Autumn on the Côte d'Azur has some nice days in store for yachting enthusiasts and enthusiasts. A change of scenery in the port of Cannes where the motoryachts of the Festival de la Plaisance have given way to the most fabulous tall ships that have written the history of classical yachting.
Six days of intense regattas
They arrived in scattered order to take their place at Quai Laubeuf. Each shinier than the next, they feature flawless varnishes that reflect the tender light of late September. The bronzes, brass and stainless steel shine, and the crews are busy working for the docking maneuver, which must be flawless. The slightest mistake would not fail to cause a few jokes that sailors are fond of. “Breaking wood” is, for this small community, the worst thing that could happen and could cause the sailboat to withdraw from the competition. As soon as they leave the port, the sails are hoisted according to the wind and the forecasts, knowing that the biggest ones are in a position to sail an hour after leaving the dock!
Royal elegance
We have to go back to the end of the 19th century to discover the beginnings of this epic with multiple twists and turns. The Bay of Cannes is the most likely body of water to become the cradle of yachting and regattas, and some enthusiasts have modest-sized sailing boats built.
The enthusiasm for these regattas continued throughout the Roaring Twenties, which saw the arrival of great fortunes and crowned heads as well as elegant yachtswomen. It is a blessed time for architects, the most famous of them, William Fife, also a builder in Fairlie in Scotland, will mark the history of luxury yachting. Today, sailboats sporting the dragon at the bow continue to arouse admiration and shine at Grand Class gatherings such as the Royal Regattas.
The 1930s will be the golden age, seeing the best European racers land in Cannes, among them Christian X, King of Denmark, whose regatta results were not complacent. To satisfy his passion, the Monarch asked the architects to design regatta boats of the same gauge, so the metric classes, 8m, 6m and 5.5m were soon joined by the Dragons. Between economic crises and global conflicts, the time is no longer for crazy expenses, the death knell seems to be ringing for the Grand Class. As a sign of gratitude to the King of Denmark, loyal to the Cannes regattas for more than ten years, the Société des Régates Cannes decided to change the name of these regattas, the Royal Regattas were born.
Rebirth of the “Royales”
After a few decades of absence, it was not until the 1990s that the first Classique and Tradition tall ships returned. Elizabeth Meyer and Endeavour are a source of inspiration for the Royal Regattas. Each year new bows appear in the port of Cannes: the three-masted Creole and Adix, followed by the schooner Orion (1910), mark this revival.
The conservation of this maritime and cultural heritage is leading new shipowners with solid finances to restore these ancient glories. Marine carpenters are regaining their reputation and embarking on restoration projects. Many of these yachts, often abandoned in mudflats or forgotten at the bottom of ports, require long and expensive reconstruction work. The era was euphoric and these enthusiasts and sponsors are now offering us the joy of seeing these classic yachts such as Tuiga, Lady Anne, and so many others sailing again.
“Champagne Sailing”
This is the name that the Anglo-Saxons gave to these sunny and windy days allowing Classics and Traditions to race in the Bay of Cannes. Conditions are also ideal for the Metrics and Dragons competing in Golfe Juan Bay for the supreme title in their respective categories. “The After Regata” is another highlight of these days. With lots of beers, the actors repeat the regatta on the terrace overlooking the quay, and when evening comes the show continues by contemplating the generously lit rigging to the delight of the spectators.
Associated places
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