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Officine Panerai announces the results of the 2013 Opera House Cup
Nantucket, MA – August 19TH, 2013 – On Sunday, Italian watch-maker
Officine Panerai presented the coveted Panerai Award to the winner of
the 41st annual Opera House Cup (OHC) in Nantucket. The Opera House Cup
is the second regatta of the three-part North American Circuit of the
Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge (PCYC) global series, which is
comprised of 10 regattas overall. The PCYC North American Circuit also
includes Marblehead’s Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta, which was held
last weekend under nearly perfect sailing conditions in Marblehead, MA
and the Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta, soon to be held Labor
Day weekend in Newport, RI.
Forty-eight beautiful classing
sailing boats, large and small, registered for this year’s OHC, one of
the classic yachting world’s most esteemed racing events. In addition to
their continued sponsorship of the annual OHC, Panerai honored the
world renowned classic sailing regatta by unveiling its beautiful new
Hospitality Lounge- inspired by wooden boats and the beautiful
hospitality lounges used to host captains and crews throughout the PCYC
Mediterranean Circuit.
On OHC morning, captains and crew woke up to sunny skies and fairly light winds, worrying even some of the OHC’s most seasoned participants. However, some welcome breezes kicked in by the time racing started, making for an excellent competition off the sandy shores of the beautifully historic, sea-faring island.
The race course was a 16 mile trapezoid toward Great Point Light under light and variable winds out of the southeast, which proved to be tricky for all tacticians as they maneuvered around Panerai’s bright yellow course markers. Hundreds of onlookers took in the race, applauding and cheering from spectator boats, ferries and even small aircrafts, where passengers could admire the swan-like boat ballet from above.
First to Finish was the 12-Metre Valiant, owned by Marblehead resident Gary Gregory, who also took away first place in the 12-Metre Class and was the overall winner of the Opera House Cup trophy and Panerai timepiece, a PAM 000 “Base Logo” Luminor, which every Panerai collector would recognize as “quintessentially Panerai.” This marks Valiant’s fourth OHC victory under Mr. Gregory’s stewardship.
Serendipity, skippered by Eric Finger and Evan Kornack, won First Place in the Alerion Class and Equus, owned by Wendy Schmidt, won in the Spirit of Tradition Class.
Gyre, owned by Chris Kennedy and crewed enthusiastically by friends and family, was awarded the Gwen Gaillard “Spirit of the Race” award for their spirited singing throughout the entire competition and chanting “We are the Champions” to the Race Committee boat when crossing the finish line second from last. 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 Opera House restaurant/bar, and it was Gwen who offered the charmingly eponymous Champagne bucket as a trophy for the first-ever OHC.
Quest, a 1930 Fife newly-restored 8-Metre registrant from Canada, owned by Ronald and Diane Palm and helmed by Diane for the entire race, took away the Classic Prize this year and finished within the Top 5 overall.
Special Mentions and Prize-Winners
Nantucket Community Sailing 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 OHC are the major fundraising events for Nantucket Community Sailing, a non-profit organization that teaches over 1,000 children to sail each year.
The Robert H. Tiedemann Award, given to the most beautiful and best cared for yacht in the fleet was awarded to Chips, a 1913 Burgess designed 50’ P-class gaff sloop which is owned by Jed Pearsall and Bill Doyle. Mr. Tiedemann’s widow and one of the sport’s most active classic yacht enthusiasts, Elizabeth Tiedemann, presented Mr. Pearsall and Mr. Doyle with the coveted award to great applause.
Panerai and Sailing Heals
Title sponsor Panerai North America was especially proud to present the Opera House Cup to Valiant’s owner Gary Gregory, as he and his crew have been incredibly generous and gracious to their non-profit foundation Sailing Heals. For each of the New England regattas, Panerai sponsors a “healing sail” for local community residents dealing with serious health setbacks such as cancer. Mr. Gregory and his crew have always taken the patients and caregivers out on Valiant, so the additional recognition was duly deserved.
Celebrity chef Daniel Boulud and his wife were VIP guests of Panerai, and Mr. Boulud created a special dedicated Mediterranean-sponsored cocktail which he named “Full Sail” to honor Panerai’s new Hospitality Lounge. Donations made by the boat owners and crew to take home a souvenir Limited Edition “Full Sail” glass went directly to Panerai’s non-profits of choice, Sailing Heals and Nantucket Community Sailing.
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.
On OHC morning, captains and crew woke up to sunny skies and fairly light winds, worrying even some of the OHC’s most seasoned participants. However, some welcome breezes kicked in by the time racing started, making for an excellent competition off the sandy shores of the beautifully historic, sea-faring island.
The race course was a 16 mile trapezoid toward Great Point Light under light and variable winds out of the southeast, which proved to be tricky for all tacticians as they maneuvered around Panerai’s bright yellow course markers. Hundreds of onlookers took in the race, applauding and cheering from spectator boats, ferries and even small aircrafts, where passengers could admire the swan-like boat ballet from above.
First to Finish was the 12-Metre Valiant, owned by Marblehead resident Gary Gregory, who also took away first place in the 12-Metre Class and was the overall winner of the Opera House Cup trophy and Panerai timepiece, a PAM 000 “Base Logo” Luminor, which every Panerai collector would recognize as “quintessentially Panerai.” This marks Valiant’s fourth OHC victory under Mr. Gregory’s stewardship.
Serendipity, skippered by Eric Finger and Evan Kornack, won First Place in the Alerion Class and Equus, owned by Wendy Schmidt, won in the Spirit of Tradition Class.
Gyre, owned by Chris Kennedy and crewed enthusiastically by friends and family, was awarded the Gwen Gaillard “Spirit of the Race” award for their spirited singing throughout the entire competition and chanting “We are the Champions” to the Race Committee boat when crossing the finish line second from last. 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 Opera House restaurant/bar, and it was Gwen who offered the charmingly eponymous Champagne bucket as a trophy for the first-ever OHC.
Quest, a 1930 Fife newly-restored 8-Metre registrant from Canada, owned by Ronald and Diane Palm and helmed by Diane for the entire race, took away the Classic Prize this year and finished within the Top 5 overall.
Special Mentions and Prize-Winners
Nantucket Community Sailing 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 OHC are the major fundraising events for Nantucket Community Sailing, a non-profit organization that teaches over 1,000 children to sail each year.
The Robert H. Tiedemann Award, given to the most beautiful and best cared for yacht in the fleet was awarded to Chips, a 1913 Burgess designed 50’ P-class gaff sloop which is owned by Jed Pearsall and Bill Doyle. Mr. Tiedemann’s widow and one of the sport’s most active classic yacht enthusiasts, Elizabeth Tiedemann, presented Mr. Pearsall and Mr. Doyle with the coveted award to great applause.
Panerai and Sailing Heals
Title sponsor Panerai North America was especially proud to present the Opera House Cup to Valiant’s owner Gary Gregory, as he and his crew have been incredibly generous and gracious to their non-profit foundation Sailing Heals. For each of the New England regattas, Panerai sponsors a “healing sail” for local community residents dealing with serious health setbacks such as cancer. Mr. Gregory and his crew have always taken the patients and caregivers out on Valiant, so the additional recognition was duly deserved.
Celebrity chef Daniel Boulud and his wife were VIP guests of Panerai, and Mr. Boulud created a special dedicated Mediterranean-sponsored cocktail which he named “Full Sail” to honor Panerai’s new Hospitality Lounge. Donations made by the boat owners and crew to take home a souvenir Limited Edition “Full Sail” glass went directly to Panerai’s non-profits of choice, Sailing Heals and Nantucket Community Sailing.
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.
Press Release
This message has been edited by Kong on 2013-08-20 18:38:35
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