Dispatches Panerai Launches The Challenger Trophy At British Classic Week

"The trophy has been created by Pinch, a husband and wife design duo from London Their work typically celebrates simplicity and purity Speaking to Russell Pinch at the dinner he said"we were given the challenge of creating an award, inspired by the classic yacht Eilean.

Our initial concerns were around how we were going to better something that is so elegant, so expertly made So we took a number of drawing of Eilean, we then abstracted all the forms from the yacht to distill them down We also noticed that within the sailing community, there is this wonderful support network, or shelter in it, which these four finalists have really benefited from.

Then it struck us that there is the hull of a ship, when abstracted actually represents a shield When I asked how it was made, Russell mentioned it was created by "One of the finest craftsman I have every worked with He is based in Dorset" Russell actually hand sculpted the initial models by hand, with strips of cherry wood, and gluing each strip by hand.

Following the Panerai British Classic Week, the next Mediterranean regatta in the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge will be Vele d'Epoca di Imperia, in North Western Italy, taking pace from September5-9 if you're in the area. . Source