HH Magazine

The 1925 Leonore (Vintage Yacht – Under 15-Metre), the 1959 Voscià (Classic Yacht – Under 13-Metre), the 1934 Stormy Weather (Vintage Yacht – Over 15-Metre), the 1965 Stella Polare (Classic Yacht – Over 13-Metre) and the little 2011 Wianno (Spirit of Tradition) all emerged victorious from the 14th edition of the Argentario Sailing Week. The second stage of the Mediterranean circuit of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge 2012 played out between June 14th and 17th at Porto Santo Stefano in Tuscany. Organised by the Yacht Club Santo Stefano, it was a classic and vintage-only sailing event. Leonore, Voscià and Wianno also won the Panerai Trophy for overall victory, and received a Panerai Radiomir Black Seal Automatic watch.

Once again this year, Argentario more than lived up to its reputation as a prime regatta course and venue for this kind of event. The 24-strong fleet was able to complete all three of the scheduled regattas in superb conditions: summery sun and temperatures, nicely variable thermal breezes of between 10 and 15 knots, a barely ruffled sea and polygon courses that ensured the spectacle was clearly visible from the shore too.

Leonore is a 14.98-metre Bermudan sloop. She is technically a Q-Class, an early 20th century category of yacht. Leonore won all three of her races and was superbly crewed by former members of the Azzurra team which competed in the America’s Cup in the 1980s.

Voscià, on the other hand, is a 12.15-metre Bermudan yawl built by the Ligurian yard Sangermani and once belonged to Italian Navy hero Luigi Durand de la Penne.

Last but not least, Wianno is a fibreglass replica of the small yacht class designed in the USA in 1914 aboard which President John Fitzgerald Kennedy honed his sailing skills. Wianno, which won at Porto Santo Stefano, was built by Wianno Senior Italia, the only licensed European builder of this elegant gaff-rigged boat.

Back ashore, the competitors enjoyed the hospitality of the Panerai Lounge where spectacular video footage of the action was screened each day, while the Regatta Village became a favourite meeting place for cocktails and music in the evenings.

The eighth edition of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge continues in July in the Solent with the Panerai British Classic Week on the Isle of Wight. It will be followed by stages at Mahon in Spain, the large Vele d’Epoca di Imperia and, finally, the Régates Royales de Cannes which rounds off the 2012 circuit. ■

Press release

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