Royales rumble
Anniversary edition Régates Royales closes in style.
Photography by Guido Cantini / Panerai
03 October 2018
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Despite the capricious conditions – with the 200 boats and over 1,500 sailors forced ashore for two days due to strong winds – the 40th edition of the Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai will remain in the regatta’s history books as one of the most contested ever.
Teams came from around the world to grab trophies and eight winners were crowned during the crowded prize-giving ceremony.
The classic yachts gathered in Cannes for the closing day of the 40th Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai.
A light southerly, not exceeding 5 knots, forced organisers to shorten course between Cannes, Mandelieu and the point of l’Esquillon. However, the boats made a great show for the many spectators taking advantage of the warm autumn day on the Cote d’Azur.
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Two first and a third enabled the huge Elena of London to be crowned 2018 winner in the Schooner division, with Naema and Mariette completing the podium.
Despite scoring a fourth on Sunday, Moonbeam of Fife maintained the top spot among the Big Boats, thanks to a better score (two wins) leading Mariska and Moonbeam IV.
In the gaff cutter division, Alfred Mylne’s designed Kelpie showed great consistency -one win and two thirds – to beat Kismet and Viola, celebrating her 110th anniversary in Cannes with a podium spot.
The Classics’ podium remained an almost all Spanish affair.
Eduardo Mendez’s Argos and Pepe Negrete’s Yanira prevailed over local skipper Philippe Monnet on Lys.
An Italian crew on Resolute Salmon kept their focus to finish second in the last race, whilst early leader, Sagittarius, couldn’t do better than a seventh and slipped back to second overall, with the last win going to French 12m I.R., France.
Argentina’s Cippino was the undisputed leader of the Marconi over 15 metres class, finishing 5 points ahead of Wendy Schmidt’s Santana from the USA and 14 points ahead of Blitzen, whose crew comprised popstar Simon Le Bon and offshore female sailor Abby Ehler.
Famous Argentinean designer, German Frers, led his Fjord III crew to victory in the Marconi, Arrow was second and France’s Ellad in third.
Finally, Patrizio Bertelli’s Vanessa, with Olympic, offshore and America’s Cup star Torben Grael at the helm, won her first title after recently being relaunched, leading Italy’s Freya and Switzerland’s Scherzo in second and third respectively.
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