48th Régates Royales Day 2: Cannes in celebration!
by Jean François Cutugno 24 Sep 07:30 BST
20-26 September 2026
48th Régates Royales Day 2 - Cambria and Shamrock Y neck and neck, like in the 30s © Didier Ravon / YCC
An easterly wind allowed the seven series to enjoy a splendid day of racing in the harbour west of Cannes, the starts having been brought forward in order to take advantage of this nice breeze blowing on a very light chop.
The competitors upwind, and therefore tacking upwind towards a mark anchored near the Lérins Islands, inevitably missed an epic duel between two legendary yachts: Shamrock V and Cambria. The first, a Class J designed by Charles Ernest Nicholson in 1930 on behalf of Sir Thomas Lipton, the emperor of tea wishing to take part in his fifth America's Cup in Newport, was initially made of wood on a steel structure. Built by the famous Camper and Nicholson shipyard, Shamrock V measures 36.58 metres and weighs nearly 170 tonnes. Completely restored in 2004 in Southampton, it is a pure jewel, which has remained in its "original state". The second is a 23 MJI, built in steel, based in Cannes, was born two years earlier. Cambria was designed by William Fife III, and built at Fairlie in Scotland. Its hull measures 33.80 meters, but with its bowsprit - an appendage at the front of the bow - it exceeds 41 meters, for a displacement (weight) similar to its best "enemy" Shamrock V. The two monsters with masts of nearly 45 meters, brought to life in Cannes on September 23rd, the epic of the Roaring Twenties in the America's Cup. A rare and breathtaking spectacle!
He did not compete in the "Cup", but is present in Cannes at the Régates Royales for the second year in a row. He is Italian, his name is Andrea Brigatti, and on his 22-metre ketch designed by Laurent Gilles, and launched in 1971, he wants to be able to sail and race with disabled people with reduced mobility. It must be said that this adventurer, passionate about sailing, having had a serious accident that took away the use of his legs, experienced horror during a sail in Greece a few years ago on a classic sailboat, unable to do anything on board. He then decided to adapt Cadama his sailboat, by installing moulded seats fixed on the deck and equipped with harnesses, then dismantled on land, in order to be able to accommodate four people in wheelchairs, in addition to four "normal" sailors in his words and in a beautiful burst of laughter.
A wide carbon cut-off (gangway) allows you to get on board in a wheelchair. The winches are now electric, he being in charge of trimming the mainsail, just in front of the helmsman. And Cadama is part of the "Classic Marconi" category, the most represented at the Régates Royales with 22 competitors. He finished in the middle of the ranking on this first day of racing. And Italy, which is largely represented at the Royales, organised a special evening on Tuesday evening in the village on the stand of Maison Saint-Aix, one of the new partners of the event. Tomorrow, Wednesday, a stronger breeze is expected in Cannes. And as the sailors say when the conditions are optimal, it should be a "champagne sailing" day!
Partners of the 48th Régates Royales: 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