By Adam Keith, Associate Timepiece Editor for ViaLuxe-
For luxury watch manufacture Officine Panerai, the most exceptional boating grounds of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean waters provide an opportunity to celebrate the artistry of classic boats and the skill and daring of their crews. For the fifth year straight, the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge presents contests of nautical skill across the globe, from France and Italy to historic sailing locales in the Eastern United States and the Caribbean. The events are spaced through the months of June through September.
Sweetening the victory obtained by the winner of any of the regattas, is a coveted Panerai limited edition chronograph. For the 2009 Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge 2009, that exclusive prize is the Luminor 1950 Regatta Rattrapante 44mm DLC. This timepiece, which you can click here to read more about, presents Panerai's signature cushion-shaped Luminor case with a stealthy cloak of "Diamond-Like-Carbon" (DLC) treatment. Produced in an exclusive edition of just 500 pieces for the entire world, the Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta Rattrapante watch is as much a technical standout as it is one of style: ticking inside the water resistant case is a chronometer certified self-winding movement incorporating the prestigious split-seconds chronograph. This complication is considerably more complex than a standard chronograph, and represents a true achievement of exceptional watchmaking skill; with its system of dual independent chronograph seconds hands, the split-seconds chronograph is capable of measuring elapsed time for two events occurring simultaneously.
There are several 2009 Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge events scheduled for the upcoming month. In the United States, the Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta will be held off Newport, Rhode Island on September 5th and 6th. The Vele d'Epoca a Porto Rotondo takes place in Sassari, Italy over September 10th-13th. The final event is in Cote d'Azur off the coast of Cannes in France, where the Regates Royales will unfold from September 21st through September 26th.
More about Officine Panerai:
Panerai brand & timepiece collections
Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta Rattrapante watch
Panerai product blogs
Panerai news