Classic Boat – May 2018

GUIDO CANTINI/PANERAI

Tell Tales

Classic Boat’s address:

Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place,

London, SW3 3TQ

[email protected]

In 1968, nine men set of to become the first to sail around the world

solo and non-stop, east-about and south of the great capes. Only Sir

Robin Knox-Johnston returned. This summer, 20 men and one woman

from 13 nations will try to recreate his triumph, on long-keeled boats

and using only 1960s equipment. As we went to press, many of the

participants were at sea, bound for Falmouth, where the town will

hold pre-race celebrations and a historic parade of sail on 14 June.

The race itself starts from Les Sables d’Olonne in France on 1 July. The

newly appointed race director is well-known French sailor Patrice

Carpentier (pictured), who has completed five circumnavigations, two

in the Vendée Globe. “This race,” he said, “takes the sport back to the

roots of ocean adventure.” Parade details at goldengloberace.com

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GOLDEN GLOBE RACE 2018

The clock ticks loudly

for the big race

The annual Panerai British Classic Week will return to grace the

waters of Cowes this 14-21 July, in one of the great spectacles of

the British classic sailing calendar. This year, the long-standing

race around the Isle of Wight has been replaced with a race to the

Nab Tower and back, around 30 miles. This was in response to

feedback from club members who found the hack around the

island something of an endurance challenge. There are six other

races in the series, including the Long Inshore Race sponsored by

Classic Boat. Entries are open via britishclassicyachtclub.org or

contact Mary Scott-Jackson at [email protected]

An opportunity to skipper one of the fastest and most

distinctive boats ever to fish by sail has arisen. Reaper, the 1902

70ft (21m) herring drifter, a type once common on the coast, is

in need of volunteer skippers. One look at that huge lug rig will

tell you this is going to be about as authentic as sailing gets.

The herring drifters were fearsomely fast boats. She’s the

flagship of the Scottish Fisheries Museum and maintained by a

band of volunteers. Anyone interested will be taught by

experienced hands who know the boat, meaning a similarly

authentic seafaring education. The boat is undergoing

extensive refurbishment until later this year, but meanwhile if

the opportunity is of interest, contact Bernie McConnell at

[email protected] or on +44 (0)7764 161891.

This year marks the centenary of Ian Proctor, dinghy and yacht

designer and pioneer, who did more to put Britons afloat in

sailing vessels than almost anyone before or since. Among his

famous designs are the Wayfarer and Topper, two of the most

popular dinghies of all time. There were countless others.

He was honoured at the

RYA Dinghy Show in London in

March, and more celebrations

follow this year around the

country, including at the annual

Bosham Classic Boat Revival this

September. Ian Proctor was born

on 12 July 1918, four months before

the end of the First World War,

and died on 23 July 1992.

COWES, IOW

Panerai British Classic Week

ANSTRUTHER, SCOTLAND

Skipper a herring drifter

DINGHY DESIGN

Ian Proctor centenary year

WAVELENGHT IMAGES

C/O GOLDEN GLOBE RACE

CB ARCHIVE