Shooting for The Classic Yacht Experience
Cannes, 28-29/09/2018
Photo ©Francesco & Roberta Rastrelli protected by Copyright
All eyes are on the classic schooners in The Mediterranean. Find out why it’s superb to be a schooner owner this season.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOONER ASSOCIATION
Classic schooners are amazing examples of naval architecture heralding mostly from the golden age of yacht construction in the 20th Century. In recent years many of these yachts have been painstakingly restored, or replicas have been built, with passion and attention to historical detail. Not to mention sizeable budgets.
Over the past 20 years I have known many try to bring this Big Boat Class and owners together with varying degrees of success. The recent formation of The International Schooner Association shows promising signs of a unity.
The ISA was formed during a private dinner onboard the schooner Puritan hosted by owner Tomas de Vargas Machuca during The Regates Royales Cannes in September 2018. De Vargas Machuca, President of the International Schooner Association owns two classic schooners. His Captain, Simon Pandolfi, is the driving force of this private members only organization.
Simon also heads up The Classic Yacht Experience (TCYE) for de Vargas Machuca, a company created by like-minded individuals, passionate about building, restoring, sailing and racing schooners. TCYE offers two classic schooners for classic yacht regatta charters Puritan and Orianda and in 2020 a fleet of restored 10MR gaff cutters.
The dinner in Cannes was powerful and intimate and the owners decided to move forwards as a united group. The ten founder members of the International Schooner Association are the owners of:
Invader 1905
Orion 1910
Mariette of 1915
Puritan 1931
Orianda 1937
Aschanti IV of Vegesack (1954)
Elena of London 2009 (replica of 1910 design)
Atlantic 2010 (replica of 1903 design)
Germania Nova 2011 (replica of 1907 Germania) –Under new ownership, status pending
Naema 2013 (replica of an Alfred Mylne design)
These yachts have been participating in the classic yacht circuit but often they face the difficulty of having very different sailing characteristics compared with other smaller yachts. This leaves them at a disadvantage under most current rating systems. ISA aims to unify this group with the support of the International Maxi Association (IMA).
Tomas de Vargas Machuca, President of the ISA said: “It’s a great honour to be representing the interests of owners, Captains and crews of these wonderful yachts. After all, we are only custodians of them during our lifetime. Going forward, the ISA plans to offer a platform that will help all things schooner and attract other owners to compete and negotiate similar challenges through one united voice.”
SCHOONER CUP SERIES 2019
8th – 12th May Capri, Italy The Capri Classica
11th – 15th Sept Monaco Monaco Classic Week.
3rd Oct St Tropez, France Les Voiles de St Tropez
BRAND NEW AWRM INTERNATIONAL RACING CALENDARS FREE to download to i-Cal www.alicewiddows.com/calendar
The ISA, the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia and the Yacht Club Capri, with the support of (IMA), have launched the Capri Classica which will take place over 8-12 May, just before Capri Rolex Sailing Week.
This new regatta will see some of the world’s largest most beautiful classic yachts competing in an event with a unique format, specifically tailored to classic schooners. Six yachts are registered for the inaugural event including Elena of London, Mariette 1815, Orianda and Puritan.
Race starts from anchor, staggered starts, race courses optimized for the peculiarities of classic schooner sailing – these are just some of the new features to be introduced by the event organisers plus the team from TCYE.
The Capri Classica will be the first round of the International Schooner Association’s 2019 Schooner Cup Series. The other two events in this series will be during Monaco Classic Week and Thursday 3rd October during Les Voiles de Saint Tropez.
Following this final round in France, the International Schooner Association will crown its inaugural winner of its annual Schooner Cup Series.
Capri, with its own dramatic terrain, plus the surrounding jewels of the Sorrento and Neapolitan coasts, with Mount Vesuvius in the distance, provides the perfect backdrop to a new racing season. May is also the ideal month to enjoy the colour and atmosphere of Capri at its best, before the tourist season begins, and the island becomes overcrowded. Capri is calling!
Tomas de Vargas Machuca, the President of the International Schooner Association “The Capri Classica and the wider Schooner Cup Series will hopefully represent just the beginning of a fertile future for classic schooners.”
Andrew McIrvine, Secretary General of the International Maxi Association added: “The IMA is delighted to be supporting the first regatta designed solely for classic schooners and the inaugural event for the International Schooner Association. Our stated aim is to stimulate and support all forms of maxi yacht racing. We look forward to continuing our affiliation through the next events in their series in Monaco and Saint-Tropez.”
ON THE DOCK WITH AWRM
At this time of year my team and I are focused on delivering the detail. Classic Yacht Charters in St Tropez, sailing schooners in Capri, Superyacht Racing in Sardinia. We are counting down to Race-Ready as we fine tune the Villas, Yachts and teams who will form each individual campaign over the next few months. Race Crew, Villa Chefs, Van Drivers, Dog Walkers, Housemaids, are all standing by to standby.
BRAND NEW AWRM INTERNATIONAL RACING CALENDARS FREE to download to i-Cal www.alicewiddows.com/calendar
ARE YOU READY FOR PODIUM POSITION?
I know you like to win at any price. Regatta logistics need not prevent you from participating in your favorite sailing events. I work hard to streamline these costs and simplify the process for your crew. AWRM like to offer cost savings and a seamless bespoke experience. I work a year in advance with most of my repeat clients, but I am agile and offer flexibility to those looking for Pay-As-You-Race solutions. AWRM offer a tailor-made 24/365 service and therefore I only work with a small number of regatta campaigns a year. The Mediterranean Season is now upon us, get in touch and book a strategy call with me today.
Shooting for The Classic Yacht Experience
Cannes, 28-29/09/2018
Photo ©Francesco & Roberta Rastrelli protected by Copyright
Shooting for The Classic Yacht Experience
Cannes, 28-29/09/2018
Photo ©Francesco & Roberta Rastrelli protected by Copyright
REGATES ROYALES CANNES 2018 – PANERAI CLASSIC YACHT CHALLENGE 2’18
REGATES ROYALES CANNES 2018 – PANERAI CLASSIC YACHT CHALLENGE 2’18
Alice C I’ A Widdows is a Regatta Manager on the classic yacht regatta circuit. A keen yachtswomen and self – confessed island hopping addict, preferably by boat. Meet our Classic Yachting Columnist. You can find more at www.alicewiddows.com and on social media @alicewiddows
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