32nd Annual Museum of Yachting

Classic Yacht Regatta

Sponsored by

Also sponsored by

2011 North American Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge Results (PDF)

CYR Overall, RI and R2 Results (PDF)

Classic Division Combined Results (PDF)

Results Summary and Panerai Race Report

Winners Crowned at Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta Sponsored by Panerai

Roiling teen-strength southwesterlies blew for the fleet at the 32nd Annual Classic Yacht Regatta sponsored by Panerai. Hosted September 2-4 in Newport by the Museum of Yachting, this annual regatta drew sailors from throughout the region and a fleet of classics where each boat sailed into Newport with its own storied history—whether it is a part of America's Cup lore, a class competitor with a racing record nearly a century long, or a spirit-of-tradition yacht with a modern in build and a traditional in design. The regatta was also the third and final event in the North American Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, which also included regattas in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and Nantucket.

Organizing Authority Sail Newport ran two days of racing for 12 Meters, S-Boats, and 6-Meters as well as handicap classes for Classic, Spirit of Tradition, and Good Old Boat contenders.

All classes raced a single race on Saturday and Sunday. In a festive awards ceremony held on Sunday evening, regatta organizers were joined by Panerai North American President Rafael Alvarez to present prizes to the winners of the regatta and the North American Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge. Prizes not only crowned the swiftest on the race course: they also honored the designers of these boats and the dedication of individuals responsible for restoring and caring for these historic classics.

Gary Gregory’s 12-Meter Valiant captured overall honors at the Classic Yacht Regatta. The Olin Stephens-designed, 1970-launched Twelve competed in the largest class in the event, and Gregory and his crew took first- and fourth-place finishes to capture the class win.

Valiant was also awarded with the Atlantic Trophy, for the best overall elapsed time in the regatta, and the Sappho Trophy, for the best overall corrected time.

Trevor Fetter’s Sparkman & Stephens-designed Black Watch captured overall honors in the North American Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge. The 1938-launched yawl’s cumulative score from the Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta in Marblehead, the Opera House Cup Regatta in Nantucket, and the Classic Yacht Regatta earned Fetter a two-point edge in the final standings.

Class winners were rewarded with Panerai barometers, and these winners included: S-Boat Firefly, John Barker; 6-Meter Belle, Joe Loughborough; 12-Meter Columbia, Alain Hanover; Spirit-of-Tradition winner Wild Horses, Donald Tofias; and Classic division winner Valiant, Gary Gregory.

The Classic Yacht Regatta was first held in 1980, when a group of New England yachtsmen looked around Newport harbor and saw classic yachts that were once glorious decaying before their eyes. The newly formed Museum of Yachting organized the first regatta to raise awareness for these endangered vessels. In keeping with the event’s tradition, each year regatta organizers present the prestigious Tom Benson Restoration Award to the boat in the fleet determined to be the best restored yacht—based on degree of originality and quality of restoration—done within the past two years.

Maritime artist John Mecray, who was instrumental in founding the Classic Yacht Regatta, commented at the prize-giving ceremony at just how difficult it was this year to choose just one boat for this honor. Sailing in the fleet were also boats such as the R-Class sloop Ruweida V, restored this year in Newport by students of IYRS, and Jed Pearsall and Bill Doyle’s Herreshoff-designed NY 30 Amorita, whose restoration was an emotional resurrection of this classic craft after a tragic collision and sinking.

The boat that captured the Tom Benson Restoration Award was the Herreshoff-designed NY 50 Spartan, originally launched in 1912 and restored as a collaborative effort led by McClave, Philbrick & Giblin (MP&G) of Mystic, Connecticut, with support from French & Webb of Belfast, Maine.

On Sunday morning, the fleet of classic sail and power boats traced a parade course around the Newport harborfront in the regatta's traditional Classic Yacht Parade, and Newport residents and visitors had an opportunity to view the fleet as they made their way to the parade's endpoint at the Museum of Yachting. Winners in several best-of categories were crowned at Sunday's award ceremony, including: Peter VanLanker’s Vim (Most Patriotic); Charles Townsend’s S&S-designed Fidelio (Best Costumes); Joe Loughborough's Carina (Best Power Boat); Donald Tofias’s W-76 White Wings (Best Sailboat); and Trevor Fetter’s S&S-designed Black Watch (Best Overall).

Title sponsor Panerai was joined this year by event sponsors Boothbay Harbor Shipyard and The Hilton Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. 
 

2011 Race Documents:

Entries as of Wednesday, August 31st 

Sailing Instructions (PDF)
Notice of Race (PDF)
Panerai NACYC 2011 Regulations (PDF)
Crew Waiver (PDF) - Please fax signed crew waivers to (401) 842-0669 up until 2pm on Friday, September 2nd. If you are unable to fax them in, please bring the signed waivers to check-in either Friday evening or Saturday morning at the Museum of Yachting. Boats that do not turn in crew waivers will not be scored.
CRF Form (PDF) - All CYR participants must have a current CRF rating. Your CRF measurement form must be received by the Museum of Yachting prior to the regatta. In order to obtain your CRF rating, complete the CRF application form and submit it to:
Chris Wick
PO Box 319
Mystic, CT 06355
email: mischief@snet.net  

If you have questions please contact Cristina Marfuggi at 401-848-5777, extension 202, or email her at cmarfuggi@iyrs.org.

MoY Classic Yacht Regatta

In 1980, a group of New England yachtsmen looked around Newport harbor and saw classic yachts that were once glorious decaying before their eyes. Inspired to raise awareness for these endangered vessels, these sailors founded the Classic Yacht Regatta in Newport, Rhode Island. The newly formed Museum of Yachting organized the first event, and forty wooden classics came to the starting line. As the event grew in size and stature, this annual showcase of vintage yachts became the impetus for a number of boat owners to restore and maintain the historic watercraft under their care. Event sponsor Panerai joined the event in 2006—bringing significant upgrades to the regatta and its prizes and social festivities—and this regatta is now firmly established as a weekend of camaraderie and competition that draws meticulously restored classics and spirit-of-tradition yachts that are modern in build and materials yet traditional in design. In 2011, the 32nd running of the Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta Sponsored by Panerai will take place September 2-4 and will draw sailors from throughout the region and classic-yacht fans who come to Newport each year to see the famous 12-Meters and landmark designs by Herreshoff, Sparkman & Stephens, and Rhodes that populate the fleet. Some of the original founders of the regatta are now gone, but their legacy lives on in these graceful vintage vessels that faithfully return each year to this annual event.