© Officine Panerai / Ph: Guido Cantini
Officine Panerai celebrates in 2014 ten-year partnership with the world of classic yachting. Ten years of passion: passion for the sea, the beauty and history of each vessel having made the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge the leading international regatta circuit reserved for vintage yachts. These ten years testify of the long-term commitment of Officine Panerai for the promotion of a tradition and an extraordinary cultural heritage: the Ladies of the sea for years, even a century in some cases, fascinated those who were lucky enough to witness the spectacle they offer. Thousands of fans attended the Cannes rallies PCYC to see hundreds of vintage and classic yachts compete. In addition to the trophies of the season, prestigious Officine Panerai sports watches were also awarded to winners in categories Big Boats, Epoque, Classic and Spirit of Tradition of Royal Regatta. The trophy of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge 2014 has been attributed to Mariquita, a gaff cutter built in 1911 of 31m in the category of Big Boats, Chinook built in 1916 of 19.8m category Epoque, and Namib built in 1966 of 12m category Classics. These three prestigious wooden sailboats have added their name to the Golden Table of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge of which Cannes was the 6th and final stage. Regattas of this PCYC Mediterranean circuit, took place in Antibes, Argentario, Naples, Mahon, Imperia and Cannes.
© Officine Panerai / Ph: Guido Cantini
Ballet of sailboats in the bay of Cannes Or Gulf of Napoule, of tremendous beauty
Panerai Transat Classique 2015
The 10th season of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge just ended in September 2014, with the Cannes Royal Regatta season, but classic sailing under the sign of Panerai will live an extraordinary chapter with Panerai Transat Classique 2015. The Ladies of the Sea will defy the Atlantic Ocean. This 9th edition of the transoceanic race reserved for classic and genuine yachts, will leave on Jan. 7th, 2015 from the fascinating islands of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, in the direction of Martinique in the Lesser Antilles islands.
© Officine Panerai / Ph: Guido Cantini
To pay tribute to its historical link with the sea, Officine Panerai has made year after year an extraordinary collection of special edition watches dedicated to the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge racing. The milestone of ten years is also commemorated by a new exclusive timepiece made only in fifty copies, with 10 Years of Passion logo engraved on the back: the Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Titanio.
© Officine Panerai / Ph: Guido Cantini
In brushed titanium with polished profiles, unidirectional rotating bezel in the counterclockwise direction with scale to measure the time of immersion and ratchet clank of every minute.Eilean and Officine Panerai
Same passion for the sea
Eilean was undoubtedly one of the stars of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, the leading international regatta circuit for vintage yachts. Its captain Andrew Cully organized a visit of this ship telling us the fascinating story of its restoration. In 1936 Officine Panerai in Florence created the first prototype of the Radiomir watch for the Royal Italian Navy. At the same time, at several kilometers away in Fairlie in Scotland, Naval architect William Fife III puts the finishing touches to the project Eilean which means in Gaelic “small island”. Seventy years later, in 2006, in the Caribbean, the fates of Eilean and Officine Panerai intersect at the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. Angelo Bonati falls under the spell of the boat helmed by various enthusiasts and owners, that already has to its credit a hectic life on the most beautiful seas in the world. Officine Panerai bought Eilean and restored it in the shipyard Carlos F. Del Viareggio in Italy, following the original plans and working techniques of the time. A little longer than 22 meters, Eilean is a sailing Bermudian ketch, a two masted ship on which are hoisted two powerful mainsails, composite: Burma teak planking is indeed supported by a metal frame in galvanized iron. Refloated end of 2009, it represents Panerai on the occasion of rallies of vintage Panerai Classic yachts.
Teak from Burma for the bridge and the anchor of origin. © Officine Panerai / Ph: James Robinson Taylor
© Officine Panerai / Ph: James Robinson Taylor
Barometer, hygrometer, thermometer and wall clock.
Eilean is equipped with a series of instruments specially manufactured by Officine Panerai. As the original Eilean, new models of barometer, hygrometer, thermometer and wall clock are made of steel AISI 316L alloy low carbon characterized by a high resistance to corrosion.
Captain Andrew Cully at the commands of Eilean and emotion of a classic yacht bar. © Officine Panerai / Ph: Gilles Martin – Raget 
During the visit of Eilean, Lama Karam, Marcelle Nadim, Captain Andrew Cully, Sarosh Mady, Guilda Sahyoun, Jenny King and Lara Sawaya. © Prestige
