Some brands build their identity around heritage. Others continue to live that heritage every day. For Panerai, in the world of sailing, that heritage has a name: Eilean. Launched in 1936, the Bermudian ketch is neither a museum piece nor a storytelling device. She is still sailing and, ninety years after her launch, remains the most authentic link between the Maison’s past and present.
A living legacy that, as Alessandro Ficarelli, Panerai’s Chief Marketing and Heritage Officer, explains, continues to inspire the brand’s collections, materials and vision. “Bringing Eilean back to racing was something we had been discussing for several years,” says Ficarelli. “The 90th anniversary simply gave us the perfect opportunity to return her to the classic yacht circuit. People asked whether Eilean was finally going back to sea. The truth is she never left it. Every year she returns to Viareggio’s Cantiere Del Carlo, where the yard’s master craftsmen carry out the meticulous maintenance required by a yacht launched in 1936. The real news is that she is racing again.”.
For Panerai, these regattas are far more than sporting events. They offer collectors and clients the chance to experience a unique chapter of maritime culture. “They are closer to elegance contests than pure competitions. Eilean was never designed to be the fastest yacht, but certainly one of the most elegant. Seeing her sail alongside yachts of the same era is like travelling back in time”.
At a moment when the word heritage is often reduced to a marketing slogan, Panerai prefers authenticity. “Today everyone tells stories. We have the privilege of telling real ones. Our relationship with the Italian Navy, Eilean and classic sailing is genuine. People remember authentic experiences and true emotions. Our goal is to create memories”.
The same philosophy explains why Radiomir became Eilean’s natural companion. “When we acquired the yacht, we believed the first Radiomir dated back to 1936. Thanks to documents recently uncovered in our archives, we now know the earliest prototypes were produced in 1935. The parallel is remarkable”.
Those archives also revealed correspondence between the Royal Italian Navy and Giuseppe Panerai requesting stronger wire lugs for the first cases. “That development eventually led to the Luminor. Today we like to say that while Submersible and Luminor belong beneath the surface, Radiomir became the captain’s watch, the one that lives above the water”.
The same consistency defines Panerai’s partnership with Luna Rossa. “Sailing is where tradition and innovation coexist naturally. The America’s Cup is the world’s oldest sporting competition, yet also sailing’s most advanced technological laboratory. It is about taking values from the past and projecting them into the future”.
Perhaps the story that best captures the bond between Eilean and Panerai concerns Bronze, one of the Maison’s signature materials. “It all started during Eilean’s restoration. Angelo Bonati looked at the yacht’s bronze fittings and asked: ‘Why don’t we make a bronze watch?’” Three bronze discs were left to oxidise in different environments. Each developed a unique patina. “Someone suggested polishing them. Bonati simply said: ‘Look at them. They’re all different. That’s their beauty’”.
That idea led to the first Submersible Bronzo in 2011. The connection continues today. Bronze removed during Eilean’s restoration is refined, blended with new alloy and transformed into bezels, crowns and casebacks. “Every watch carries a genuine piece of Eilean. These are real stories. And that’s what makes the difference”.
Matteo Zaccagnino
