2012 NORTH AMERICAN PANERAI CLASSIC YACHTS CHALLENGE CIRCUIT KICKS OFF IN AUGUST
The picturesque shores and coastal islands around New England will once again set the stage for what promises to be a monumental year for the 2012 Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge-North American Circuit, which kicks off in August in Marblehead, MA.
The PCYC North American Circuit consists of three classic sailing contests: the Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta (August 10th – 12th, Marblehead, MA), the Opera House Cup (August 17th – 20th, Nantucket, MA) and the Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta (August 31st – September 2nd, Newport, RI). Each regatta, which typically attracts between 50 and 60 of the East Coast’s most magnificent classic sailing vessels as well as some classic beauties from other ports-of-call around the world, has multiple class winners and an overall regatta winner. The final prize for the overall Circuit winner is awarded in Newport on the last day. Last year’s overall prize went to 1938 yawl, Black Watch.
This year, Nantucket’s Opera House Cup, the pinnacle of American classic wooden boat regattas (the name of the regatta was borne out of a dented Champagne bucket proffered to sailors convening in a Nantucket tavern as the trophy), is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. The Opera House Cup is a regatta reserved exclusively for wooden sailboats, and is the oldest regatta of this kind to take place along the East Coast of the United States. Every year, the regatta attracts some of the finest classic sailboats in the country.
As Officine Panerai was once the supplier of watches and other precision instruments to the Royal Italian Navy, the brand’s connection to the sea is realized today with its annual sponsorship of the PCYC in beautiful sailing venues around the world.
