Following the success of the eleventh edition, the eagerly awaited Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, the leading international circuit reserved for classic and vintage sailing yachts, returns again in 2016. It is once again promoted and supported by the Florentine-based haute horlogerie brand Officine Panerai, which in this way celebrates its indissoluble bond with the world of the sea. The Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, which brings together in two separate international circuits many of the world's most fascinating regatta courses - from the crystal-clear waters of the West Indies to the marvellous landscapes of the Mediterranean - has now become an unmissable occasion for all enthusiasts. The spectacular classic and vintage boats that will compete in the regatta will compete for, among other prizes, the exclusive Panerai watches destined for the winners of each stage, won in the last edition by Moonbeam IV, Il Moro di Venezia I, Manitou and Siren. The 2016 season will once again see Eilean, the 1936 Bermudian ketch owned by Officine Panerai, among the protagonists. The prestigious yacht signed William Fife III will in fact participate in the regattas of the Mediterranean Circuit and will also host, in collaboration with non-profit associations, events dedicated to young people suffering from serious illnesses. Thanks to the "Captain for a day" initiative, in fact, young people will be able to board Eilean to experience a day as true captains, benefiting from an unforgettable experience and the therapeutic power of the sea. The Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge calendar kicks off in April with the traditional Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta (13th - 19th April), which since the 1960s has marked the end of the sailing season in the Caribbean with a spectacular gathering of boats in English Harbour. In June, the competition moves to the waters of the Mare Nostrum: the Mediterranean Circuit, for its part, debuts on the French Riviera with Les Voiles d'Antibes (1 - 5 June) and then continues in Italy, stopping off in Tuscany for the Argentario Sailing Week (16 - 19 June). Also returning in 2016 is the biennial appointment of Le Vele d'Epoca di Imperia (7 - 11 September), which will see dozens of historic yachts compete against the characteristic backdrop of the Ligurian Riviera. Closing the calendar are the Régates Royales, scheduled to take place in Cannes from 20 to 24 September. For the North American Circuit, the other soul of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, there are four regattas on the programme: the Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta in Marblehead (12th - 14th August), the Sail Nantucket Regatta, for the first time on the American calendar (18th - 19th August), the Opera House Cup in Nantucket (21st August) and the final appointment in Newport for the Classic Yacht Regatta (2nd - 4th September). Finally, the landscapes of the Isle of Wight (England) will be the theatre for the Circuit's only European competition outside the Mediterranean: the Panerai British Classic Week in Cowes (16 - 23 July).
