The 38th edition of the Régates Royales de Cannes debuted on Sunday with the fist races of the 5.5 Metres class.
Today it was the turn of the Dragons and tomorrow the Classic too will make their appearance in the bay of La Napoule. The weather conditions are expected to be on the sailors' side for the whole week, with sunny skies and gentle, light airs.
The jewels of Cannes will have, once more, the perfect spot to shine: the stunning bay of La Napoule, between the Aiguille of Théoule, the Lérins islands and the Juan les Pins peninsula, that from tomorrow to Saturday will welcome more than 150 boats. Some of them have started racing already, like the 5.5 Metres that are taking part to the event that recognizes Switzerland's Société Nautique de Genève as a “salt-water” yacht club, or the 50 Dragons that debuted today with two fought for races. The Classics will make their appearance on the race course tomorrow in the best possible conditions: sunny skies and light southernly winds, from 5 to 8 knots.
Deed of Gift
The traditional race organized by the Société Nautique de Genève in co-operation with the Yacht Club de Cannes profited of ideal sailing conditions, a good air from the South and flat seas. This event enables the Swiss yacht club to comply with the Deed of Gift, written by George Schuyler on October 24 1887, establishing that an America's Cup Challenger or Defender needs to organize at least two races in salt water every year.
This year the club chose the 5.5 Metres class for the event, some 11 boats moved to Cannes and debuted on Sunday with three races. The first day saw the Italian crew of Maria Cristina Rapisardi, Giovanni Arrivabene and Marco Bonzanogo on John B to come on top of the results with two wins and a second place. Today, on the other hand, the light wind favoured Germans Max Muller, Jens Maladinsky and Max Steigl on Prettynama who, with four second places and and a fifth won the Régate en Mer de la Société Nautique de Genève, leaving behind Italy's John B and France's Joker. The 5.5 metres fleet will have their lay day tomorrow, before going back to the race course on Wednesday.
A brilliant start
Exactly fifty Dragons were on the starting line for their first race at the 2016 Règates Royales, on a windward/leeward course in the bay of La Napoule, that, today looked like an alpine lake: flat water and a light southerly, not exceeding 8 knots. The Russian aficionados Anatoly Loginov, Vadim Startsenko and Alexander Shalagin on Annapurna took the first race, followed by compatriots Vasaliy Senetorov, Igor Ivasmintson and Slave Varnachkin on Even Better and Denmark’s Blue Lady finishing in third.
As the committee launched the day's second race, the breeze decreased and veered to the South -East. The fleet dispersed on the race course, looking for better puffs and flatter sea, with Russia's Dmitry Samokhin, Dmitry Berezkin and Aleksev Bushuer coming out on top and climbing to the first spot in the provisional overall results, tied at points with Danish Blue Lady, and one point ahead of Even Better, whilst their fellow countrymen on Annapurna fell down to 5th .
Rookies and veterans
Like every year some leave and some arrive, veterans leaving their place to newcomers... For the 38th Régates Royales de Cannes, the turnover is positive with three 12 Metres coming to fight with old-timer Seven Seas of Porto. Three boats that were originally owned by Baron Bich, challengers at 1970 America's Cup, are moored at the quai Laubeuf: France , designed by André Mauric is in Cannes for the Royales for the first time, after being refit and re-launched in La Trinité in 2013; Britton Chance's Chancegger and Sovereign, built in 1964 in England.
Yet Cannes represent a great chance to discover or re-discover famous racing boats like Resolute Salmon, winner of the One Ton Cup in 1976; Ojala II (One Ton Cup 73) or Maria Giovanna II (One Ton Cup, 1968). Other boats that made history are also racing in Cannes this year: Linnet, one of the 18 NY 30 one-designs created by Nathanaël Herreshoff and her sister ship Oriole, Entreprise, a ketch designed by Sparkman & Stephens in 1937 and identical to Manitou, the yacht originally owned by President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Weather forecast
Good weather all the week long! Summer-like temperatures, sunny skies and lighty winds are going to be the stars for the coming days: a real delight for sailors and spectators alike...
