Panerai hosts kick off for PCYC
Honors MSK-CC and Sailing Heals
Officine Panerai kicks off the North American Circuit of the
2012 Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge with a sailors’ event in Manhattan
Thanks to the partnership with Sailing Heals and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, patients can share in the classic yachting experience in NY Harbor on prize-winning yacht
New York, NY – May 2012 – Officine Panerai is pleased to announce the kick-off to the North American Circuit of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge with an event honoring Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Panerai North America’s founding sponsorship of non-profit organization, Sailing Heals.The celebration, to be held on May 23rd at a legendary yacht club in Manhattan, will bring together many skilled and famous sailors of all ages from all over the east coast in order to raise a toast to the sport of classic sailing and the restorative, healing power of the sea.
Sailing enthusiasts and Panerai guests will be treated to an exhibition featuring Panerai’s recent restoration of the 1936 ketch, Eilean. Found in distress and sunken under the mangroves in Antigua, Eilean was restored to her previous glory in Viareggio (Italy) and, for the first time since her restoration, she crossed the Atlantic Ocean to race in this year’s Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta held in April. Eilean’s story continues to make worldwide news. She famously was the classic sailing yacht featured in the now-iconic Duran Duran music video Rio, and last month several band members returned to Antigua to sail aboard in celebration of the restored yacht’s much-anticipated return to the Caribbean island, as well as to reunite for the 30th anniversary of the popular video.
The Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, is the largest international circuit of regattas reserved for classic and vintage sailing yachts and includes ten of the most important classic yachts regattas in Europe, North America and Caribbean. The North American Circuit of the PCYC consists of three events: the Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta, to be held August 10th – 12th in Marblehead, MA; the Opera House Cup, to be held August 16th – 19th in Nantucket, MA; and the Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta, to be held August 31st – September 2nd in Newport, RI. For more information on the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge and for the complete regatta schedule for 2012, visit www.paneraiclassicyachtschallenge.com.
As a further tribute to classic sailing and the communities where Panerai owns and operates Boutiques, the high-end Italian watch brand will again this summer take cancer patients and their caretakers out for soothing days on the water. The first Panerai-Sailing Heals sail is scheduled with MSKCC “VIP guests†on Black Watch, a 1938 vintage yawl and winner of the 2011 Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge-North American Circuit, on Tuesday, May 29th.
###
PRESS CONTACT: Gina Sevilla
NIKE Communications
646-654-3448
gsevilla@nikecomm.com
About Officine Panerai
Founded in Florence in 1860 as a watchmaker’s shop, workshop and school, Officine Panerai was for many years the official supplier of precision instruments for the Italian Navy, mostly for the underwater special corps. The projects developed by the company at the time including the Luminor and Radiomir watch – were covered by military secret until 1997, when the brand was purchased by the Richemont Group and launched on the international market. Officine Panerai develops and produces its own calibres and watches – a blend of Italian history and design with Swiss craftsmanship – in its own manufacture in Neuchâtel, in Switzerland. Panerai watches are distributed worldwide through an exclusive network and in the Panerai boutiques in Al Khobar, Bal Harbour, Bangkok, Beijing, Beirut, Beverly Hills, Boca Raton, Buenos Aires, Doha, Dubai, Florence, Geneva, Hong Kong, Jeddah, La Jolla, Macau, Madrid, Manila, Milan, Moscow, Munich, New York City, Palm Beach, Paris, Portofino, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Taichung and Tokyo. www.panerai.com.
About Sailing Heals
Sailing Heals is a newly founded 501(c)(3) organization which offers enjoyable sailing experiences to VIP patient guests, their caretakers and staff who would benefit most from a highly memorable and healing day on the water. Sailing Heals’ number one aim to provide people in need with an “escape for a spirit-lifting day at sea.” Its second aim is to bring the great sport of sailing and the healing properties of the sea to people who might not ordinarily be exposed to its benefits; and its third aim is to be the charity of choice for sailing and boating enthusiasts who are keen to give back to others and share their beloved sport. For more information, please visit www.sailingheals.org.
About Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is the world’s oldest and largest private institution devoted to prevention, patient care, research and education in cancer. Our scientists and clinicians generate innovative approaches to better understand, diagnose and treat cancer. Our specialists are leaders in biomedical research and in translating the latest research to advance the standard of cancer care worldwide. For more information, go to www.mskcc.org.