MED REGATTA SERIES FOR OLD YACHTS

A newly formed Vintage Classic Yacht Club is aiming to fill the gap left by the Panerai circuit by grouping the big Mediterranean regattas into a series.

The Mediterranean Champions Cup Series was to comprise five of the main French, Italian and Spanish classic regattas over 2022 and beyond, with silverware up for grabs.

The Vintage Classic Yacht Club (VCYC) has already attracted more than 20 of the regular Med competitors, including Jour de Fete, Viola, Marga, Olympian, Outlaw, Rowdy, Argyll and Spartan, and is encouraging more owners to sign up. The club is also looking for sponsors and partners.

Watch manufacturer Panerai sponsored a series of regattas in the Mediterranean (and in the Solent and US) until it pulled out of the classic scene four years ago.

VCYC president and co-founder Jonathan Greenwood (left) says: “The trigger [for the formation of the club] was the loss of an international series or championship, which in my opinion promotes the good health classic yachting generally. Almost all sports have this kind of championship in their annual calendar and we felt that we needed to try to get it back.”