This year’s Panerai British Classic Week 2013 (PBCW) is set to start on Saturday, July 6. The Classic Week, now in its 11th year, will run in Cowes from July 6 to 13. Since 2010, it is the only UK regatta forming part of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge series, the leading international circuit for classic as well as vintage yachts.
The entry list for this year’s regatta includes some familiar “faces” such as Cetewayo, a 35’Waterline Sloop built in 1955 which has competed successfully at the PBCW in the past three years. Another familiar classic returning will be superyacht Gluckhauf, the 1929 international 30 square metre class sloop built by Abeking and Rasmussen. Although she is one of the smallest built square metres, competitors should be warned- she has earned the nickname “Flying Toothpick” in local regattas!
The list also features a few newcomers including Galatea yacht, a beautiful 20m Custom built in Plym´s Yard, Stockholm, in 1899. Galatea has a long and successful history of racing as she is unusually slender and is only 12 feet at the beam, which makes her extremely fast. However, she fell into a state of despair and it wasn’t until 2002 that her current owner started restoring her to her former glory so she could race again. The organisers and competing crews are looking forward to welcoming Galatea at the Panerai British Classic Week for the first time.
The PBCW is not only famous for its excellent and challenging sailing conditions, but also for the varied social programme that the British Classic Yacht Club and Officine Panerai are offering to competing crews. Besides the daily price giving and drinks reception at the Panerai Lounge, the programme includes an Open Yachts Pontoon Party on the 9th July; a Themed Crew Party – “Pirates of Penzance”- on the 10th July; a prize giving Gala Dinner on the 12th July and the famous Parade of Sail past the Royal Yacht Squadron on the last day, 13th July.
