48 CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2016PANERAI BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK
Above, clockwise
from top left:
Krabat the 1946
Anker and
Jenssen design;
the 8-M Athena;
Mascotte passing
St Catherine’s
lighthouse; Helen
of Durgan, a
Spirit 46;
Mariquita at the
parade of sail in
front of the Royal
Yacht Squadron;
8-M HelenSeven 8-Metres
Seven 8-Metres competed in Panerai British Classic
Week this year: more, it is thought, than have raced
together in the Solent at any time since the 1930s.
Furthermore, at the seven Olympic Games in which
the class competed, from 1908 to 1936, that number
was exceeded just twice. The numbers have steadily
grown over the years of this regatta and this has
reflected a renewed enthusiasm for the class in Britain.
The Panerai fleet’s age ranged from the 1928 Osborne
of Wight to the 1949 Erica and, rather than racing level
as they did in their day, they are all measured under
IRC and handicapped accordingly. Although Murdoch
McKillop’s Saskia seemed to dominate the week with
five first places in seven races, some of her winning
margins were very small. Furthermore, five boats had
first or second places, and in the overall results Siris in
sixth place was just three points behind third. “Fierce
competition and close racing keeps the fleet building,”
said Rory Dungarvan, who sails on the 1939 Athena
which his father co-owns, “and the gentlemanly
respect for each other’s beautiful boats also maintains
the excellent camaraderie of the class.”
Overall results
1st Saskia – (Murdoch McKillop) 9pts
2nd Erica – (David Myatt) 18pts
3rd Athena – (David Parson & The Earl of Cork &
Orrery) 22ptsGiovanni said: “From a technical point of view we were
very lucky, we had the perfect conditions for the boat to
win. This event is different to anything else, it’s stylish, it’s
attractive and it’s a chain reaction – it keeps attracting
better boats. And the people who own them are lovely!”
This year the regatta attracted entrants from mainland
Europe, Scandinavia and the USA, as well as the two crews
from Australia and New Zealand (see previous pages).
As well as racing in Class 3, they competed among
themselves for the Classic Sail Match Race Challenge
Trophy, won by Leopard, skippered by Doug Shields and
crew from Australia.
In addition to the racing prizes, a number of special
trophies were presented including the Cetewayo Trophy for
the yacht with that certain Je Ne Sais Quoi, which was won
by Martin Thomas’ Archie Macmillan-designed 8-M cruiser
racer Charm of Rhu.
The Stiff Drink Trophy is a silver hip flask donated by
Spirit Yachts and went to Martin Ryan’s Pegasus for
her spectacular effort in blowing out a spinnaker, parts
of which had to be retrieved from the Solent by the
media boat.
The Seamanship Award, presented by Classic Boat’s
editor Rob Peake, went to James Kelman’s family-run 1947
Dervin cutter Croix des Gardes for sailing the Long Inshore
Race only three up and with her lady helm wearing a ‘very
elegant’ dress. Classic Boat sponsored a pontoon party on
the Tuesday evening of the regatta.Panerai British Classic Week 2017 will take place
from 8 to 15 July.