelli and was given to the Navy last year by the Novi family. This happens quite often in Italy as vintage yachts’ owners who can no longer manage to sail and keep the boats donate them to the Navy as it happened to Stella Polare, Capricia, Caroli, Calypso and many others. This enables us also to train the students at the Naval Academy.” Chaplin in figures Designer: Carlo Sciarelli Builder: Sangermani Shipyard Material/type: wood/sloop Year built: 1974 Owner: Italian Navy Length: 16,64 m Beam: 4,25 m Draft: 2,30 m Homage to Eric Tabarly On the occasion of their Mediterranean tour, five out of the six Pen DuickEric Tabarly raced on are in Cannes for the Régates Royales. Today, at the presence of Jacqueline Tabarly and Gérard Petipas the French bank Banque Populaire, sponsor of the Eric Tabarly Association since 2003 held a press conference to confirm its support. The five boats bearing Pen Duickname all have an extraordinary story. From Yumto Pen Duick The first owner of the famous boat designed by the Fairlie-based architect in 1898 was Mr Balfour Neil who called her Yum. He sold her four years later in Le Havre to Hachette who re-baptized her Griselidisonly to sell her a few months later to another sailor from the same town whose name has not been found. It was then a member of the Cercle de la voile de Paris, Monsieur Mac Henry  who got her and took her up the Seine river to Meulan, in the Parisian outskirts. In the following years the yacht passes from hand to hand, and changes many names. It is only on July 17th, 1935 that she goes back to the original Pen Duick. in 1938 the “Coal Tit”, that’s the meaning of the name in Brittany, she’s discovered by Eric’s father Guy and taken to Benodet.  That is how Eric becomes the fourteenth ownerand starts restoring the boat which is in a very poor state after being shed in the Constantini shipyard at La Trinité sur Mer. He decides to make a new hull in polyester, using Pen Duick as a male mould. It will take him three years before seeing the William Fife III’s design floating again. In 1959 she takes part to the RORC races in the UK but from 1962 to 1983, Pen Duickdoes not sail much Eric deciding to bring her back to Raymond Labbé’s shipyard in Saint Malo. On July 6th, 1989, the black hulled boat is put back to the salt water equipped with an Oregon pinewood deck, a brand new set of sails made by Victor Tonnerre and ready to start a new life. The boat is owned by Marie, daughter of the the famous sailor who so sadly disappeared on June 12th 1998; she sails her regularly from the Spring through to the Autumn. Pen Duick Designer: William Fife III Builder: N&J Cummins and Bros Launched on: 1898 in Carrigaloe (Ireland) Length: 15,10 m Waterline: 10,04 m Beam: 2,93 m Draft: 2,15 m Displacement: 10 000 kg Bulb: 6 000 kg Windward sail area: 160 m² Photos free of rights available on request– Copyright : Guillaume Plisson – Régates Royales –Trophée Panerai Further information on:www.regatesroyales.com http://www.regatesroyales.com/ Les Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai une course organisée par Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE