48th Régates Royales - Dragon class all set to open the event
by Jean François Cutugno 22 Sep 14:21 BST
20-26 September 2026
2025 Régates Royales de Cannes © Robert Deaves
Traditionally, it is the Dragons who open the ball of the Royal Regattas in Cannes, in one of the most popular events on the calendar, and before "The Winter of the Dragons 2026-2027", where a majority of Scandinavian crews settle at the Cannes Yacht Club.
This year, there are 34 from 14 nations. Designed by the Norwegian Johan Anker in 1929, the year of the creation of the Royal Regattas, this keelboat of 8.90 meters and about 1.7 tons, is nicknamed "the sailboat of Kings". For decades, the cream of this ultra-technical sailboat, which was in the Olympic series from 1948 to 1972, has been meeting in Cannes.
In particular, we find Anatoly Loginov, a loyal member of the Royal Regattas, who has won almost everything on Anapurna, second after two races in light airs in the western harbour, or Smitry Bondarenko, member of the Cannes Yacht Club, and Yevgen Braslavets (Johanna), Olympic champion in the 470 in Atlanta in 1996, in the lead at the end of this very tactical first day. The French are not to be outdone with Géry Trentesaux (Bande à part), former winner of the Royal Regattas in 2021, and current third.
This Monday, the classics in the six series - Big Boat (BB), Epoque auric (EA), Epoque Marconi (EM), Modern Classic and Tofinou - completed the final preparations, completed the registrations under the tivolis of the Yacht Club de Cannes, passed the measurement and security checks, then finished the provisioning. Between the many onlookers on the quays, smartphones in hand - mostly foreigners - the sailors and their carts loaded with light winds, and other running rigging ropes, sometimes had difficulty making their way.
The weather promises to be exceptional once again, with light to moderate thermal breezes. The oilskins and boots should stay on land... not the caps and sunscreen on Tuesday 22 September.
Partners of the 48th Royal Regattas: City of Cannes Côte d'Azur, TBS, IGY Old Port of Cannes, Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Maison Saint-Aix, Carlton Cannes Regent Hotel, Alpes Maritimes Department, South Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur Region.
www.yachtclubdecannes.org