Officine Panerai hosted the second regatta of the three-part Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge North American (PCYS NA) Circuit Aug. 20 in Nantucket, MA.  Fifty-one classic sailing boats registered for the 40th anniversary of the Opera House Cup. Panerai hosted a cocktail event aboard Pride II in support of Nantucket Cottage Hospital and Panerai’s founding sponsorship of non-profit organization Sailing Heals.

Panerai, Sailing Heals and Host Captains have been taking patients and caregivers of the local hospital out for sails throughout the month of Aug. to allow community residents to become more involved with the classic sailing activities.

Finesse, owned by John Tagiuri, was awarded the Gwen Gaillard “Spirit of the Race” award for pulling many of the smaller boats, mostly Alerions, back to the Harbor. Onawa, skippered by Alan Worden and Roy Weedon won first place in the 12-meter class. Pleione, owned and helmed by Bruce Dyson won the Spirit of Tradition class. Heroina, skippered by Marius Swart, was awarded First to Finish.

Quest, owned by Ronald Palm took first place honors in the Classics Division and won the overall Opera House Cup and CYC regatta prize: A Panerai Radiomir Black Seal Automatic 45 MM (PAM 0287).

The Robert H. Tiedemann Award for excellence in restoration was awarded to Ticonderoga, a 1936 L.F. Herreshoff vessel by Tiedemann’s widow and active classic yacht enthusiasts Elizabeth.

Massachusetts Senator and avid sailing enthusiast John Kerry also raced on Wild Horses and presided over a wedding at the finish line for two of the crew members aboard.

The overall prize-giving event of the PCYS NA next moves to the Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta, held every year in Newport, RI, over Labor Day weekend.