The Florentine brand celebrates the 90th Anniversary of Eilean, the Bermudian ketch designed and built in 1936 by the renowned Scottish shipyard Fife of Fairlie, by announcing its highly anticipated return to the classic regatta circuit, after its last appearance in 2018.
I was lucky to see this gorgeous 1936 Bermudan ketch twice in Venice, thanks to the Homo Faber event. As I learned back then, the 22-meter Bermudian boat was in a devastated condition when the former CEO of Officine Panerai Angelo Bonati discovered her in 2006. He asked the naval restoration specialist Enrico Zaccagni and the Cantiere Navale Francesco Del Carlo in the Italian Viareggio to help him bring back the Eilean’s former glory as true to the original as possible.
Please see our first impressions about Eilean here and some of our pictures below.
Now on the occasion of the 90th birthday of Eilean, Panerai announced its highly anticipated return to the classic regatta circuit. Eilean’s 2026 Season has started in Viareggio (Italy) on 15 May, with the official ship launch at Cantiere del Carlo, the renowned Italian shipyard specializing in the construction and restoration of classic wooden yachts. 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. The series then continues in Italy with the Argentario Sailing Week (Porto Santo Stefano, 24–28 June 2026), before heading to Spain for the Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona (Barcelona,
8–11 July 2026). The XXXI Regata Illes Balears Clàssics (Palma de Mallorca, 11–15 August) then closes the summer season, while the program comes full circle in France with Les Régates Royales de Cannes (Cannes, 20–27 September 2026).
Radiomir Bronzo PAM00760
Panerai presents a birthday timepiece too. The hand-wound Radiomir Bronzo PAM00760 is defined by its distinctive bronze case in 47 mm – reiterating the iconic size of Ref. 2533 – and a shaded green dial with luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers. The company uses a special bronze with a composition of pure copper and pure tin. This alloy promotes the creation of a distinctive patina on the surface that arises from its interaction with external elements such as air, moisture, heat, and friction.
The shaded green dial, with a grainy surface and degradé colouring has beige Super-LumiNova® details ensuring visibility in low light, with a green glow in the dark.
Turning Radiomir Bronzo PAM00760 over reveals a titanium open case back with sapphire glass, offering a view of the hand-wound P. 3000 calibre, developed in Panerai’s Manufacture in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. The watch is water-resistant up to 10 bar (~100 meters), embodying Panerai’s unwavering dedication to vigorous water resistance, a legacy stemming from its origins as a supplier of diving instruments for the Italian Navy. The novelty is a boutique exclusive edition.
‘We are thrilled to witness Eilean’s return to the classic regatta circuit”, states Alessandro Ficarelli, Chief Marketing Officer at Panerai, “Thank to its timeless elegance and storied past, Eilean perfectly embodies the enduring spirit of adventure and precision that our Brand has championed since its inception. We are very much looking forward to seeing its presence on the water and providing our guests with the opportunity to rediscover Radiomir, Panerai’s most classic line and a faithful homage to our origins. For the debut of the season, we decided to dedicate our iconic Radiomir Bronzo PAM00760.’
Source: press release. Photo credits: Panerai. Loupiosity.com.
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