A fifth regatta has been added to the 13th annual North American Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge (NA PCYC) Series, which will see around 200 classic yachts compete over three consecutive weeks in August. 

The Herreshoff Classic Yacht Regatta in Bristol joins the classic regattas in Marblehead, Nantucket and Newport and becomes the fifth event in the series sponsored by the watchmaker. 

As part of the new Narragansett Bay Classic Yacht Rendezvous, the Herreshoff Museum and IYRS will team up for three days of classic racing starting August 25 through August 27.

Close to 200 different yachts are expected to compete in the regattas. 

The Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta in Marblehead, hosts two days of racing on August

12-13, followed by the Nantucket Regatta (August 17-18) and then the historic annual Nantucket Opera House Cup on August 20, which is now in its 45^th year. 

The Newport and Herreshoff Classic Regattas host the final races of the series.

With the addition of Herreshoff, yachts must now compete in three of the five NA PCYC regattas including the Newport Classic to be eligible to win the overall Panerai Vintage and Grand Prix division series awards. 

With at least eight possible races that can be scored between the different regattas, the best three race scores will determine the series winner. 

Past winners have competed in all of the Panerai regattas proving that taking advantage of as many throw outs as possible is a clear advantage.

In addition to the series awards, a Panerai timepiece is awarded to the Best Performing yacht in selected regattas, along with silver plate awards for each of the four Panerai classes (Vintage

Grand Classics, Vintage Corinthian, Vintage Day Racer, Grand Prix--Spirit of Tradition), which include spinnaker and non-spinnaker classes.

In honor of its historic links to the sea, Officine Panerai has promoted classic sailing culture for many years through its sponsorship of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, the leading international circuit for these vintage craft. In 2007, the company also acquired and restored the Bermudan ketch Eilean. Built in 1936 by the legendary Fife yard at Fairlie in Scotland, she is now the brand’s ambassador at vintage and classic boat rallies and regattas.

To register for a NAPCYC regatta go to the websites of each event:

Marblehead: www.corinthianclassic.org

Nantucket 1: www.nantucketraceweek.org

Nantucket 2: www.operahousecup.org

Bristol: www.herreshoff.org

Newport: www.iyrs.edu/cyr