The story of the Régates Royales

In order to honor King Christian X of Denmark, who himself helms his yacht, the 6mJI Dana, the Société des Régates Cannoises and the International Yacht Club decided in 1929 to transform their traditional international spring regatta into the Régates Royales. A prestigious name which confirms the attraction of Cannes for the best yachtsmen of the world. Unfortunately, they will be forgotten in the sixties...
Not for long because, fortunately, in 1978, the person in charge of the nautical activities of the city of Cannes, Jean-Pierre Odéro, relaunches the idea and proposes to have the 6 and 8MJI racing again. Today, the princes of sailing have succeeded the crowned heads and the adventure of the Régates Royales continues with the universal success that we know.
To celebrate in 2008 the thirty years of this prestigious rebirth, it was necessary to remember that the yachting in Cannes is intimately linked to the history of this legendary city.

1857 : The first yacht in Cannes
Former engineer of the Ponts et Chaussées and skilled canoeist - that's how French yachtsmen were called at the time - the Parisian Léopold Bucquet came to Cannes to take care of his fragile health. Very quickly, the nostalgia of the Regatta on the Seine takes him. Fascinated by the blue water of the Rade, he decided to adapt the freshwater boats on which he had sailed and designed his first sailing boat, the Alma, built in 1857 by a local shipbuilder, Honoré Arluc. Thus, the first yacht to ply the waters of Cannes was French!

Won over by the enthusiastic canoeist, a few enthusiasts placed orders with Honoré Arluc. He built yachts according to the plans provided by Bucquet. Within a few months, the builder launched Léro (1858) for Alphonse Gioan, then Olga, for Eugène Tripet-Skrypitzine, former French Consul in Saint Petersburg.  Since 1859, Touriste joined the small fleet and replaced Alma, judged too slow by her designer and owner. Later, still based on Bucquet's plans, Arluc built Fantaisie, for the Duke of Vallombrosa. In the meantime, these pioneers were joined by Mr. Turcat who anchored his cutter Jeannette in the port. They only have to organize the first Cannes Regatta!

1859 -1864: From the Regatta Society to the Nautical Circle.
Impossible to imagine Regattas without the support of a club. Tradition obliges!
On the initiative of Messrs Bucquet, Tripet-Skryptizine, Béchard and de Colquhoum, the Regatta Society of Cannes is founded in spring 1859. To celebrate the event, on April 25, 1859, Touriste, Olga, Jeannette, Léro, joined for the circumstance by small boats with sails or oars of Cannes fishermen, compete in the first regatta ever organized here. The event is 100% French! During the following seasons, foreign "winterers" will come to reinforce the fleet of competitors.

From 1861, the Duke of Vallombrosa presided over the Regatta Society. Dynamic personality, the Duke brings to the Cannes Regatta the prestige which, even today, attracts the best sailors of the world. In 1863, he organizes the first Mediterranean Regatta between tall ships. Four competitors were present: Queen of Island to Mr. Dupont de la Tuillerie, Cutler to Count de Garbel, president of the Monaco Regatta Society, Gleam to an English yachtsman and Hornet to Mr. Moos, a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, who won the first prize.
On October 1st 1864, the Mediterranean Nautical Circle opened its doors on the Croisette. The foundations of yachting in Cannes are established.

1894-1895 : The first royal yachts... The great class !
After the death of the Duke of Vallombrosa in 1883, the Regatta loses some of its brightness. The revival comes in 1891, with the creation of the Cannes Yachtsmen's Union, whose headquarters are on board an astonishing floating pontoon, the Noah's Ark... The enthusiasm of its regatta participants bears its fruits: in 1894, the Prince of Wales comes to participate in the Regatta with the legendary cutter Britannia (1893).
The following year, the Great Class was enriched by a newcomer, Aisla, owned by Barclay Walker. The latter had it built to beat the princely yacht and the Cannes Regatta was to be the occasion of the first confrontation.

An event that "from the morning attracts a huge crowd on the boulevard de la Croisette. The lighthouse pier was full of people, the Saint Pierre quay was crowded and on the boulevard, from the Place des Iles to the Reserve, the crowd was so large that it was impossible to move around," reported the journalist from the newspaper Le Yacht.
After a thrilling race where Britannia resisted for a long time to the assaults of its new rival, Aisla finally won.

1929: Birth of the Régates Royales
The Roaring Twenties were a great celebration and the "pearl" of the French Riviera attracted yachtswomen and yachtsmen from all over Europe every spring. In 1927, Jean Savoye exclaimed: "What a great place to be!

The following year, Christian X, King of Denmark, asks the yachtsmen of Cannes to organize for him a 6MJI regatta, in margin of the traditional International Regatta.
Wishing to honor Christian X, the Cannes Regatta Society and the Cannes International Yacht Club decide to organize a special week of racing in 1929, which is called the Royal Regatta.

1929-1939: the golden age of the Régates Royales
"The Regates became again what they were when the Britannia, helmed by the Prince of Wales, was ploughing the bay of Cannes. Every year the King of Denmark, who is a fervent sailor, honors with his participation the so-called Royal Regattas, in which he wins successes that are by no means complacent", one can read in the local press of 1929. And it is true. The king was racing Dana, Mrs. Y.G. Graae's 6MJI, against ten other competitors. During these first Royal Regattas of Cannes, out of the six races, the King won two in strong wind and finished once second!

Until 1939, the King of Denmark will always be present in Cannes - a city he appreciates - except for the editions of 1937 and 38. He will thus have four 6MJI built to race in Cannes: Dan(1932), Dan II (1935), Dania (1936) and Dan III(1939). In 1939, in the series of 8MJI, Gaulois, the brand new design of the Cannes naval architect François Camatte is the winner. It is the last time that the Danish monarch goes to Cannes...

1946 - 1960 : Decline and resumption of the Régates Royales
In memory of the pre-war events and following the tradition, the Regatta Society relaunches the Régates Royales between February 28 and March 3, 1946. Three 8MJI and eight 6MJI ensured the show, the winner of which was the Baron de Fenoyle on board Eole. The following year, the Star joined the 6 and 8MJI. A Swiss crew made the trip.
At the beginning of 1948, after having paid tribute to the memory of the recently deceased King Christian X, the president of the Cannes Regatta Society welcomes his widow, Queen Alexandrine who proceeds to the opening of the Royal Regatta.
The development of light yachting and racing-cruising, the disaffection of the regatta sailors towards the International yachts judged too expensive to build and maintain, sound the death knell of the Régates Royales. And even when they welcomed the 5.50m, the Requin and Dragon, they no longer managed to interest the public and the participants. At the beginning of the sixties, they fell into oblivion.

1978 : History of a rebirth....
The harbor of Cannes seems to have been invented to offer the exceptional show of the Royal Regattas. It took the determination of a man like Jean-Pierre Odéro, then Director of nautical activities at the city of Cannes, for the curtain to rise again.
In 1978, Jean-Pierre launched the brilliant idea of an International Festival of Yachting and to ensure the animation and to revive the splendor of yesteryear, he took up the idea of the Régates Royales. While respecting the tradition! The event is open to International Gauge yachts only, as it was in the 1930s.

The origin of this beautiful adventure is the acquisition by Philippe Monnet (former holder of the record for sailing around the world against prevailing winds and currents) of an old sailing boat abandoned in the Bay of Angels that the navigator decided to restore. "This 8m JI was my first contact with sailing and the sea. I arrived from my native Haute-Savoie in September 1975 and it was at the age of 16, having never set foot on a boat, that I discovered the joys of sailing aboard Mykonos. At the time, I was more into horse riding. I got to know her, made my first tacks, sailed alone at night, away from the mocking eyes... Little by little, the harbor maneuvers took place without incidence and even became elegant under sail! Very quickly, I felt the urge to compete.
It was while discussing with another 8m JI owner, Pierrot Lambert's "Folly II" (rename actually Suzette - 8mJI Camper & Nicholsons 1930), that the idea of recreating the Régates Royales came to mind in August 1978. The two other owners of 8m JI in Cannes were contacted; Gaston Schmaltz for "France", Mister Latcha for "Ayana" and the Dunant brothers owners of the 6 MJI "Astrée".

One Saturday afternoon in early September 1978, Philippe Monnet and Pierrot Lambert contacted the Cannes Yacht Club to anchor a course and provide a jury boat: Jean- Pierre Odéro gave them satisfaction. That's how the Royal Regattas of Cannes were relaunched...
From the second edition, the competitors jostled each other and the race took place during one week with the active participation of La Nautique de Genève, welcoming Toucan, Requin, Dragon, 5.5 m JI, 6 m JI and 8 m JI.
Since then, Cannes has become a royal base for the boats of the international gauge. And every year, the event welcomes more and more boats and is one of the great nautical events of the French Riviera.

Only three 8MJI and one 6MJI were present that year, eleven yachts were at the start in 1979, including France, the famous François Camatte design. Swiss, Swedish and American boats were also present. The success was such that some of them did not hesitate to start building new boats.
From now on, the September meeting of the Régates Royales gathers every year the best skippers of the world in 5m50, 6, 8 and 12MJI, to which are joined other keelboats such as the Requin, the Dragon, and the Star... A "Must"!

Since 1978 : Exceptional championships
Cannes has become a "royal" base for the boats of the International Rules who faithfully attend each edition. The 12MJI came to join the 6 and 8MJI.  These newcomers are now part of the legend of the America's Cup. Between 1958 and 1987, it is on board of these boats that aficionados of the "Cup", the oldest sporting trophy in the modern world won in 1851 by the schooner America, competed. They were designed by the best architects and gathered the most talented skippers in the world. In 2000, ten skippers competed in the Régates Royales.
At regular intervals, the Royales are the home of the most prestigious events for the rule boats. In 1985, the 6MJI World Cup gathered thirty-nine boats and it was the Swiss Philippe Durr who won the title with Junior, Ex-Gitana. Other world championships were held in Cannes in 1985, 86, 93, 97 and 2007.
Jean-pierre Odéro was able to convince the 8MJI association to organize a world championship during the Régates Royales. He suggests that Edmond de Rothschild will build a new 8MJI. When the Baron asked him about this persistent rumor, Jean-Pierre replied that Durr was already a champion in 6MJI and that he should also be in 8MJI! Convinced, Baron Edmond complied and celebrated his 60th birthday by winning the 1986 World Cup with Gitana Sixty, a design by the famous Cannes architect Jacques Fauroux. It was skilfully sailed by Philippe Durr ahead of ten other competitors.

1994 : Régates Royales and Yacht Classiques.
By coming to Cannes in 1991, Elizabeth Meyer and Endeavour inspired the Régates Royales. The following year, a few traditional yachts showed up and followed the events.  Their presence fits perfectly with the legendary setting. In 1994, the classic yachts finally entered the arena, moving from being mere spectators to being appreciated players. With the appearance of these "venerable" yachts, the Régates Royales found a new youth.
These returnees from another age allow a dream to become reality. It would be impossible to mention them all, but how can we not evoke with emotion the unexpected return of the three-masted schooner Adix joining Créole (1926) and Orion (1910). Other survivors have passed through the Régates Royales such as the 15MJI Lady Anne (1909) and her sistership Tuiga (1909) or the astonishing Partridge designed in 1885 by John Beavor-Webb, which is probably the oldest yacht in the world still afloat! Let's not forget the visit of Pen Duick (1898), Eric Tabarly's favorite sailing boat...
The Royales thus contribute to the preservation of an ephemeral heritage where beauty and know-how compete with passion and respect for tradition.

2003: The Régates Royales loses a great man.
Since he relaunched this magical race, Jean-Pierre Odéro had been running it with a master's hand and had never stopped making it grow and embellish for 25 years. When he passed away, the Yacht Club of Cannes will entrust the task of race director to his collaborator, Bruno Fauroux, for three editions. Bruno was immersed in the world of sailing from a very young age, son of the Cannes naval architect Jacques Fauroux, known throughout the world for his plans for the 12MJI which was then chosen as the boat of choice for the America's Cup.
Jean-Pierre ODERO left us suddenly in January 2003: he will have directed 24 editions of the Régates Royales with the success that we know: the rebirth in 1978 with one 6mJI and three 8mJI, eleven boats in 1979, the arrival of the 12mJI (10 boats in 2000), the World Cup of the 6mJI in 1985 (39 boats, victory of Philippe DURR on JUNIOR), the World Cup of the 8mJI in 1986 (victory of Philippe DURR on GITANA SIXTY in front of ten competitors), the arrival of the Requin, Dragon (1987) and Star, the arrival of the traditionnal yachts in 1994, the entry into the Prada circuit in 2000.

2005: Change of captain
No one having the heart to manage the company Cannes Régates International founded by Jean-Pierre Odéro then in charge of the race organization, the Yacht Club de Cannes preferred to write a new page of the Régates Royales history. From now on, the Société des Régates de Cannes, its subsidiary, will be in charge of the commercial organization, leaving to the Yacht Club the organization of the sporting part. Hand in hand, these two entities will give a new lease of life to the Régates Royales: new title sponsor, new management, new press agency, new website...
Panerai replaces Prada as the official sponsor of the Mediterranean Circuit of Traditional Yachts. Famous Italian company led by Angelo Bonati, the brand of historical watches of the Italian navy has become known over time for its ability to innovate while remaining the most reliable. For example, it was they who initiated the creation of marine watches worn on the wrist.
Based on the principle that a small team does not have all the necessary skills for an organization such as the one required for the Régates Royales, Jean-Paul Ortelli, manager of the Société des Régates de Cannes decides to reinforce the press service and the quality of the village's infrastructures. From then on, journalists and photographers will be welcomed by hundreds in the village to follow the event every year.

In addition to the 83 Traditional yachts, 94 Dragons and 20 Metric yachts, the Régates Royales will also have welcomed ...... An elephant! The family of Pierre-Paul Heclky, President of the Yacht Club de France and faithful participant, wished to celebrate his 72nd birthday in a most original way...

2006 : 230 boats !
Not only will the records of participants be beaten, but what participants! Lulworth signs its return after 70 years of absence among the 100 classic boats competing for the podium of the Régates Royales. Thanks to the will of Jacqueline Tabarly and Gérard Petipas at the head of the Eric Tabarly association, the 5 Pen Duick will be reunited. The Metric series is still going strong, and 106 Dragon crews are racing in the bay of Cannes.

2007-2008 : Black Series
The weather played tricks on us! It should be noted that the Régates Royales take place every year during the equinox period, which in the memory of sailors, disrupts the weather considerably: Rain, strong winds, calm (absence of wind)... Despite the four different weather analyses consulted, nothing would have allowed us to imagine that the bay of Cannes was going to become the scene of a violent encounter of several storms. Two Dragons sank in the eastern harbor, while France did not have the time to lower the sails and dismasted, colliding with Adria and Nagaïna. Even if the damage was significant, it was only material.

The 12MJI World Championship could not be validated because the boats could not do the required number of races. Due to the strong mistral wind at the beginning of the week, which blew enough in two days to prevent a breath of air until the end, the great names of sailing such as Paul Cayard, Lionel Péan or Marc Pajot did not manage to compete for the world title.
The thirtieth anniversary celebrated in 2008 had everything to be a great and beautiful party. The Régates Royales are now open to a newcomer, the Tofinou 9.5, which subtly combines classicism with modernity. With a narrow and elegant hull and a very slender rig to favor performance in light airs, the Tofinou has a teak deck, a discreet deckhouse and long coamings that perfectly protect the cockpit. Following a collision between two faithful competitors, Wildfried Tolhurst tragically disappeared at the helm of his 8MJISafir, shortly before it ran aground in front of the beacon of the Monks of St Honorat Island. According to the family's wishes, the race continued after a one-day break and the tribute paid to the memory of the English captain.

Tomorrow
The Régates Royales has become one of the world's premier annual classic sailing events, and perhaps even the premier, both in terms of the quality of the participants and the wide range of categories represented. All the yachtsmen in the world, whether they are simple sailors or experienced racers, have heard of the Régates Royales de Cannes. All of them, without exception, dream at least once in their life to attend or even better, to participate.