News Central

Newport, RI – August 25, 2014 – The 2014 Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge (PCYC) North American Circuit will come to a close this weekend with the completion of the 2014 Museum of Yachting (MoY) Classic Yacht Regatta in Newport, RI. Italian watchmaker Officine Panerai is celebrating their tenth year of title sponsorship for the PCYC worldwide, with competing sailboats proudly hoisting their "10 Years of Passion" for classic sailing banners on their tall masts throughout the Circuit at the Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta (held August 9 – 10 in Marblehead, MA), the Opera House Cup (held August 17 in Nantucket) and the forthcoming Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta in Newport, RI.

2014 NORTH AMERICAN PANERAI CLASSIC YACHTS CHALLENGE CROSSES THE FINISH LINE WITH THE MUSEUM OF YACHTING 35TH ANNUAL CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA IN NEWPORT, RI

Panerai Will Announce the Overall Winner of the North American Circuit at the PCYC 2014 Awards Ceremony on Sunday, August 31st

Sailing Heals, Panerai NA's Sailing Charity of Record, Will Host 1,000th "VIP Guest" (Among Other VIP Guests) on Friday, to Usher in Newport's Acclaimed Classic Yacht Regatta

The stunning backdrop of North America's sailing capitol has provided the setting for the culmination of the PCYC North American Circuit for the past nine years. Sponsored by Officine Panerai as a tribute to their historical roots as the official military instrument supplier to the Italian Navy, the PCYC global series has become recognized as one of the most prestigious classic sailing events in the world. Each year, hundreds of captains, crew members and spectators flock to Narragansett Bay to close out the summer with a weekend of spirited competition and celebration. Classic sailing enthusiasts are also invited to stop by and meet the Captains and view Panerai's beautiful timepieces on display during a dedicated hour on Sunday morning, entitled "Cappuccino with the Captains."

The Race and Prize-Giving

Now in its 35th year, the Classic Yacht Regatta is presented by The Museum of Yachting at IYRS in collaboration with event partner Sail Newport, Rhode Island's premier public sailing center, which serves as its Organizing Authority. This year, in order to recognize a wider variety of competing yachts and allow for the fairest competition across the field, Sail Newport and MoY at IYRS partnered with Officine Panerai and the Organizing Authorities of the other regattas to develop a Class Category system. Starting this year, all competing boats will be separated in to four major classes – Grand Classic, Corinthian, Day Racer and Grand Prix – with individual awards being presented for each class.

In addition to the individual MoY Awards, there will be two overall winners of the 2014 PCYC North American Circuit who will be awarded two distinct and beautifully sculpted Panerai Trophies for Best Overall in the Classic/Vintage Category and in the Grand Prix/Spirit of Tradition category. This year marks the first prize-giving event in PCYC North American Circuit history during which Panerai will present two trophies for Overall Performance in the circuit. Last year, the Panerai Trophy award for Best Overall Performance in the North American Circuit was awarded to the 1938 Sparkman & Stephens yawl BLACK WATCH, with First Place Overall at the 2013 MoY Regatta and the coveted Panerai timepiece going to the 1935 Sparkman & Stephens sloop SONNY.

Officine Panerai Presents "10 Years of Passion" Commemorative Timepiece

To commemorate "10 Years of Passion" for classic sailing, Officine Panerai is introducing the Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Titanio – 47 MM (PAM 571). Created to commemorate Panerai's "10 Years of Passion" for classic yachting in a special edition of only 50 pieces, the PAM 571 watch features Officine Panerai's in-house P.9000 movement, with a seconds counter at nine o'clock and the classic date window at 3 o'clock. Its screw-down back and crown guard lever make this timepiece water-resistant to 300 meters, while a unidirectional rotating bezel allows wearers to time their dives. The partly-skeletonized, luminescent hands also guarantee excellent visibility even in very deep water. In addition, the watch features a Panerai rubber strap and trapezoidal brushed titanium buckle. The PAM 571 will be on display at Panerai's beautiful wooden-boat inspired Hospitality Lounge, situated near the Bay at Fort Adams State Park.

Healing Sails

Officine Panerai will continue the tradition of partnering with their U.S. sailing charity of record Sailing Heals , a Massachusetts-based non-profit organization dedicated to taking cancer patients and their caregivers out on the water for days of healing and respite. This year's Newport sail will be hosted on Friday, August 29th and will commence with a seaside lunch for Sailing Heals' and Panerai's VIP Guests at Panerai's Hospitality Lounge. One fortunate VIP Guests will have the honor of being the 1,000th patient or caregiver guest that Sailing Heals has hosted in the three years it has been coordinating healing sails in New England and several other sailing ports of call around the U.S.

Panerai is the Founding Sponsor of Sailing Heals and many of the PCYC competitor boats serve as host captain boats and volunteer their crew for these special days of respite on the water. This year's Hosting Sailboats in Newport will be VALIANT, WILD HORSES, FIREFLY, and WINDIGO, along with vintage motor yacht TOBIAS. Panerai and Sailing Heals greatly appreciate the volunteer captains and crews' donation of their time, talent and boats for the annual community sails.

OFFICINE PANERAI

Founded in Florence in 1860 as a workshop, shop and school of watch-making, for many decades Officine Panerai supplied the Italian Navy in general, and its specialist diving corps in particular, with precision instruments. The designs developed by Panerai in that time, including the Luminor and Radiomir, were covered by the Military Secrets Act for many years and were launched on the international market only after the brand was acquired by the Richemont Group in 1997. Today Officine Panerai develops and crafts its movements and watches at its Neuchâtel manufacture. The latter are a seamless melding of Italian design flair and history with Swiss horological expertise. Panerai watches are sold across the world through an exclusive network of distributors and Panerai boutiques. For more information, please visit www.panerai.com .

PANERAI CLASSIC YACHTS CHALLENGE

In honor of its historic links to the sea, Officine Panerai has promoted classic sailing culture for many years through its sponsorship of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, the leading international circuit for these vintage craft. In 2007, the company also acquired and restored the Bermudan ketch Eilean. Built in 1936 by the legendary Fife yard at Fairlie in Scotland, she is now the brand's ambassador at vintage and classic boat rallies and regattas. For more information, please visit www.paneraiclassicyachtschallenge.com and www.eilean.it .

THE MUSEUM OF YACHTING

For more than 30 years, the Museum of Yachting (MoY) worked to preserve the culture and heritage of yachting. Today, IYRS still celebrates the traditions of yachting the Museum of Yachting presented through informative exhibits, lectures, literature, education and regattas. The legacy of the MoY has lived on in a handsomely restored space inside the 1831 Aquidneck Mill on the IYRS campus in Newport, RI. Perched on the top floor, the Museum of Yachting at the IYRS Library commands extraordinary views of Newport harbor and its entrance from Narragansett Bay. New exhibits of art and historical artifacts are presented periodically that draw members of the community and yachting enthusiasts, as well as events such as the Classic Yacht Regatta.

In 1980, a group of New England yachtsmen founded the Classic Yacht Regatta in Newport, Rhode Island, to raise awareness of the glorious classic yachts that were decaying before their eyes. The Museum of Yachting organized the first event, and forty wooden classics came to the starting line. Now more than 30 years old, this annual showcase of vintage yachts is one way IYRS continues the traditions of the Museum of Yachting. In conjunction with event sponsor Panerai, and with on-the-water regatta support provided by event partner, Sail Newport, the Classic Yacht Regatta weekend offers something for everyone, on and off the water: in addition to the regatta and related events which span the weekend, all are welcome at the community cocktail party held Friday, August 29; classic yacht parade with viewing areas all around Newport Harbor on Sunday, August 31. Headquartered at Fort Adams State Park, the event includes two days of racing and will draw a fleet that stands as a time capsule of classic design — from small traditional one-designs to large, majestic yachts built over a century ago.

SAIL NEWPORT

Sail Newport, Inc., founded in 1983, is a non-profit 501 (C) (3) organization. Sail Newport is home to New England's largest public sailing center and is considered Rhode Island's premier public sailing site. Award winning instructional programs, fleets of rental boats and a prime one-design sailing facility equipped with hoists are just some of our features. The Dr. Robin Wallace Youth Sailing Center is the headquarters of Sail Newport's Youth Sailing Program serving hundreds of children each season. Dinghy docks, ramp-launching, summer and winter storage, on-shore conveniences and ample free parking round out Sail Newport's assets to recreational sailors. Located at picturesque Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Sail Newport offers easy and affordable access to sailing. Sail Newport's mission is to promote and operate affordable public sailing instruction, rental programs and to create opportunities to attract new sailors to the sport.

SAILING HEALS

Sailing Heals is a newly founded, Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) organization which offers enjoyable sailing experiences to VIP patient guests, their caregivers and staff who would benefit most from a highly memorable and healing day on the water. With the support of sponsors and volunteer Host Captains, Sailing Heals' number one mission is to provide people in need with an "escape for a spirit-lifting day at sea." For more information, please visit www.sailingheals.org .

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LUMINOR SUBMERSIBLE 1950 3 DAYS

AUTOMATIC TITANIO - 47mm

PCYC 10 YEARS OF PASSION

Unique edition of 50 units

Movement: Automatic mechanical, Panerai P.9000 calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 13¾ lignes, 7.9 mm thick, 28 jewels, Glucydur® balance, 28,800 alternations/ hour. Incabloc® anti-shock device. Power reserve 3 days, two barrels. 197 components.

Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, calculation of immersion time.

Case: Diameter 47 mm, brushed titanium.

Bezel: Brushed titanium with polished edges, anticlockwise unidirectional rotating bezel with graduated scale for calculating the time of immersion and ratchet click at minute intervals.

Back: Screw, brushed titanium. "10 Years of Passion 2005 – 2014" engraving.

Device protecting the crown: (protected as a trademark) Brushed titanium.

Dial: Black with luminous Arabic numerals and applied hour markers. Date at 3 o'clock, seconds at 9 o'clock.

Crystal: Sapphire, formed of corundum, 4 mm thick. Anti-reflective coating.

Water-resistance: 30 bar (~ 300 metres).

Strap: PANERAI personalised rubber strap and trapezoidal brushed titanium buckle. Supplied with a second interchangeable strap, a tool for changing the strap and a steel screwdriver.

Reference: PAM00571.

CALENDAR

Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta

17 – 22 April 2014

Les Voiles d'Antibes

4 – 8 June 2014

Argentario Sailing Week

19 – 22 June 2014

Vele d'Epoca a Napoli

2 – 6 July 2014

Panerai British Classic Week, Cowes

12 – 19 July 2014

Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta, Marblehead

8 – 10 August 2014

Opera House Cup, Nantucket

13 – 17 August 2014

Copa del Rey de Barcos de Epoca, Mahon

26 – 30 August 2014

Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta, Newport

29 – 31 August 2014

Vele d'Epoca di Imperia

10 – 14 September 2014

Régates Royales, Cannes

23 – 27 September 2014