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2013 North American Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge

Sails into Nantucket for the Opera House Cup

Panerai celebrates the 41^st Edition of this Much-Heralded Sailing Regatta

by Unveiling New Mediterranean-Inspired Hospitality Lounge

Panerai and DANIEL – New York "mix" things up to benefit Nantucket Community Sailing and Sailing Heals

  

   

August 2013, New York, NY – Many of the world's most beautiful classic yachts will once again sail into Nantucket, MA for the 41^st edition of the Opera House Cup and for the fourth edition of the 2013Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge – North American Circuit. Italian watchmaker Officine Panerai began their commitment to classic sailing by launching the global Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge in 2005 and it has grown in nearly 10 years to be one of the largest classic sailing events in the world. Nantucket's Opera House Cup is the most highly-anticipated race of Nantucket Race Week and is the middle race of the three-part North American regatta circuit which starts with  the Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta (August 10^th – 11^th, Marblehead, MA) and finishes with the Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta (August 31^st – September 1^st, Newport, RI). The Opera House Cup will bring together nearly 60 spectacular classic sailboats for what many consider to be the pinnacle of American classic wooden boat competitions.  

The legendary Opera House Cup is organized by Nantucket Community Sailing, a non-profit group dedicated to engaging people of all ages in the joys of sailing. The OHC takes its name from the former Opera House restaurant and bar, which was once a group of sailors' favorite post-sail watering hole in downtown Nantucket, whose patrons and owner had the idea more than 40 years ago of organizing a regatta dedicated specifically for wooden sail boats and deemed the silver bar bucket to be the coveted trophy.

This year, Officine Panerai will host attending captains, crew and VIP guests in a beautiful new Panerai Hospitality Lounge which mirrors the casually-elegant welcome lounge that is used for Officine Panerai's Mediterranean regattas.  On display in the Lounge will be an impressive selection of sportive timepieces, including the PAM 526 Luminor 1950 Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Titanio – 47MM.  This nautical-inspired chronograph comes with an automatic movement and a three-day power reserve, fitted with Panerai's own patented regatta countdown function, specifically created for yacht racing starting lines.

The overall winner of the Opera House Cup will be awarded a coveted Panerai timepiece at the OHC Awards Ceremony on Sunday evening, August 18^th at Jettie's Beach with many other types of classes of sailboats taking home honors in their divisions.  Last year, Quest , a newly-restored 1930 8-meter designed by William Fife III, and owned by Ronald Palm out of Toronto, took first place honors in the Classics Division and won the overall Opera House Cup and CYC regatta prize: A Panerai Radiomir Black Seal Automatic 45 MM (PAM 0287).  The overall winner of the PCYC-NA Circuit will be awarded the final Panerai Trophy in Newport following that weekend's sailing on September 1^st at the Award Ceremony at Fort Adams State Park.

In addition to unveiling the beautiful new Hospitality Lounge in Nantucket, Officine Panerai will debut a special treat for sailing competitors, created especially for the occasion by world-renowned chef/restaurateur Daniel Boulud and his eponymous restaurant DANIEL – New York –the "FULL SAIL" Mediterranean-inspired cocktail.  Inspired by Officine Panerai's perennial relationship with the sea, Chef Boulud's refreshing post-sail beverage will be served in the Panerai Hospitality Lounge exclusively to sailing competitors and invited guests. All "FULL SAIL" cocktails will be served in special glassware, with a limited edition selection of engraved glasses made available to captains, crew members, or Panerai VIPs as a special souvenir when they make an optional donation to the non-profit organizations Panerai supports on the island – Nantucket Community Sailing and Sailing Heals , a Massachusetts-based non-profit dedicated to taking cancer patients and their caregivers out on the water for days of healing and respite.  As has become their annual tradition linked to each New England PCYC regatta, Panerai will host "respite sails" and a seaside lunch for local residents and their families who may benefit from a healing day at sea.

To open up the sailing activities to Nantucket residents and guests, Panerai presents "Cappuccino with the Captains" at the Hospitality Lounge each weekend morning before 9 AM.  Cappuccinos with the Captains offers sailing enthusiasts an opportunity to chat with participating regatta captains and crew and enjoy Panerai's hospitality before the competitors head out to their vessels for the race.

Officine Panerai developed its first diving watch prototype in the 1930's as a supplier of the Italian Navy, with most of its timepieces kept under military secret until the 1990's.  In honor of the brand's historic nautical link, as well as the shared values of the history, quality and rarity of classic yachts, Panerai continues this reverent relationship with the sea through its annual series of international classic yachting regattas.