Opera House, Classic Yachting, and Nantucket

Nantucket, MA (August 14, 2015) – After a series of successful races in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, UK, and Marblehead, MA, the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge (PCYC) reaches Nantucket next week for the 43rd annual Opera House Cup Regatta (OHC). The OHC Regatta will take place on Sunday, August 16 and is the grand finale and one of the most anticipated races of Nantucket Race Week (August 8-16).

For the 11th consecutive year Florentine high-end sports watchmaker Officine Panerai remains the world’s leading organizer of classic yachting events, with nine planned in 2015 across the world’s most beautiful and tradition-rich waters.

Nantucket’s OHC Regatta is the middle race of the three-part North American Circuit which began with the Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta (August 8-9, Marblehead, MA) and finishes with the Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta (September 5-6, Newport, RI).

All three regattas’ entrants are divided into five racing classes within two major divisions: Vintage Division including Grand Classics, Corinthian Classics, and Day Racers and the Grand Prix division which includes Performance Yachts and Day Racers, comprised of both Spirit of Tradition yachts, as well as older designs updated for high performance.

The 2015 Opera House Cup presently has an impressive list of nearly 50 registrants including AMORITA, a 1905 NY-30 that has been newly restored and will once again sail in Nantucket waters as a competitor in the Vintage Corinthian Class. Other Corinthian yachts and Vintage Day Racers such as ANGELITA, GYRE and ADAMANT will sail alongside much larger Grand Prix yachts such as WEATHERLY and COLUMBIA. General Patton’s 1939 schooner WHEN AND IF will also sail in the OHC for the first time in many years, joining other Vintage Grand Classics including TICONDEROGA, JUNO, and SPARTAN. THE BLUE PETER, a 65’ Mylne-designed sloop launched in 1930, made the transatlantic crossing from Cannes to also join in the NA Circuit competition in the Vintage Grand Classic class for the first time.

The Opera House Cup has a rich history dating back to 1973, when the owner and manager of the Opera House Restaurant had the idea of creating a regatta for classic single-hulled wooden sailboats for Nantucket’s sailing enthusiasts. Since then, each year on the third Sunday of August some of the world’s most beautifully crafted sailboats have gathered in Nantucket Harbor for the OHC Regatta.

The Regatta is now a cornerstone of Nantucket Race Week, a compilation of nine days of regattas, award ceremonies and gatherings hosted by Nantucket Yacht Club and Great Harbor Yacht Club. All proceeds of the week’s events benefit the educational non-profit Nantucket Community Sailing, which is the organizing authority of the Opera House Cup.

Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge

Next Stop: Newport
Following the Opera House Cup, the 2015 North American Circuit will move to its final destination of Newport, RI for the Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta over Labor Day Weekend (September 5-6). The Best Overall Winners of each division will be announced after two days of racing competition in and around Narragansett Bay, along with the Best Overall winners of the 2015 PCYC North American Circuit.

Report by Panos Marinopoulos.