Excitement, fun, close racing, good breeze: the bay of Cannes guaranteed all the necessary ingredients for the grand finale of the 35th Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai. Today's racing was action packed and crucial to award victory in several classes. After a long week series, consistency paid off for some, like Moonbeam of Fife III winning among the Big Boats or EA among the Classics, while in other classes classes the scoreboard was totally shaken at the very end of the regatta. In the Dragon Class British skipper Gavia Wilkinson – Cox on Jerboa succeeded in bouncing back on the two Russian teams and getting a last-chance, last-race win. The prize giving ceremony closed one of the most successful editions of the Régates, filled with action on the water and social events ashore.

“This year weather conditions were excellent, giving us the chance to have top-end racing and to launch at least one race every day. The atmosphere has always been great and the village was packed after racing. Not to mention the success of the Panerai dinner. We need to thank all the people who, with their hard work, contributed to the success of the event. Without them the Règates Royals would not happen. The Yacht Club the Cannes has been working hard to offer what competitors deserve and, for 2014, we hope to be able to welcome an even bigger fleet.” said a contented Jacques Flori, President of the Yacht Club de Cannes during the closing ceremony.

The final day was key to determine winners in some classes, but not in the Big Boats division where Moonbeam of Fife III finished with a large margin on Moonbeam 4 and Mariska. “The courses were not ideal for us this year, but we managed to make up with good tactics, good navigation and an excellent helmsman. Even on the days the wind was very light, we managed to keep our competitors at bay and score some wins. It's very positive for us, we are really happy for this win, winning here in Cannes has a special meaning because the level is always so high.” said Erwan Noblet, Moonbeam III's skipper.

Among the Vintage gaffers, Graham Walker's Chinook had to fight to the very last race to get a victory at her debut on the Régates Royales, distancing Oriole and Eva, respectively finishing in second and third. Italian-flagged Ea easily maintained her lead among the Classics on Arcadia and Sagittarius. Likewise in the Vintage Marconi of more than 15 metres, victory went to Skylark of 1937 and the podium was completed by Leonore and Rowdy. The gold in the Spirit of Tradition division went to Catleya, the silver to Freya 2003 and the bronze to Savannah.

World famous Argentinian architect German Frers helmed Sonny, a 1935 Bermudan cutter designed by his father that made her debut at the Régates Royales this year. After a week long battle with Vagabundo and Sirius II, it was the latter to get the win in the Vintage Marconi of less than 15 metres, Sonny finishing in second. But the Frers' family honour was safe because Vagabundo too is a Frers Sr. design, and two steps out of three on the podium is not a bad result at all. “Among the boats racing here in Cannes, Il Moro di Venezia was designed by me, but both Sonny and Vagabundo II are my father's creations. We could call it a “family fleet”...” said Frers “It's exciting to race here, these are the kind of boats I grew up admiring. I'm very happy that there is a sort of revival for classic boats, it's important to restore, keep and show them to the world. And they're stunning to watch sailing. They can show us designers how to create modern boats as fascinating as classic yachts, slim, elegant, harmonious. There is a lot we can learn from these boats.”

The queen of the Dragons

With a brilliant last part of the series, British skipper Gavia Wilkinson – Cox on Jerboa made up for 9 points in the overall standing and thanks to two second places today and two wins yesterday, won the 2013 Régates Royales in the Dragon class, followed by the two Russian crews of Integrity and Annapurna.

Antoine Pecheur's Slim won among the Requin followed by Daniela skippered by Roger Quenet while Aubrey Finburgh's Johnny III completed the podium. In the Broad One Design class it was James Tubby's Marsh Harrier to become the 2013 winner, Stuart Rix's Guillemot got the silver and Philip Harstson's Puffin the bronze.

Gérard Pascalini, General manager of the Société des Régates de Cannes declared: “Unlike last year, we have been very lucky as far as sailing conditions are concerned. Excellent breeze on the first two days and no less than 10 knots later in the week. We are very, very happy with this 2013edition. This year we focused on the 35^th anniversary, with more activities on the village open to the public. As usual the volunteers, have given an enormous contribution to the success of the Royales and have showed great professionalism both ashore and on the water. I also wish to thank exhibitors and sponsors. See you next year!”

During the prize giving ceremony, French media partner Bateaux magazine awarded four special prizes.

Heritage: to Sagittarius for the long lasting relationship of the Lafitte family with the boat.

Passion: to Yves Laurent on Nin for the passion he always showed to his centenary yacht.

Elegance: to Oiseau de Feu, listed as national heritage and first 12IM built to take part to offshore races.

A lot of perseverance was needed on the penultimate day at the 35th Régates Royales de Cannes – Trophée Panerai. The situation was not looking very encouraging when the crews gathered for the usual morning skippers' briefing, but luck was on the organisers' and sailors' side and a finally around 2 pm the breeze made its appearance in the bay and Race Committee was able to launch a coastal race in the bay for both the Big Boats and the Classics. On the same course as yesterday, the bigger boats completed two laps and the smaller one, to get one more crucial result for the overall standing. The Dragons, after a long wait ashore, had one race that turned into a real duel between the two Russian crews on Annapurna and Integrity.

Weather forecasts often draw an accurate image, but sometimes time can change things over and turn the situation to the sailors advantage .Only expected in the late afternoon, the breeze decided instead to come in early and, at around 2pm, with some 10 knots of wind the Race Committee was able to fire the starting signal and free the crews from a long wait on the water. Racing on the same course as yesterday, the fleets encountered conditions good enough to complete the 13 mile long coastal course (23 for the Big Boats). The overall standing, almost unchanged after yesterday's results should not be shaken up too much, even if some surprises could well come after the calculation of corrected time.

One owner, two boats

After having been the very happy owner of Rowdy for seven years, Graham Walker is a man that loves competition and new challenges. The latest deed of this gentleman sailor is called Chinook, the New York 40 gaff cutter he recently bought and completely restored. “I had seven years of absolute happiness on Rowdy, and a huge success. We got to a point that where we knew the boat by heart, she was at her top. Chinook is the start of a new adventure; we still have a lot to learn and so many things to get better at. The two boats are from the same class, the NY40, but Chinook has a different rig, she is a gaffer while Rowdy has a Bermudan rig. Boat handling and manoeuvring is not at all the same, and we need to learn new techniques to sail her.” said Graham Walker, just after docking in. “The fact that I'm on a different boat, though, allows me to admire Rowdy from the outside, and I must say that she's absolutely magnificent” declared Walker with a bit of nostalgia.

Russian duel

It's been going on since the very first race, and now the Russian duel between Annapurna skippered by Anatoly Loginov, currently leading, and Mikhail Senatorov's Integrity in second is becoming even more intense. Separated by only two points, the Russian crews on the eve of the final day will sure leave no cards unturned to get this year's title. Today's winner was Jerboa skippered by female sailor Gavia Wilkinson – Cox, who now has nine points from the leaders, a win is not impossible but very hard, because no doubt the Russians will be there to control her every move.

In the One Design division, Roger Quenet's Requin Daniela is at the top of the provisional scoreboard, followed by Johnny III and Sum whilst in the Broad One Design class Moorhen leads by one point on Marsh Harrier. Guillemot is in third.

For tomorrow, the last day of the 35th Régates Royales de Cannes the weather forecast is for light conditions again, with an easterly not stronger than 7 knots.

Warm weather, blue skies and a gentle breeze, one could not ask for more ideal conditions to salute Mauritius, official sponsor for the Dragons racing today on the 35th Edition of the Régates Royales Trophée Panerai. The Classics enjoyed the moderate conditions that allowed for one race to be completed whilst the Big Boats battled it out on a longer course.

Midway in the 35th Edition of the Régates Royales de Cannes, weather conditions have definitely become milder: after some stiff breeze yesterday, topping 20 knots, today the wind has not exceeded 10 knots. There was enough however for the Race committee to launch a coastal race of around 13 miles for the Classics. The Big Boats Class, which includes Altair, Elena, Eleonora, Mariquita, Moonbeam of Fife III, Moonbeam IV, Mariska, Hallowe’en and Cambria had a ten mile longer course set especially for them. In the overall results for the class updated to last night, Moonbeam of Fife III is leading Altair and Moonbeam IV but everything could be different tonight because the trio is even on points and well distanced from the rest of the competitors, so it looks like the will be a three-boats close fight for the lead overall.

Among gaff cutters, where Nan of Fife and Oriole who are separated by just one point, today's light conditions may well reshuffle cards whilst success looks nearer for world renowned Argentinian designer German Frers sailing on Sonny, who is literally dominating the Marconi class. “The first two days it was more like a submarine than a sailing boat... but this 1929 yacht designed by William Fife, is more at ease on windward/leeward courses with real upwind and downwind legs, less on reaching.” says French skipper Lionel Péan, sailing on Nada. “Today we had between 6 and 12 knots, so it was less tricky, but our rating is very punishing. Our aim is to have fun, and with my crew there is no problem with that. The human factor is almost more relevant than winning, no matter what. And I try to help people enjoy racing. There is a Turkish sailor, an Irish guy, a Scotsman and some French and we are more used to racing in class championships, but sailing here in Cannes is great. We are going to change crew for Sunday's delivery race to Saint Tropez and will have all-female team. We will try to win it again, as we did last year.” declared Alexia Barrier, also sailing on Nada.

The island of the Dragons

The Dragon crews, docking out today, had a set goal: be the most consistent, the fastest, the best. As a matter of fact, the best crew on today's two races would have been awarded with a trip to Mauritius offered by Beachcomber, main sponsor of the day. One more drive to do well for the sailors, who have been pushing hard from the beginning, and in pretty rough conditions. The wind was lighter today, never stronger than 12 knots, but excitement on the water was running high. With a second and a third, it was finally Italy's Giuseppe Duca with his crew Jean Sébastien Ponce and Patrick Aucour on Cloud, to win the exclusive prize. The trio looked very happy to receive the special prize, but also to have bounced back in the overall standings. The scoreboard has been reshuffled with the first discard caming into the play, allowing Anatoly Loginov on Annapurna to jump to the top of the leaderboard, followed by another Russian skipper, Mikhail Senatorov on Integrity. The provisional podium is completed by Martin Payne's Bear.

The weather forecast for tomorrow, Friday and second to last day of the Régates Royales de Cannes, is for even lighter wind, but hopefully enough for the Race Comittee to continue to set the race courses.