Mediterranean Regattas, 2012

Image courtesy of Nigel Pert
Click http://nigelpert.wordpress.com/boutiqueprint-shop/ to order prints of photos by Nigel Pert
The Big Boats challenge for space as the fleet starts another day of beauty and splendour!

19th – 22nd April
PalmaVela, Palma de Mallorca
www.palmavela.es

4th – 6th May
Calanques Classiques, Marseille
www.lanautique.com

21st – 27th May
Les Régates Imperialés, Ajaccio, Corsica(10th Anniversary)
www.regates-imperiales.com

30th May – 03rd June
Les Voiles D’Antibes – Trophée Panerai
www.voilesdantibes.com

June
Argentario Sailing Week – Trophée Panerai
www.ycss.it/argentariosailingweek.htm

14th – 17th June
Les Voiles Du Vieux Port, Marseille
www.lanautique.com
regate@lanautique.com

23rd June – 3rd July
Trophée Bailli de Suffren (St Tropez – Porto Rotondo - Trapani – Malta)
www.snst.org / www.tropheebaillidesuffren.com

June/July
Le Vele d’Epoca, Naples, Italy
www.leveledepoca.it

July
Puig Vela Classica Barcelona
www.puigvelaclassicabarcelona.com

August
Almirante Conde De Barcelona Trophy, Palma de Mallorca
www.fundacionhispania.org

28th August - 1st September(Unconfirmed)
Copa Del Rey, Mahon - Trophée Panerai
www.velaclasicamenorca.com

5th - 9th September(Unconfirmed)
Vela D’Epoca Imperia, Italy – Trophée Panerai

24th – 29th September(Unconfirmed)
Régates Royales, Cannes - Trophée Panerai
www.regatesroyales.com

29th September – 7th October
Les Voiles de Saint Tropez
www.snst.org[/color]


17th - 20th October
Dragons, St Tropez
www.snst.org

Image courtesy of Nigel Pert
'Moonbeam Of Fife' and 'Moonbeam IV' cross paths at one of the many Mediterranean regattas of 2011.

English Channel Regattas, 2012

22nd -24th June
Tregor Classique, Baie de Lannion, Brittany
www.yctrebeurden.free.fr/tregorclassique-en.php

26th – 30th June
J Class Regatta, Falmouth
www.jclassfalmouthregatta.com

3rd – 7th July
The Pendennis Cup, Falmouth
www.thependenniscup.com

7th – 14th July
Panerai British Classic Week
www.britishclassicyachtclub.org

13th – 19th July
Brest 2012 Festival
www.lestonnerresdebrest2012.fr

18th – 21st July
J Class Regatta, Solent
www.jclasssolentregatta.com

25th – 31st July
Plymouth – Douarenez – La Rochelle Classic Race
www.yachtclubclassique.com

27th – 30th July
Plymouth Classic Boat Rally (25th Anniversary)
www.plymouthclassics.org.uk [/color]


31st July – 3rd August
Fowey Classics
www.foweyclassics.org

11th – 18th August
Cowes Week
www.aamcowesweek.co.uk

11th – 19th August
Falmouth Week
www.falmouthweek.co.uk

When working aboard a classic during a busy season time to turn your attention elsewhere is always a tough ask, whether it be to family or to other ventures. Although not always available to those at sea, the internet provides not only communication to those afar but also the possibility to pursue other enterprises. In this way Classicyacht.info was created and remains, providing a comprehensive database of over 1500 classic yachts, that the author fights continually to up-date with the flood of e-mails received each month from enthusiasts’ valuable input.

I digress!


Pesa - 100 years old

2011 brings a number of centenarians. Included are the 6-Metre yachts Audifax, Houri, Rita and Gefion III, the 12’s Danseuse and Erna Signe and the beautiful Max Oertz gaff cutter, Pesa. But by far the largest and most impressive of all is the spectacular William Fife III 19-Metre gaff cutter, Mariquita. After a meticulous 3-year rebuild at Fairlie Restorations on the Hamble, Mariquita graced the Mediterranean with her presence in 2004 and has since been a regular on the regatta circuit. To mark her 100th birthday she is attending 8 regattas this year; 2 have already been (Ajaccio and Antibes), 1 is in progress (Barcelona) and the rest are to come (Palma, Mahon, Monaco, Cannes and St Tropez).


Mariquita storms to windward in June's Les Voiles D'Antibes

If your holiday plans are already made and visiting one of these wonderful events is unlikely, then there is another way to monitor Mariquita’s progress. Suzy Denning is the Chef on board and has taken the initiative to spend the little spare time she has to find that internet connection and write a blog. Named ‘Life at 33 Degrees’ (http://lifeat33degrees.blogspot.com), it is primarily about the delicious dishes she cooks in the comfort of her fine mahogany galley. With 6-12 crew to feed, up to 18 during regatta time, her passion for the job and for the local cuisine in whichever land they sail, oozes out of the script.


Suzy down to lee, sailing fast, taking chances!


Anchor Biryani

Dishes include the ‘Mariquita Mackeral Meal’ and ‘Salt ‘n’ Pepper Squid’, a ‘pretty good’ ‘Anchor Biryani’(shown above) using whatever spices are available in the back of the locker, a bit of Basmati rice and some lentils, not to mention the Signature Dish, ‘Chicken Cacciatore’(shown below). For each a delightful account is given of its preparation including the where and when and a story or two about the Mariquita season. Other articles include ‘Make Your Own Kitchen Knife! I Did.’ and a number of heartfelt accounts about ‘Life On Board’.


The Signature Dish - Chicken Cacciatore

‘Life at 33 Degrees’ is definitely worth a look and you may just find some Mariquita magic to add to a feast of your own. I, for one, look forward to seeing Mariquita again this year, always an inspiring sight to behold, and may just find myself lingering around the back of their passerelle as the sun sets over a dazzling fleet of varnished spars, and the table is being laid!


Mariquita in all her glory

20th - 24th April
PalmaVela, Palma de Mallorca
www.palmavela.es

6th – 8th May
Calanques Classiques, Marseille
www.lanautique.com

26th - 29th May
Voile Latines, Saint Tropez
www.snst.org

23rd – 29th May
Les 9es Régates Imperialés, Ajaccio, Corsica
www.regates-imperiales.com

8th – 12th June
Les Voiles D’Antibes – Trophée Panerai
www.voilesdantibes.com

Atlantic arrives in Mahon


40+ yachts participated in the Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge in Mahon, Menorca, last week and one of the unexpected, if brief, highlights was seeing three 65m 3-Masted Schooners tied up in the harbour, 'Creole', 'Adix' and 'Atlantic'. There were brief hopes of a Mistral coming in, cancelling the days racing and everybody jumping on the schooners to go and 'play'! I wish. The mistral came a few days late, 'Adix' had already sailed west and 'Creole' looked more content tied to the dock then heading out for a blast. Next time!

With Le Grazie underway, Imperia round the corner(8th-12th September), and Nice, Cannes and St Tropez to follow the end of season regattas are in full flow. 75+ classics are expected in Imperia next week, including the schooners 'Orion', 'Elena' and 'Atlantic', the 15-Metre 'Mariska' and the new sponsor-owned Fife ketch 'Eilean'.

A few images from Mahon below.
More images at http://www.velaclasicamenorca.com/pag_fotos.asp


Avel and Marigan enjoying close competition


Thalatta and Solway Maid battle it out upwind


Eilean powers down to the leeward mark


Rowdy leads the downwind march

This year, 35 yachts will be racing, and 2010 is going to be an «Annus Mirabilis»(wonderful year) for the Régates Impériales by Schweppes.

Among the newcomers, 'Samarkand' and 'Giraglia' are, for the first time, joining the fleet. 'Moonbeam of Fife', 'Moonbeam IV', 'Lulu', 'Vistona', are participating in the Epoch class. Other outstanding guests could be the beautiful 15 Metre's 'Mariska' and 'Tuiga'.
Among the Marconi there will be 'The Blue Peter', 'Havsörnen', 'Oiseau de feu', 'Nagaina', 'Irina VII', 'Eilidh', 'Rowdy', 'Hallowe'en', who will enjoy competitive racing to win the awards. Many Classic Marconi yachts are also joining: 'Yen Li', 'Jericho', 'Cervantes','White Dolphin' are among them. Last but not least, in the Spirit of Tradition class, the Regates Imperiales fleet is greeting the 'Tofinou'; 6 of them will race in a promising challenge from the May 24th to the May 30th.

Entry List

Epoque Aurique (Epoch Class): Moonbeam IV (33m), Moonbeam Of Fife (27m), Mariska (26m), Tuiga (26m),Vistona (17m), Lulu (14m) .

Epoque Marconi (Marconi Epoch class): Oiseau de Feu (22m), The Blue Peter (20m), Rowdy (20m), Nagaina (17m), Havsornen (16m), Sonda*(14m), Irina VII (17m), Hygie*(23m), Eilidh* (20m), Hallowe'en (25m).

Classique Marconi (Classic Marconi Class): White Dolphin (21m), Jericho (16m), Cervantes (14m), Yen Li (11m), Swanee (11m), Timia* (11m), Samarkand (20m), Giraglia (11m), Trumpeter* (15m)...

Esprit de tradition (Spirit of Tradition Class): Vortex (20m), Serena (14m), Paihere (13m), Blue Of Methylène (11m)

Tofinou : Hounbonne II, Bambou + 4

*Boats who have not confirmed their registration by April 29th, 2010.