Corsica Classic 2018

A regatta around the Isle of Beauty, combining the spirit of competition and sportsmanship, elegance and adventure, under the patronage of the prestigious Yacht Club of France. The Corsica Classic is a highly exclusive sport and lifestyle event, part of a renowned tradition of stunning Mediterranean regattas for classic yachts.

All classic yachts, approved by the CIM (International Mediterranean Committee) and yachts in the “Esprit de tradition” class, approved by the IRC in 2018, are eligible to enter the race which is part of the official circuit organised by the CIM and French Association of Classic Yachts (AFYT).

Over the past 8 years the Corsica Classic has become a not-to-be-missed event on the Mediterranean sport and lifestyle calendar and remains the only classic regatta sailing around Corsica, and the only one in the international circuit to be set in august, just before the Vele d’Epoca d’Imperia in Italy (5 -9 september), the Régates Royales in Cannes (24-29 september) and the famous Voiles de Saint-Tropez (1-7 october).

Yachting! The regatta is under the patronage of the Yacht Club of France since 2014, a mark of great prestige. The YCF will be giving a very special Prize at the closing ceremony to the most Fairplay Sailing Yacht. Created in 1867 by Napoleon III, the highest sailing institution in France has had very prestigious members, such as the polar explorer Charcot, Jules Verne or Eric Tabarly. Every year, the Yacht Club de France offers its prestigious “Tape de Bouche” to the most « fairplay » winner of the Corsica Classic.
www.ycf-club.fr // @YachtclubFrance

Route! Ajaccio, the Sanguinaire Islands, Propriano and the Gulf of Valinco, Senetosa, Bonifacio, Lavezzi Islands, Saint-Cyprien bay, Bavella, Sari-Solenzara, Bastia, Macinaggio, Saint-Florent : names that conjure up visions of the Isle of Beauty; iconic landmarks dotted along the route of this seven-day race. Each day, the yachts will follow a coastal route of around 20 miles, a distance that will take at least 2 ½ hours to navigate on the shortest days, and up to 8 hours on the longest. Arriving at their overnight moorings, competitors will find exceptional port services and stunning backdrops.
www.corsica-classic.com // @corsicaclassic

Competitors! 20 of the most stunning classic boats on earth will participate in the regatta this year, with competitors from Monaco, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, France, England, Germany and the USA. 2013 and 2015’s 2016 triumphant victory was Tara Getty (UK) with SY Skylark (1937), the flagship yacht of the Los Angeles Yacht Club. Getty is back with his yacht this year and the fight will be grandiose.

America America ! In 2014, the winner was SY Dorade, from The St. Francis Yacht Club, a magnificent Marconi built to Olin Stephens’ innovative 1929 design and winner of some of the world’s great regattas including the Fastnet and the 1931 Newport to Plymouth Transatlantic. Dorade has a very special gift for the Vintage Marconi class winner : the Dorade Trophy, that weighs 20kg is actually one of the boat’s historical winches and was made especially for the Corsica Classic in California… The trophy is back in the game every year, like the America’s Cup trophy. SY Serenade’s owner, Art Dealer Alain Moatti will hand it back to a new winner this year. www.dorade.org // @dorade1929

Charity! Corsica Classic tied the knot with Breast Cancer Association “SOS Cancer du Sein” and its « Pink » Regatta. The regatta will host several women who are suffering or have been suffering from breast cancer to participate on one leg of the regatta for a lifetime experience in Ajaccio on friday 24th august. This very special stage will include these women in the teams to share an incredible adventure on the sea. www.soscancerdusein.org

Sailing for all ! The regatta also welcomes for the fourth year Patriarc’h, an associative schooner that welcomes children in social reintegration and their educators who will participate in this week out of time.
www.zonebleue-asso.fr

Official Poster // Every year, the winner over all of the Corsica Classic is honored on the official poster following his trophy. The Corsica Classic 2018 official poster depicts the Olin Stephens plan, SY Arcadia, built at the Silvestro shipyard in Nice in 1969, led by Bruno Ricciardi’s crew, in front of the port of Bonifacio and Madonetta. The artist Philippe Gavin sketched on canvas this sublime classic yacht. A passionate yachtman, Philippe Gavin has been participating for several years in Classic Yacht regattas aboard legendary sailboats such as SY Tuiga, SY Moonbeam IV or SY Arcadia... His escapades on the water nourish his Work and allow him to render with realism the actions of regattas by revisiting the marines’ classic style with watercolor.
www.philippegavin.fr // @philippe_gavin

Corsican Deli // A leading actor in aquaculture made in France, Gloria Maris Groupe will be the official supplier through its historic production site in Corsica, Acquadea, a European reference for sustainable and responsible aquaculture. The fresh fishes will be prepared in particular by the Michelin starred chef Romuald Royer at Lido on Saturday 25h august in Propriano and at lunch by 3 starred chefs from Corsica, during the award ceremony at the Citadelle de Saint-Florent on september 2. Turbot Red Label, Royal Sea Bream, Lean, bar, the most beautiful products of the Mediterranean will be tasted during this gastronomic and sporty journey of the Corsica Classic. // www.gloriamarisgroupe.com

Dinner on the beach // Romuald Royer, young star chef of the Lido in Propriano and rising star of the gastronomy of the island, will orchestrate a dinner for the 150 participants expected at the Corsica Classic on Monday 25 August for an exceptional evening in Bonifacio’s historic monument, Bastion de L’Etendard, including a breathtaking view on the cliffs and the fleet in the harbour.
www.le-lido.com // @romualdroyer

Michelin starred chefs // A 6-handed lunch with 3 young star chefs in Corsica will close the second week of the event. To celebrate the art of living yachting in Saint-Florent, the little Saint-Tropez of the island of Beauty around a 100% Corsican lunch. It is in the historic fort of the city that will gather on Sunday, September 2, participants facing the bay and these mythical sailing ships. After a day of sailing, the chefs will be able to share their know-how and their emotions with the sailors. Lunch will be prepared by Romuald Royer, Lido chef at Propriano (1 * Michelin), Jerry Monmessin (1 * Michelin), Pirate chef at Erbalunga and Yann Le Scavarec (1 * Michelin) from La Gaffe in Saint-Florent. All three will prepare a menu - locavore- from the fresh peach of Damien Muller, owner of the Auberge du Pêcheur in Saint-Florent and vegetables from the farm of Queccialba held by Gody Jochmams in Oletta. www.le-lido.com // @romualdroyer www.restaurantlepirate.com // @le_pirate_erbalunga www.restaurant-saint-florent.com

In the air // The official island airline renews its privileged partnership with the Corsica Classic. With an international development in the last two years, from Brussels Charleroi (since March 2017) and London-Stansted (since May 2018), Air Corsica allows international travelers to take direct connections to Corsica: The first airline in Corsica extends its territory to better discover the island of beauty in the world. For the Corsica Classic participants, a dedicated website will be set up to allow reservations at the best rates for its participants. www.aircorsica.com // @aircorsicaofficial

Corsican Roots // With its course between Ajaccio and Saint-Florent, the regatta will stop in 7 ports along Corsican shores. Thanks to the support of these ports, grouped by the UPPC (The Union of the marinas of Corsica, which federates the ports of the island), presided over by Jean Toma, the mayor of Sari-Solenzara, it becomes for the first time a partner of the race. The event is actively supported by Corsican entrepreneurs such as Gloria Maris (fish), winegrowers (Granajola, Clos Signadore, Blue Wine ImaJYne), Pietra (breweries), Orezza (corsican water), Mattei drinks (cocktails and juices), Château Nasica (olive oil), restaurants and hotels along with the major Corsican authorities. All these actors of the island will be put forward to make discover their know-how and the excellence of their products, Made in Corsica.

In Ajaccio // Château Nasica olive oil is one of the oldest olive groves in Corsica. In 786, Amondo Nasica Amondaschi is one of the 5 Lords to travel with Charlemagne in Corsica on the orders of Pope Clement. Today, some of their trees are sometimes millennia old, from an almost forgotten endemic variety, the Smadja Niellaghia, with exceptional organileptic and taste qualities — polyphenols higher than 600mg / L, like the best oils in the world. Today, Marie-Ange Mattei, heiress of the Nasica dynasty, gives new life to this estate located in Prato de Giovellina, far from pollution, near the Regional Natural Park of Corsica with a first vintage dating from 2017. Present on the tables of Corsican star chefs, as well as at Jean-George Vongerichten in New York, Aspen and Shangai, this precious olive oil will be prepared by the Corsica Classic chefs during festivities and the winners will be seen offer baskets full of corsican delicatessen. While in Ajaccio, the brand new restaurant, deli and pastry shop, Caffe de Flore 1755 (opening soon in Shangai), owned by the same ancestral corsican family, will be a privileged spot for the participants and corsican flavored macarons will be discovered by all the teams…
@chateau_nasica // www.caffedeflore.com // @caffedeflore1755

AND SOON 10 YEARS

SAVE THE DATE // In 2019, the Corsica Classic will celebrate its 10th anniversary! An exceptional event is already in progress, with lots of surprises, legendary boats and ever more exceptional destinations in one of the most beautiful scenery in the Mediterranean. Check out for the 2019 dates officially revealed during the Voiles de Saint-Tropez in october. www.corsica-classic.com // @corsicaclassic

Twitter : @CorsicaClassic
Instagram : @corsicaclassic
Facebook : Corsica Classic
#corsicaclassic18
#corsicaclassic
website : www.corsica-classic.com

Programme 2018 :

-Thursday 23/08: 9 AM- 5 PM : Arrival of boats and registration, Official Tent, Port Charles Ornano, Ajaccio / 7-9pm : Welcome Cocktail, Port Charles Ornano, Night in Charles Ornano harbor, Ajaccio

- Friday 24/08 : Stage 1 – Ajaccio Gulf “Pink” Regatta
10 AM : Briefing – 11 AM : Departure from port -12 noon : Departure from Ajaccio –
7:30 PM : Cocktail in the Napoleonic Rooms at the Ajaccio Town Hall

-Saturday 25/08: Stage 2 – Ajaccio-Propriano
10 AM Briefing – 11 AM : Departure from Port - 12 noon : Departure from Ajaccio
7 pm : Cocktail & Dinner on the beach by Michelin Star Chef Romuald Royer at Le Lido, Propriano - Mooring in Propriano

-Sunday 26/08: Stage 3 - Propriano-Bonifacio. 10 AM VHF Briefing – 11 AM : Departure from mooring - 12 noon : departure from Propriano - evening off in Bonifacio - Night in Bonifacio harbour

- Monday 27/08: Stage 4 Bonifacio – Trophy of the City. 10 AM : Briefing – 11 AM : Departure from Port -12 noon : departure from Bonifacio / 7pm cocktail & Award ceremony - Night in Bonifacio harbour

- Tuesday 28/08: Stage 5 Bonifacio – Saint-Cyprien Bay. 10 AM Briefing – 11 Am : Departure from Port - 12 noon : departure from Bonifacio / 7 PM : Cocktail on the beach - Night mooring in Saint-Cyprien Bay

- Wednesday 29/08: Stage 6 Saint-Cyprien-Sari-Solenzara. 10 AM Briefing – 11 AM Departure from port- 12 noon : departure – 7 PM : Welcome Cocktail, Night in the harbor, Sari-Solenzara

- Thursday 30/08: Stage 7 –Sari-Solenzara-Bastia– 10AM briefing – 11AM departure from the port – 12H Noon : departure of the regatta - 8PM: Welcome Cocktail from the City of Bastia, Night in Bastia Old Harbour

- Friday 31.08 : Stage 8 Bastia-Macinaggio - 10AM briefing – 11AM departure from the port – 12 Noon : departure from regatta – 8PM : Welcome cocktail from the City of Macinaggio, Night in Macinaggio harbour

- Saturday 1.09 : Stage 9 Macinaggio-Saint-Florent - 10AM : briefing – 11AM : departure from port – 12h : departure– 6PM : Arrival of the first boats in Saint-Florent, Night in the Saint-Florent harbour

- Sunday 2.09 : 11AM : Prizegiving & Welcome cocktail, quai d’Honneur, St-Florent harbor – 12H-15H : Lunch by the Yachting Chefs in Saint-Florent’s Citadel

- Monday 3.09 : 11AM : Saint-Florent/Imperia Rally