Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge: Opera House Cup

Nantucket, MA – August 20TH, 2012 – Italian watch-maker Officine Panerai hosted the second regatta of the three-part Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge North American Circuit this weekend in Nantucket, MA. Fifty-one beautiful classic sailing boats, both large and small, registered for the 40th anniversary of the Opera House Cup; one of classic yachting's most anticipated and highly regarded racing competitions. The PCYC NA Circuit also includes Marblehead's Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta which was held last weekend under perfect sailing conditions in Marblehead, MA and the Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta, to be held September 1-2 in Newport, RI.

OPERA HOUSE CUP WRAPS UP 40TH ANNIVERSARY REGATTA

IN HISTORIC NANTUCKET

PASSIONATE SAILORS AND EXQUISITE CLASSIC YACHTS COMPETED

FOR COVETED PANERAI TIMEPIECE AND CLASS PRIZES

QUEST, a newly-restored 1930 sloop designed by William Fife III, wins overall prize

Visiting Tall Ships Pride of Baltimore II and Lynx , heralded the start of the iconic race by delighting spectators with a mock battle displaying massive sails and firing cannons, which thrilled crews and spectators alike. On Thursday evening, to kick off the Opera House Cup, Panerai hosted a cocktail event aboard Pride II in support of Nantucket Cottage Hospital and Panerai's founding sponsorship of non-profit organization Sailing Heals. Panerai, Sailing Heals and generous Host Captains have been taking patients and caregivers of the local hospital out for sails throughout the month of August to allow community residents to become more involved with the classic sailing activities for which the island is legendary.

On Sunday morning, captains and crew woke up to sunny skies with strong 10 knot winds, which made for an exciting start for the first leg of the long racecourse toward Great Point Lighthouse. By mid-afternoon, winds dissipated to a whisper, which led to 20 boats having to exit the competition and 31 boats reaching the finish line. Finesse , owned by John Tagiuri, was awarded the Gwen Gaillard "Spirit of the Race" award for pulling many of the smaller boats, mostly Alerions, back to the Harbor. The late Gwen Gaillard was part of the original group of sailors who conceived the classic boat competition more than 40 years ago in her restaurant/bar, and offered a Champagne bucket as a trophy, which led to the regatta's charming name.

Special Mentions and Prize-Winners

Nantucket Race Week, LLC served as the organizing authority of the regatta, with assistance of the Nantucket Yacht Club and Great Harbor Yacht Club. Nantucket Race Week and the Opera House Cup are the major fundraising events for Nantucket Community Sailing, a non-profit organization that teaches over 1000 children to sail each year.

First place in the 12-meter class was Onawa , skippered by Alan Worden and Roy Weedon. The Spirit of Tradition class was won by Pleione , out of Marblehead, owned and helmed by Bruce Dyson. Quest , a newly-restored 1930 8-meter designed by William Fife III, and owned by Ronald Palm out of Toronto, took first place honors in the Classics Division and won the overall Opera House Cup and CYC regatta prize: A Panerai Radiomir Black Seal Automatic 45 MM (PAM 0287).

Heroina , a 1993 sloop skippered by Marius Swart, was awarded First to Finish.

The Robert H. Tiedemann Award for excellence in restoration was awarded to Ticonderoga , a 1936 L.F. Herreshoff vessel by Mr. Tiedemann's widow and one of the sport's most active classic yacht enthusiasts, Elizabeth Tiedemann.

Massachusetts Senator and avid sailing enthusiast John Kerry also raced on Wild Horses and presided over a wedding at the finish line for two of the crew members aboard.

Final Regatta in Series moves to Newport, RI

The Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge North American Circuit moves next to the Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta, which is held every year in Newport, RI over Labor Day weekend and is the overall prize-giving event of the Circuit.

About Officine Panerai

Founded in Florence in 1860 as a workshop, shop and school of watch-making, for many decades Officine Panerai supplied the Italian Navy in general, and its specialist diving corps in particular, with precision instruments. The designs developed by Panerai in that time, including the Luminor and Radiomir, were covered by the Military Secrets Act for many years and were launched on the international market only after the brand was acquired by the Richemont Group in 1997. Today Officine Panerai develops and crafts its movements and watches at its Neuchâtel manufacture. The latter are a seamless melding of Italian design flair and history with Swiss horological expertise. Panerai watches are sold across the world through an exclusive network of distributors and Panerai boutiques.

For more information, visit www.panerai.com or call 1-877-PANERAI.

About the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge

In honor of its historic links to the sea, Officine Panerai has promoted classic sailing culture for many years through its sponsorship of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, the leading international circuit for these vintage craft. In 2007, the company also acquired and restored the Bermudan ketch Eilean. Built in 1936 by the legendary Fife yard at Fairlie in Scotland, she is now the brand's ambassador at vintage and classic boat rallies and regattas.

For more information about the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, visit www.paneraiclassicyachtschallenge.com. For more information on Eilean, visit www.eilean.it.

Press Release