Antipodean teams set to join the fun at Panerai British Classic Week

Boats and teams from across the globe are preparing to converge on Cowes (Isle of Wight) for the Panerai British Classic Week, the UK's biggest and most prestigious annual classic regatta, included in the calendar of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge series. Based at Cowes Yacht Haven and running from 16 to 22 July 2016, the event will feature some 60 stunning classic yachts. Teams will travel from across the UK and Europe and from as far afield as New Zealand and Australia to compete.

The 2016 entry list features a host of old favourites and some exciting new additions. Amongst the old friends are British Classic Yacht Club Commodore David Murrin's beautifully restored 1955 Laurent Giles Bermudan sloop Cetewayo, which he will once again sail with friends and family. David has owned Cetewayo for some 30 years, during which he has worked on her extensively to both restore and optimise her for racing. He summed up his passion for classic yacht racing saying; "I've always respected the spirit of Laurent Giles in the boat and I am absolutely convinced that if he came back for a drink he'd be delighted with what we've done with her. Optimising these boats for racing gives you a level of understanding into how finely designed they were. They were the F1 cars of their day. Only by racing them and bringing them alive do you realise that."

Also returning this year will be 2014 Panerai British Classic Week overall winner Giovanni Belgrano with his 1939 Laurent Giles designed Whooper, Jonathan and Scilla Dyke's pretty 1938 Robert Clark designed 10-tonner Cereste, James Kelman's 1947 Bermudan cutter Croix des Gardes and Saskia, Murdoch McKillop's stunning 1931 William Fife classic 8 Metre which won Panerai British Classic Week overall in 2013.

The oldest boat entered this year is Peggy Bawn, a delightful gaff cutter designed by GL Watson, built by John Hilditch in 1894 and now owned by Hal Sisk. Peggy Bawn has been restored with authenticity very much in mind and will be using cotton sails from 1957 and a topsail cut from a jib topsail of the J-Class Endeavour. She is entered in the cruising class and she and her crew will take part in the daily cruises to venues such as Beaulieu, Newtown Creek and the Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Yarmouth, before returning to Cowes Yacht Haven each afternoon to join in with the regatta's social programme.

Another very special boat joining the fleet this year is the 105-year-old 9 metre gaff yawl Cormorant which was designed and built by Lukes of Hamble in 1911 and is now owned by Steve Meakin, loft manager of the world famous sailmaker Ratsey & Lapthorn. Cormorant was rebuilt by Peter Brookes, then of Maldon, when most of the sawn oak frames and steamed timbers were replaced, the original iron strap floors were replaced with new laminate iroko floors, new dead-woods and ally-bronze keel boats were installed, she was completely refastened and had a new teak cockpit fitted. Cormorant was built without an engine and to this day she still does not have one.

The smallest yacht entered this year is the delightful AK Balfour designed Honeybee class sloop Ragdoll, which was launched in 1965 and is now owned by multi-class dinghy champions Liz and Mark Rushall. The Honeybee class came into being as a result of a competition held by the Glasgow Herald and the Clyde Cruising Club to design a handy cruiser/racer to sleep four and sail Scotland's west coast. Mark and Liz have yet to sail Scotland's west coast in the boat, but they would most certainly agree that she makes an ideal cruising boat for four people.

Joining the regatta for the first time will be an Antipodean Team racing three identical yachts chartered from Classic Sail – Pegasus, Gryphis and Leopard. All three yachts were designed and built by Morgan Giles and launched in 1959. They were part of a matched set of seven identical yachts commissioned by the Royal Navy for use by the Seamanship Training Craft Division for officer cadet and midshipman training afloat and replaced their Windfall yachts. Racing the boats will be two crews from The Classic Yacht Association of Australia and one crew from the Classic Yacht Association of New Zealand.

The event gets underway with registration on Saturday 16 July, and that evening British Classic Yacht Club Commodore David Murrin will host a Welcome Supper for competitors. Sunday 17 July opens with the spectacular Concours d'Elegance parade of the yachts past the Royal Yacht Squadron at 11.00, followed by the first race starting at 12.30 from the Royal Yacht Squadron start line. That evening there will be a Welcome Reception at the Royal Yacht Squadron.

Other highlights of the week include the Around The Island Race sponsored by EFG starting at 08.00 on Monday 18 July, the traditional Open Yachts Pontoon Party sponsored by the British Classic Yacht Club and Classic Boat on Tuesday evening, Wednesday's Ladies Race and the Long Inshore Race sponsored by Classic Boat on Thursday. The regatta concludes on Friday 22 July with the final race of the series sponsored by Sandeman Yachts followed by the spectacular Prize Giving Dinner at Cowes Yacht Haven Events Centre.

As always the Panerai Lounge at Cowes Yacht Haven will be welcoming competitors throughout the week and there will be a daily après sailing prize giving in the regatta bar.

www.britishclassicyachtclub.org/regatta