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The event is part of the Prada Challenge for Classic Yachts, a circuit of regattas organised by Prada together with the Yacht Club de Monaco. After a summer break, the circuit will re-start in Porto Cervo and will come to conclusion in October after the last three appointments, respectively Monaco, Cannes and Saint Tropez.

It was in 1982 that the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda created the first Mediterranean gathering for classic sailing yachts - the Veteran Boat Rally. The event encountered immediate success which was also thanks to the natural context where the regattas are held: the routes are drawn along the granite costs of Gallura and through the many islands of the Maddalena arcipelagos.

The entry to the PRADA Veretan Boat Rally 2003 is open to all sailing yachts built in wood and / or metal, launched prior to 1950 (Vintage Yachts); on the discretion of the organising commitee, also sailing yachts built after 1950 can be admitted, launched prior to 1976 and replicas of classic and vintage yachts, in conformity with CIM and ITMA regulations.

Divided in Vintage Yacht, Classic Yacht and Spirit of Tradition categories, the yachts are moored along the docks of the Porto Cervo Marina, with their shining brasses and the atmosphere on board that reminds an antique way of living the sea. On the stern, the names of famous yachts: from the Croce del Sud, the three masted yacht of the Granelli MENTASTI family, to the Nyala, 12 metri I.R. property of Mr. Patrizio BERTELLI, owner of Prada, the Tirrenia II belonging to Gianni LOFFREDO, the AIVE chairman, Avel and Creole of the GUCCI family, to the Shenandoah of Sark property of Francesco MICHELI (a 54,35 m. long yacht, second only to the 65m. yacht Creole), the beautiful Cambria belonging to the Australian John DAVID, and the Capricia donated to the Italian Navy by Gianni AGNELLI.

In the history of these old "ladies of the sea", there are plenty of intriguing and curious stories: Bona Fide for example (today property of the italian Giuseppe GIORDANO), had been left in an old warehouse for years and was brought back to its antique beauty through the excellent restoration work of the Argentario Shipyard. Or Eleonora, a 41,55 m. yacht which represents a perfect replica of West Ward (1910), a very fast boat built in the United States expressly for races and that put together a series of great successes at the beginning of the past century.

Click on the link to the event website below to view the results.