Mariquita Book - mk2.5

PANERAI BRITISH
CLASSIC WEEK
18 – 25 JULY 2015
You have to take it right to the edge. That’s why you are doing a
yacht race in the first place. John Caulcutt
Having won the Panerai Trophy in the
Mediterranean in 2014, this was an excellent
chance for Mariquita to try and repeat
her success in the more challenging Solent
conditions. George
put together a top
crew for what was
going to be the most
competitive week of
the season. For some
of the older permanent
crew the event
held fond memories,
as Matty recalled, “It
had been seven years
since we’d been a part of the British Classic
Yacht Club’s regatta here in the Solent. The
familiar atmosphere was and is a comfort to
any yacht that arrives, as this week tries to
embody the Corinthian ideals that underlie
the foundations for our little world. There is a
very long history of honour and fair conduct
in sailing these classics, and as Cowes is the
home of yachting it is only fitting that it’s
here we feel this legacy the most.” As the week
unfolded there was
the added thrill of
seeing the America’s
Cup yachts training
out of Portsmouth
in advance of the
World Series event.
A couple of fly-bys
caught Mariquita
in the same frame
as the new foiling
yachts skimming over the water, as John
Calcutt noticed, “There are some wonderful
photographs of us and them together on the
water in the same shot. Ancient and modern.
Both at the pinnacle of their technical
advancements in their respective years.”
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