Les Voiles d’Antibes – Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge – Annual Sailing Yacht Regatta

Les Voiles d’Antibes is an annual gathering of old sailing yachts (vintage yachts, classic yachts, ‘spirit of tradition’ sailboats and International rule, also known as the Metre rule class yachts), created in 1996, which takes place every year on the French Riviera, in June from the Port Vauban of Antibes, Europe’s largest marina.

Just as the Voiles de Saint-Tropez and the Régates Royales in Cannes, Les Voiles d’Antibes is the largest spring gathering for classic yachts in the Mediterranean. During the race, participants will sail boats on coastal courses in the bay of Antibes and Juan-les-Pins.

Never ceasing to grow, Les Voiles d’Antibes are based at the entrance of the Billionaires dock and shadowed under the Old Antibes ramparts. In 20 years, with over 80 participating yachts (reaching a record of 83 yachts in 2014), more than 800 sailors and more than 15,000 visitors every year, Les Voiles d’Antibes became the largest spring gathering for these sailboats and one of the iconic events of the City of Antibes and the entire French Riviera. During those 20 years, the regatta hosted over 270 different yachts with over 5000 teams from 53 different nationalities which participated in more than 70 races, more than 200,000 visitors, more than 1,000 volunteers, more than 50 Official partners and more than 50 music bands.

Indeed, over the years, the identity of the Voiles d’Antibes is built on several themes: competitive racing on suitable courses, festive evenings with nightly free concerts and culture with a dedicated space setting forward artists from all backgrounds.

Les Voiles d’Antibes is a great celebration of yachting:

Since 1996, Les Voiles d’Antibes, held each year around the first week of June, marks the opening of the Mediterranean circuit for the Classic and Tradition Yachts as well as Metre rule Classes and the first stage of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge.

Organized in early season, Les Voiles d’Antibes – Trophée Panerai welcome every year a selection of the finest Vintage Sailing Yachts (built before 1950), Classic Yachts (built before 1976) and Spirit of Tradition Yachts and Metre rule Classes (6 MJI, 8MJI and 12MJI, competing in the America’s Cup from 1958 to 1987), which have shaped, since the late nineteenth century, the great history of International Yachting.

For most participants, this prestigious gathering is the first major event of the Mediterranean season. Spring returned, boats joined their ports of mooring in the Mediterranean. Some have undergone renovations and upgrades to optimize performance; others were sold or changed their crews. This way, the participants are new every year around a core of mythical boats like IKRA, SOVEREIGN, THENDARA, LELANTINA, OUTLAW, ADRIA, CAMBRIA or TUIGA which have long been present in all regattas. Every year, between five and fifteen new vessels appear on the circuit. They come out of recent restorations and renovations. Antibes is the first big regatta of the season, sailors, owners and crews discover them and tell new stories that contribute to the shore party.

Appreciated for the quality of its regattas (Match-Race for Metre rule classes and coastal courses along the 23 km of coastline between the bays of Antibes and Juan-les-Pins for other classes) and the conviviality that reigns back ashore, Les Voiles d’Antibes – Trophée Panerai are undoubtedly one of the main events of the Mediterranean circuit.

But Les Voiles d’Antibes – Trophée Panerai is also in the tradition of yachting, 5 days animation and friendliness back at dockside. The return to port is certainly the warmest of the circuit. Organized around a village designed on the theme of party and conviviality, Antibes, famous worldwide for its Jazz Festival, had to associate music to sailing. With daily events and exhibitions from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the themes of the sea and environment but also cocktails, concerts, fashion shows and many other surprises and challenges bringing every night alive the joy and good mood in the Village des Voiles and Port Vauban, the first marina in Europe.

Passionate about sports yachting and regattas, Allied Yachting will attend this year, like all the previous ones, Les Voiles d’Antibes -Trophée Panerai which will celebrate their 21st Edition and will be held from 1 to 5 June 2016 at the Port Vauban.

All enquiries on chartering classic sailing yachts for regattas are welcome.