Panerai celebrates Eilean’s 90th anniversary with a memorable come-back to the Classic Regatta Circuit

Panerai celebrates the 90th anniversary of its iconic Bermudian ketch, Eilean, with its highly anticipated return to the classic regatta circuit. Designed and built in 1936 by the renowned Scottish shipyard Fife of Fairlie, Eilean was then rediscovered in a deteriorated state in Antigua in 2006. Recognizing its potential, Panerai embarked on an ambitious journey to restore it to its former glory and relaunched it in 2009.

Its comeback to the classic regatta circuit follows the last appearance in 2018, and solidifies Panerai’s enduring legacy in the sailing world. A journey that began in 2000 with the sponsorship of the Laureus Regatta Panerai Trophy in Monaco, and was further expanded in 2005 with the launch of the prestigious Classic Yachts Challenge that ran for fourteen years, with Eilean’s participation starting from 2010.

Eilean's 2026 season kicks off on May 15 in Viareggio, Italy, with its official launch at Cantiere del Carlo. From there, Eilean embarks on a series of classic regattas, traveling across the French Riviera, Italy, and Spain, before concluding its journey in Cannes, France. The racing calendar begins with the 30th Edition of Les Voiles d’Antibes (Antibes, 27-31 May 2026), marking the opening of the Mediterranean circuit for vintage and classic yachts.

Panerai commemorates this anniversary on the water with a focus on the Radiomir Bronzo PAM00760. Its distinctive 47mm bronze case, a material deeply connected to the marine world, links this timepiece intrinsically to Eilean. It also carries the enduring legacy of the Radiomir, whose case – first developed in 1935 Ref. 2533 as an underwater watch prototype for the Royal Italian Navy – has since embodied the very essence of the “Captain’s watch”, originally conceived for naval operations and forged to sail the open seas aboard the fiercest ships.