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12 Metre Worlds

Official website of the International Twelve Metre Class World Championships

NOW POSTED: 2024 12mR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP NOTICE OF RACE

Editors’ Note: To receive the 12 Metre Worlds blog, sign up here: https://12mRworlds.com

CONTACTS: Bernard Minvielle , ITMA Vice President, Southern European fleet;  Soazig Gueho , Porquerolles YC Press Officer; SallyAnne Santos , International 12mR Class (ITMA) Communications Director

2024 WORLDS NOTICE OF RACE POSTED: 12MR CHAMPIONSHIP RACING RETURNS TO THE MEDITERRANEAN

NEWPORT, RI (January 31, 2024) – The International Twelve Metre Association (ITMA) is pleased to announce the publication of the 2024 Notice of Race for the 12mR World Championship * hosted and organized by the Porquerolles Yacht Club (YCP) to be sailed in the harbor of Porquerolles (FR) from June 17-23, 2024. (*note: English version begins on PDF page 8/14)

According to a recent YCP press release: “ The 12m JI, historic class of the America’s Cup, for which they competed from 1958 to 1987, have become over the years the kings of the Cup. The Race Committee is planning “constructed” (windward-leeward or coastal) courses, very simple but technical to impose strategic choices representing the pinnacle of yacht racing for this high-level competition. ” (translated from French)

“It is a real source of pride for the Porquerolles Yacht Club to have been chosen to organize this world championship.” ~ Aurélie Lhuillier, Porquerolles Yacht Club Director

Originating as an Olympic Class in 1906, the International 12mR Class incorporates a number of age-based Divisions to accommodate the 116 years of evolution in yacht design, construction, materials and technology that is seen in the preserved and restored survivors of the premiere America’s Cup development Class.

Closely contested racing in both the oldest (Vintage: 1920-1939) and newest (Grand Prix: 1983-87) divisions is expected. In the Vintage division, the Baltic-based reigning 12mR World Champion Vim (US-15) will be on hand to defend their 2021 title; Flica II (K-14) , Jenetta (K-1) , Northern Light (US-14) and Thea (D-1) are also headed south with the Vintage Scandinavian squad from the Northern European fleet.

“We are looking forward to racing at Porqureolles and I am happy that we will have a good number of 12mRs from the N. European fleet participating throughout the Med this season.” ~ Patrick Howaldt , Vim (US-15) reigning 12mR Vintage Division World Champion (Helsinki, FI 2021)

French Kiss (F-7) helmsman, Marc Pajot said: “We anticipate great competition in the Grand Prix division with boats from the 1987 America’s Cup era.” These include: Crusader II (K-25) , Kiwi Magic (KZ-7) , Kookaburra II (KA-12) and South Australia (KA-8) .

“All of the crews are very motivated.; the site of the bay of Hyères and Porquerolles is very popular with everyone and we can’t wait to get back there” ~ Marc Pajot

Other World Sailing-sanctioned 12mR Divisions, identified in The 12mR Rule Appendix E are: Antique (1906-1920), Traditional (1950-1967) and Modern (1967-1983). Local favorite, France (F-1) will represent the Modern division. A 12mR Spirit group comprised of original but not-measured 12mRs of all divisions will be formed if more than 2 yachts of this description register for the event—these will be scored separately from World Championship competitors.

“It is fantastic to see the activity of the Southern European fleet in the Mediterranean. There is no better way to celebrate than the 12 Metre World Championship arranged by the Yacht Club De Porquerolle and the Yacht Club De France!” ~ Chris Winter , ITMA President

The 2024 12mR World Championship, the America’s Cup Legends 12mR Regatta and many other distinguished events are all part of the Yacht Club de France’s prestigious Coupe de France Series that spans the 2023-34 sailing seasons.

Event organizers strongly recommend early registration and booking of accommodation due to limited availability. Registrations received after March 15 will incur a 15% penalty.

Official Notice Board

The 2024 12 Metre World Championship is sanctioned by the International Twelve Metre Association (ITMA) and hosted by the Porquerolles Yacht Club with the Yacht Club de France.

THE PORQUEROLLES YACHT CLUB celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2016. Its founding President Sébastien Le Ber and his friends, passionate about sailing, created the Yacht Club in 1986 with a view to making the most of the magnificent body of water which surrounds Porquerolles.

THE YACHT CLUB DE FRANCE, founded in 1867, remains faithful to its vocation: to contribute to the development of pleasure boating in all its forms; in cruises and in racing, defend and promote the values of solidarity, courtesy and moral elegance that animate all seafarers. Recognized as a public utility on the eve of the Great War, the Yacht Club de France is proud to have counted among its members Jules Verne, Virginie Hériot, Alain Gerbault, Commander Charcot, Marin-Marie, Eric Tabarly. Respect traditions, bring together the sailors of tomorrow.

THE COUPE DE FRANCE by YACHT CLUB DE FRANCE was created in 1891 to develop the building of racing vessels in France. For its 55th edition, the challenge reunites the 12mR Class for twelve events throughout the Mediterranean Sea.

THE INTERNATIONAL 12 METRE ASSOCIATION encompasses a living history of racing yacht design by the world’s foremost naval architects including Olin Stephens, Clinton Crane, William Fife III, Philip Rhodes, Johan Anker, Ben Lexcen and more who pushed their designs to the very limits of innovation. The resulting boats represented the pinnacle of yacht development from 1907-1987 for the highest levels of international sailing competition– the Olympic Games (1908-1920) and the America’s Cup (1958-1987).

YCP CONTACTS:

Director: YC de Porquerolles Aurélie Lhuillier [email protected] +33 4 94 58 34 49

Press Officer: YC de Porquerolles Soazig Gueho [email protected] +33 6 62 08 74 44

ITMA CONTACTS:

Vice President: 12mR Fleet, Southern Europe Bernard Minvielle [email protected] +33 611 19 00 95

Communications Director: International 12 Metre Class SallyAnne Santos [email protected] +1 917-330-1730

Quicklinks:

12mR Worlds Official: https://12mrworlds.com

Porquerolles YC: https://yachtclubporquerolles.fr

Coupe de France: https://coupedefrance.org

International Twelve Metre Association: https://12mrclass.com

12mR Worlds Facebook: @12MetreWorldChampionship

ITMA Facebook: @12mRClass

12mR Worlds Instagram @12mRWorldChampionship

ITMA Instagram: @12metreclass

ITMA YouTube: @International12mR

#12mRClass, #12mRWorlds, #202412mRWorldsPorquerolles, #YachtClubdeFrance, #CoupedeFrance, #PorquerollesYC, #InternationalTwelveMetreAssociation, #12mR, #12Meter, #12Metre, #12mRracing, #PorquerollesFrance

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Porquerolles preview.

If past is prologue, the 2024 12mR World Championship to be organized by the Yacht Club de Porquerolles (Hyères, FRA) from June 16-24 will be truly spectacular! Recently six twelve metres built between 1929- 1986 representing a 57-year cross-section of 12mR development experienced the glorious sailing conditions and onshore hospitality of the venue. They were, Vintage: La Spina (I-1) ; Traditional: Ikra (K-3) ; Modern: France (F-1) ; and Grand Prix: South Australia (KA-8) , French Kiss (F-7) and Kiwi Magic (KZ-7) .

Sailing conditions were perfect with 8- 14 knots wind, air temperature 24°c and fantastic coastal scenery. Porquerolles is beautiful island 5 nm south of Hyères. It is a tourist attraction like Skagen in Denmark, Marstrand in Sweden and the Cape Cod area of the US. With only 200 year-round inhabitants, the island hosts up to 10,000 visitors on a summer day. It is a little paradise, known for the most sun hours in Cote D’Azur. The marina is huge and offers plenty of space for a regatta fleet of 70 boats. The little city is charming with small restaurants around the Square. The organizers were very good, everything worked out well including the social activities. It is a superb place for the Worlds in 2024, and we can highly recommend other 12mRs to come – you will love it! Johan Blach Petersen, Kiwi Magic (KZ-7)

Calling All 12mRs to the Med!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SallyAnne Santos , ITMA Communications Director, +1 917-330-1730

Calling All Twelve Metres to the Mediterranean!

A message from itma president, chris winter and yacht club de france president, philippe héral:.

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, USA (June 6, 2023)

Please see the correspondence below from ITMA President, Chris Winter and Philippe Héral, President of the Yacht Club de France to the 12mR fleet worldwide.. It contains an invitation to all Twelve Metres to gather together in the Med to participate at the 55th Coupe de France regatta series and the Puig Vela Classica Barcelona and 12 Metre Reunion, AC Edition .

ITMA President Chris Winter added: “”This is an extraordinary time of rebuilding for the Twelve Metre Class worldwide, particularly in our Southern European fleet. We hope that you will share our excitement and join us in the Med for the exceptional series of events being planned over the next two seasons.”

For more information on the Series, please visit: CoupedeFrance.org

ABOUT THE 55th COUPE DE FRANCE

The   Yacht Club de France (YCF)   has announced a series of races for 12mR yachts throughout the 2023-24 sailing seasons; the winner will be awarded one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious yachting trophies; the spectacular  Coupe de France . Participating host yacht clubs along the glamorous Riviera– including Cannes, Porquerolles, Saint Tropez, Touloun, Hyères and Barcelona– will organize a comprehensive schedule of events featuring 40 days of racing, social events and festive celebrations for the 500+ crew members expected to compete. In 2023,  the Series will include events in both Europe and the United States  (Newport, RI) before moving exclusively to the Med in 2024 leading up to the 12mR World Championship at Porquerolles.

ABOUT THE YACHT CLUB DE FRANCE

Founded in 1867, the YC de France has been the Club of 100s of both famous and accomplished sailors including Virginie Hériot, Jean-Baptiste Charcot and Eric Tabarly. With its’ partner Clubs throughout the country, the YC de France represents a strong regatta organizing power in France.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL 12 METRE ASSOCIATION (ITMA)

The 112 year-old International 12 Metre Class encompasses a living history of racing yacht design by the world’s foremost naval architects including Olin Stephens, Clinton Crane, William Fife III, Philip Rhodes, Johan Anker, Ben Lexcen and more who pushed their designs to the very limits of innovation. The resulting boats represented the pinnacle of yacht development from 1907-1987 for the highest levels of international sailing competition– the Olympic Games (1908-1920) and the America’s Cup (1958-1987).

QUICKLINKS:

International 12mR Association (ITMA) https://12mrclass.com

#12mRClass, #12mRWorlds2024 , #CoupedeFrance

55th Coupe de France

Yacht club de france to award most prestigious trophy to 12mr winner.

The Yacht Club de France (YCF) has announced a series of races for 12mR yachts throughout the 2023-24 sailing seasons; the winner will be awarded one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious yachting trophies; the spectacular Coupe de France .

Participating host yacht clubs along the glamorous Riviera– including Cannes, Porquerolles, Saint Tropez, Touloun, Hyères and Barcelona– will organize a comprehensive schedule of events featuring 40 days of racing, social events and festive celebrations for the 500+ crew members expected to compete. This season, the Series will include events in both Europe and the United States (Newport, RI) before moving exclusively to the Med in 2024 leading up to the 12mR World Championship at Porquerolles.

A British team sailing at Cannes was the first to claim the impressive silver cup in 1898. Since then, the Coupe de France has been awarded to teams from Italy, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Australia and France. 12mR sailors from all of these nations plus Canada, Denmark, Finland, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and the United States will compete for the privilege of raising this revered trophy in victory.

Learn more about the Series at the dedicated website: CoupedeFrance.org

ABOUT THE YACHT CLUB DE FRANCE: Founded in 1867, the YC de France has been the Club of 100s of both famous and accomplished sailors including Virginie Hériot, Jean-Baptiste Charcot and Eric Tabarly. With its’ partner Clubs throughout the country, the YC de France represents a strong regatta organizing power in France. Southern European Fleet

ABOUT THE SOUTHERN EUROPEAN 12 METRE FLEET: Sailing primarily in the Mediterranean Sea, this fleet includes yachts in France, Italy, Turkey and Portugal and also includes Oceania. Southern European Fleet

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL 12 METRE ASSOCIATION (ITMA): The 112 year-old International 12 Metre Class encompasses a living history of racing yacht design by the world’s foremost naval architects including Olin Stephens, Clinton Crane, William Fife III, Johan Anker, Alfred Mylne, Charles E. Nicholson, Philip Rhodes, Ben Lexcen and more who pushed their designs to the very limits of innovation. The resulting boats represented the pinnacle of yacht development from 1907-1987 for the highest levels of international sailing competition– the Olympic Games (1908-1920) and the America’s Cup (1958-1987). To learn more, visit 12mRClass.com

2023 12 Metre World Championship: Serious Tight Racing, Challenge XII and Columbia Become Two-Time World Champions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Barby MacGowan , Media Pro International, +1 (401) 849-0220 or Peggy Hersam , 12 Metre Yacht Club, +1 (203) 807-1066

12 Metre World Championship: Serious Tight Racing, Challenge XII and Columbia Become Two-Time World Champions

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, USA (August 6, 2023) – After participating in a morning parade around Newport Harbor that was punctuated by cannon salutes from yacht clubs and other prime waterfront viewing spots, ten historic 12 Metres moved on to Rhode Island Sound for Saturday’s final race of the 12 Metre World Championship . To be named the World Champions at the end of the day, Jack LeFort’s (Winter Park, Fla./Jamestown, R.I.) Challenge XII (KA-10) had merely to finish better than fifth among Modern Division’s five entries if Takashi Okura’s Japanese entry Freedom (US-30) , close behind in the standings, were to win. The day prior, Kevin Hegarty/Anthony Chiurco’s (Newport, R.I./Princeton, N.J.) Columbia (US-16) already had mathematically sewn up the nine-race series in the five-boat Traditional/Vintage Division.

After waiting for two hours, a windward/leeward course was set (later shortened) for a seven-knot breeze, and  Challenge XII  handily sailed to victory while  Freedom  finished fifth to maintain its Modern Division podium position of second place.  Columbia  finished third, while the fleet’s oldest boat, Mark Watson’s (Newport, R.I.)  Onawa  (US-6 ) ,   built in 1928, sailed its way to a clean victory and a claim on second place overall for the Traditional/Vintage Division.

Both the Challenge XII and Columbia teams, homegrown with mostly local crews, won the Worlds in 2019 when it last was held in Newport.

“Conditions were light, heavy, medium…we went up the (Narragansett) Bay, out on the ocean – it was just a great across-the-board test for the fleet,” said LeFort, whose veteran team includes his wife Lisa LeFort as navigator and America’s Cup/Volvo Ocean Race veteran Ken Read as tactician. “The good news is that Sunday’s conditions – light air and lumpy seas – were good for us.”

Racing started Tuesday (August 1) with one race in light 8-9 knot breezes that gave Challenge XII (in Modern Division) and Robert Morton’s (Middletown, R.I.) American Eagle (US-21 ) (in Traditional/Vintage Division) an early boost for winning. Both teams, however, fell to second behind Freedom and Onawa , respectively, after two races on Wednesday, held again in light 5-8 knot air. For Thursday and Friday, 18-20 knot winds proved also to be good for Challenge XII , as the team won three of five races held in Modern Division while Columbia won all five held in Traditional/Vintage Division.

It’s not about being the fastest boat,” said Columbia’s Hegarty, who helmed at the starts and then became tactician while Chiurco drove. “Whomever performs the best, or messes up the least, is going to win. That’s why I love sailing 12 Meters; everything is manual, and it takes muscle and teamwork. There is no other class like it.”

Hegerty said it hit him in the middle of the night on Friday that he and his team – which like Challenge XII’s has been sailing together for over a decade – were now two-time 12 Metre World champions. “I woke up and just had a big smile on my face.” The smiles (and cheers) spilled over into Saturday night’s Awards Party, held at the IYRS School of Technology and Trades, which served as headquarters for the six-day event. Kudos especially were given to PRO Mark Foster and his Ida Lewis Yacht Club Race Committee team for their extraordinary acumen and patience.

“Conditions were all over the place and the Race Committee adjusted to them and so did the teams,” said Ida Lewis representative Guy Sanchez.

Other Modern Division teams competing were Peter Askew’s (Key Largo, Fla.) Enterprise (US-27) , Andrew Rose’s (Newport Beach, Calif.) Defender (US-33) and Dawn Riley’s Oakcliff trainees (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) sailing Courageous (US-26) .

Other Traditional/Vintage Division teams competing were Jack Klinck’s (Concord, Mass.) Nefertiti (US-19) and Steve Eddleston’s (Bristol, R.I.) Weatherly (US-17) .

The Ted Turner Trophy for most significant contribution to the 12 Metre Class went to Steve Eddleston,Commodore of the 12 Metre Yacht Club Newport Station, who subsequently presented the Tiedemann Trophy for best Vintage yacht to  Onawa .

The Worlds fleet included four boats that successfully defended the America’s Cup when it was sailed in Newport in 12 Metres from 1958 to 1983: Columbia – 1958, Weatherly -1962, Courageous – 1974/1977 and Freedom – 1980.

The 2023 12 Metre World Championship is sanctioned by the International Twelve Metre Association (ITMA) and hosted by the 12 Metre Yacht Club Newport Station in partnership with Organizing Authority Ida Lewis Yacht Club .

OUR PARTNERS:

Making the 12 Metre Worlds possible are sponsors Audrain Hospitality ; Clarke Cooke House ; Edge Realty ; Flux Marine ; Gill Marine ; Hammetts Hotel ; Jefferson’s Bourbon Lemon & Line ; North Sails ; Pallas Capital Advisors ; Palm Beach Motor Yachts ; PKF O’Connor Davies ; Seabags ; and Starkweather & Shepley Insurance .

Spectator and sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact Peggy Hersam, 12 Metre Yacht Club Executive Director, [email protected] , +1 (203) 807-1066. Notice of Race and other race information available at www.12mrworlds.com .

Administration & Sponsorship: 12 Metre Yacht Club Peggy Hersam [email protected] +1 (203) 807-1066

Press Officer: Media Pro Int’l Barby MacGowan [email protected] +1 401-849-0220

Communications Director: International 12 Metre Assocation SallyAnne Santos [email protected] +1 917-330-1730

12mR Worlds Official: https://12mrworlds.com /

12 Metre Yacht Club, Newport Station: https://12myc.org

Ida Lewis Yacht Club: https://ilyc.org

International Twelve Metre Association (ITMA) https://12mrclass.com

12MYC Instagram: @12_metre_yacht_club

12MYC Facebook: @12MetreYachtClub

12MYC Twitter: @12myc_Newport

#12mRClass, #12mRWorlds, #202312mRWorldsNewport, #12MYC, #InternationalTwelveMetreAssociation, #12mR, #12Meter, #12Metre, #NewportRI

2023 12 Metre World Championship: At the Halfway Mark, Things are Heating Up

12 metre world championship: at the halfway mark, things are heating up.

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, USA (August 3, 2023) – With six races under their sailing belts, the 12 Metre sailors here for the  12 Metre World Championship  are more than halfway through their scheduled nine-race series. The ten-boat fleet of historic 12 Metre sloops – measuring 68-72 feet long and split evenly into Modern and Traditional/Vintage Divisions – started racing Tuesday (August 1), and though excruciatingly light winds on that day only allowed for a single race, Wednesday’s 5-8 knot breezes yielded two races, and today’s 10-12 knot breezes generously fueled three races.

“It was tricky and difficult for the first two days,” said New Zealander Murray Jones , who serves as tactician for Takashi Okura’s Japanese entry Freedom (US-30) , which was leading Modern Division going into today with a one-point margin over Jack LeFort’s (Winter Park, Fla./Jamestown, R.I.) Challenge XII (KA-10). “We’re not the fastest boat in light winds, so we were just happy to make it through in good shape.” Murray has sailed in six America’s Cups (1995, 2000 and 2016 aboard New Zealand; 2003, 2007, and 2010 Alinghi; and 2013 Oracle), winning all but one (2010).

Today’s relatively stronger winds showed that Freedom had legs, but Challenge XII had the better pace and tactics to turn in a full string of victories over the three races, with Freedom taking second in all three. “It was really fantastic 12 Metre sailing today,” said LeFort, explaining that Freedom is “extraordinarily well sailed” and in the second race the two boats were overlapped almost the whole time. “It wasn’t until the middle of the last leg (of the windward-leeward twice around course) that we were able to get inside them on a jibe.”

Serving as Challenge XII’s tactician was Ken Read (Middletown,R.I.), helmsman on two Stars & Stripes America’s Cup campaigns (2000, 2003) and strategist/coach for the Young America campaign in 1995. “Ken makes the decisions on where to go and the rest of us just try to get the boat there as fast as we can,” said LeFort. “Today’s were good conditions for Challenge XII ; we were right in our sweet spot.”

In Traditional/Vintage Division, Mark Watson’s (Newport, R.I.)  Onawa  (US-6 )  had the upper hand on Tuesday and Wednesday over Robert Morton’s (Middletown, R.I.) American Eagle  (US-21) , but only by a point going into today’s racing. Watson had said his team had done “a good job seeing where the wind was and getting into it” and Morton had been ecstatic over winning the first race of the series. Morton’s goal was to sail consistently and his score line of 2-4-2 today, added to his previous 1-4-2, allowed him to take the overall lead. With a 5-2-5 today,  Onawa  dropped to third place behind Kevin Hegarty/Anthony Chiurco’s (Newport, R.I.)  Columbia  (US-16) , which won all three races today.

racing schedule:

A total of nine windward-leeward races are scheduled over five days. (Four completed races shall constitute a regatta.) Yachts will sail either on Rhode Island Sound or north of the Pell Bridge on Narragansett Bay.

Tuesday, August 1 – Saturday, August 5. Rendezvous location announced on VHF Radio channel 72 at 9:00 a.m. with the first warning signal at 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, August 5 Rendezvous location announced at 9:00 with first warning signal at 12:00 noon following the boat parade. No race will start after 3:00 on Saturday.

2023 12 Metre World Championship: A Live-Action history lesson

12 metre world championship: a live-action history lesson.

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, USA (July 23, 2023) – The year 2023 marks exactly 40 years since the U.S. lost the America’s Cup to Australia on the world stage of Newport, R.I. That moment in sports history might not have gotten the attention it did had it not been for the breaking of the longest winning streak in sporting history (132 years) or the international intrigue surrounding the moment when Australia unveiled its “secret weapon” winged keel on its winning 12 Metre Australia II (KA-6) , skippered by John Bertrand , which prevailed four races to three over Liberty (US-40) , skippered by Dennis Conner . But there it was – on September 26, 1983 at Newport Offshore (now Club Wyndham Newport Onshore) – for millions across the globe to see by television and thousands in Newport to see in person: a bird-like appendage that contributed to a sporting upset bigger than any before, leaving 26-time (since 1851) America’s Cup Defender New York Yacht Club stunned and first-ever successful Challenger Royal Perth Yacht Club elated.

“What’s intriguing is that Challenge XII (KA-10) was built in 1982 for the 1983 Challenger Trials as a second boat for Australia (sailed by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club); it was a sister-ship to Australia II , except she had (and still has) a traditional keel instead of a winged keel,” said Jack LeFort (Winter Park, Fla./Jamestown, R.I.), who has owned Challenge XII for eight years and will skipper her in the upcoming 12 Metre World Championship, which starts Sunday, July 30. “No one on the outside knew what was giving Australia II an edge on speed, but Challenge XII was impressively fast, too.” (After losing in the Challenger quarterfinals, Challenge XII became the Trial horse for KA-6.

LeFort won the Modern Division at the 2019 12 Metre World Championship, also held in Newport, and says the competition this time around – among a total of ten historic 12 Metres (five in Modern and five in Traditional/Vintage Division) – will prove extraordinarily close on a world-class level. “In the Modern Division, the team aboard Takashi Okura ’s Freedom (US-30) (America’s Cup winner in 1980) has won the TP/52 Worlds twice and the Enterprise (US-27) team, skippered by Peter Askew , is well known for its winning Wizard campaigns. As well, Courageous (US-26) (Cup winner in 1974 and 1977) and Defender (US-33) have certainly proved themselves in recent regattas.”

“I was still in school in ’83 and was on the dock during the Trials in 1977 when Ted Turner and Gary Jobson rushed by with cameras following them,” said Courageous Skipper Dawn Riley , who would go on to sail in four America’s Cup races and two Whitbread Round the World races. “It made a big impression on a 13-year-old from Detroit!”

Riley will sail with a young and diverse crew from the Oakcliff Sailing Center she runs in Oyster Bay, N.Y. “No one other than me and one trimmer had ever stepped foot on a 12 Metre before this May,” said Riley. (The America’s Cup had moved on to other boats when Riley competed.) “ Courageous seems to be a very solid boat, and when we can sail away from other boats, we are good. When we get close to them, we have some learning to do. Hydraulic headstays and runners, check stays, overlapping jibs and dip pole jibes are all new to most of our team.”

According to Robert Morton (Middletown, R.I.), skipper of American Eagle (US-21) in Traditional/Vintage Division, “Everyone has to figure out how to beat Columbia (US-16) (Cup winner in 1958). She has a consistent record of winning each regatta, and although it is very close racing, she has a definite speed edge on the rest of the fleet. We feel that consistency is a key aspect of a long regatta like this, so our goal is to stay near the top in every race. We have not sailed against Onawa (US-6) very much, so she adds a new dimension to the racing during this series.” Nefertiti (US-19) and Weatherly (US-17) (Cup winner in 1962) are also sailing in Traditonal/Vintage Division.

Morton fondly remembers the times when the America’s Cup had a national interest (cover stories in Sports Illustrated and Time magazines) and Newport was the center of the sports world for that whole summer of 1983.

“I was there on the final day of the Cup in ‘83, and I will never forget the huge spectator fleet coming in past Castle Hill with all their running lights on because the days were shorter in September,” said Morton. “The 12 Metres turned out to be excellent boats for match racing and virtually all of the technical developments associated with gearing the boats up for the Cup trickled down to the average sailor and racer. Today, the America’s Cup is way too far from the experience of the average sailor, and those boats will never be around and sailing 40 years from now.”

Spectators can view the historic 12 Metres sailing either outside on Rhode Island Sound or north of Pell Bridge on Narragansett Bay (determined by weather) from Tuesday, August 1 through Saturday, August 5 when racing is scheduled.

“Onboard, the 12 metres are powerful and complicated,” said Dawn Riley about the single-masted sloops ranging between 68-72 feet in length, “but from off the boat, they are a majestic sight to see. I hope everyone can enjoy them all lined up and sailing at full power.”

12mR Worlds Official Facebook: @12MetreWorldChampionship

2023 12 Metre World Championship: Ready to Roll

12 metre world championship: ready to roll.

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, USA (July 11, 2023) – The 2023 12mR World Championship , sanctioned by the International Twelve Metre Association and hosted by the 12 Metre Yacht Club Newport Station in partnership with Organizing Authority Ida Lewis Yacht Club , starts Sunday, July 30 and will continue with five days of racing (Tuesday through Saturday, August 1-5). For those who may not know, this is one of the most significant events related to Newport’s heritage as an epicenter for world-class sailboat racing. The America’s Cup, one of the most famous competitions between countries, was held here in Newport 12 times from 1930 to 1983, and for nine of those times, from 1958 to 1983, the sailboat used to determine the winners was the 12 Metre, a single-masted sloop ranging between 66-72 feet in length.

Ten historic 12 Metres will compete in the World Championship, which was last held in the U.S. (in Newport) in 2019. They include four yachts that have successfully defended the America’s Cup: 1958, Columbia (US-16); 1962, Weatherly (US-17) ; 1974 & 1977 Courageous (US-26) and 1980, Freedom (US-30).

On the 2023 roster , all but Weatherly and Nefertiti (US-19) competed at the 2019 12 Metre Worlds, which saw Challenge XII (KA-10) and Columbia each winning their respective divisions – Modern and Traditional – with returning helmsmen Jack LeFort (Winter Park, Fla./Jamestown, R.I.) and Kevin Hegarty/Anthony Chiurco (Newport, R.I./Princeton, N.J.), respectively.

In the Modern Division, returning 12 Metres Courageous , Defender (US-33) , Freedom and Enterprise (US-27) all will be sailed by new groups. America’s Cup Hall of Fame member Dawn Riley (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) will skipper Courageous with a young and diverse crew from Oakcliff Sailing aboard. Andrew Rose (Newport Beach, Calif.) will take the helm of Defender , while Japan’s Takashi Okura will lead his team aboard Freedom , and Peter Askew (Key Largo, Fla.) will skipper Enterprise .

“This is a highly competitive group and we expect extremely close racing,” said 12 Metre Yacht Club Director Peggy Hersam. “You won’t want to miss it!”

In the Traditional Division, returning American Eagle (US-21) will be skippered by Bob Morton while newcomers to the Worlds Weatherly and Nefertiti will be skippered by Steven Eddleston (Bristol, R.I.) and Jack Klinck (Concord, Mass.), respectively.

In Vintage division, which will be combined with the Traditional Division for racing purposes here, Onawa (US-6) returns with Mark Watson (Newport, R.I.) at the helm.

12 Metre pre-worlds

Congratulations to Enterprise (US-27), sailed by Peter Askew (Key Largo, Fla.) for winning the 12-Metre Pre-Worlds in the Modern Division. Columbia (US-16), with Kevin Hegarty (Newport, R.I.) and Anthony Chiurco (Princeton, N.J.) leading the charge, won the combined Traditional/Vintage class. The Pre-worlds were part of Sail Newport’s 2023 Newport Regatta, held July 8-9 in Newport. Seven of the 10 Twelves registered for the Worlds competed over four races.

12 Metre parade

At 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 5, fans can cheer on their favorite teams during the Parade of 12 Metres. Led by Race Committee Signal Boat Casta Diva and dignitaries and VIPs aboard a special Palm Beach Motor Yacht, will consist of twelve historic 12 Metres (many of which sailed here during Newport’s America’s Cup days).

The 12 Metres will start east of Goat Island and parade clockwise around the harbor, past Newport Yacht Club , Bannister’s Wharf , Newport Yachting Center/Hammetts Hotel , the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS), Ida Lewis Yacht Club , and New York Yacht Club where they will be saluted by cannon before heading out for their final race of the series. Catch them from these locations and just about every wharf on the east side of Newport Harbor. Give them a hip hip hooray, and look for Newport’s Boys & Girls Club kids who will be riding on Heritage (US-23) and Intrepid (US-22) . The latter Twelve is a two-time winner of the America’s Cup and one of the most famous yachts worldwide!

Tuesday, August 1 – Friday, August 4. Rendezvous location announced on VHF Radio channel 72 at 9:00 a.m. with the first warning signal at 11:00 a.m.

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Columbia sail - 12 Meter Yacht Charters

• United States    
• Rhode Island (RI)    
• Newport    
• Newport - Attractions    
• 12 Meter Yacht Charters

Though the day was windy, wet and cloudy, we all had a great time sailing on Columbia. The Captain... read more

My wife surprised me on my birthday with a sail on Nefertiti. Unfortunately there was no wind that... read more

Columbia sail

We had a wonderful day and it was clear that in addition to being an excellent captain and a friendly person that Kevin was clearly in "love' with this boat. I will recommend this to others

We booked a private charter for a bachelorette for 2 hours. It was the perfect way to have some drinks and enjoy the weather, the sites of Newport, and each other. Captain Gus and his crew were so amazing and really made the trip special. They made sure to always keep our drinks full (you can bring beer/champagne/wine on board), provided history about the sights, and just generally showed us a good time. I would definitely recommend to others and would do this again. Booking was also really easy and Meredith was so helpful and patient!

Our travel group of 27 chartered the Columbia and Heritage for a sail in Newport. What fun and the weather conditions were perfect! We split up into two groups and had a "race" that gave you a sense of how thrilling it most be when actually racing in the America's Cup. The captain and crew on the Columbia were terrific. They answered all of our questions as we sailed around the bay on the most beautiful sunny, windy day. Highly recommend either boat. Seating is limited but we worked it out. The water taxi ride to the boat worked out fine. They even provided us ship T-shirts. All in all it was a terrific experience.

We thoroughly enjoyed our sail around Newport - nice introduction to the sights, a bit of excitement with the ocean breaking over the bow as we reached speed, and wrapped up with a pleasant sunset. All good!

We were on the same Sunday cruise another reviewer marked as boring because we went by Fort Adams twice and we had little wind and then a downpour. But our reaction could not have been different. The boat is beautiful and we were under sail and the narrative was good. The captain allowed passengers to take the helm if they wished...maybe the other reviewer who was in front didn't get to hear that offer...if so, that's a shame. The downpour was unexpected for us too as we had checked the forecast. But they did have rain coats and pants for those who wanted them. Even though we had no complaints, we were also offered another sail....wish we had been in Newport longer, as we would have taken them up in on it. Nice people.

We were so excited to book this sail because we have had some amazing experiences in other cities, but this was a dud. We were on the Heritage which is a beautiful sail boat, but very small, with very limited seating, so keep that in mind. Had to arrive 30 min early just so we could leave 10 min late. Spent the first half hour going through the harbor looking at other boats. Finally went out into the bay at an excruciating slow pace because there was no wind. And when got out in the bay, we circled the same area twice (near Fort Adams) with little narration. What was said could not be heard unless you were sitting in the cockpit. I hate to mention the pouring rain because that is not the fault of the crew, but you have to prepay this tour and they will not allow you to cancel for rain. Save the $75 and find a nice bar on the wharf where you can see the vessels in the harbor because you won't see much more on this tour.

First things first-- please accept our open invitation to come sailing again and allow us to showcase the sailing and scenery for which Newport is so deservedly renowned. Afterwards, we'll even buy you a beer at one of those waterfront bars you mentioned. Really. At 12 Meter Charters, we are Newporters and sailors who see ourselves as more than a business-- we are ambassadors for our town and for sailing. So, we are genuinely sorry that you did not enjoy yourself. Trust us-- we know that it's hard to find joy in sailing in the windless rain. We would much rather take you sailing when it's dry and breezy. But Sunday just didn't work out as any of us had planned. Throughout the season, modern forecasting and real-time radar allows us to regularly cancel or modify sailing times to accommodate weather conditions. On Sunday, immediately before the sail, the weather radar was clear of showers, there was a breeze, and the hourly forecast showed no possibility of rain until 8pm. So, we went sailing...and the wind died...and then the skies opened up. Our captain did his best to highlight the sights that he could actually reach in those conditions-- the world class array of classic and modern boats in the harbor and the historic fort at the mouth of the harbor. But, the conditions were just too hard to overcome. We can't apologize for the weather or the forecasters who got it wrong, but we can give you our genuine invitation to return and see why so many people enjoy sailing on our classic wooden race boats...and we look forward to that beer.

‘Columbia’ Captures the 1958 America's Cup

In a new class of boats, americans continue to dominate a century-old race.

The year was 1958 and the America’s Cup held its first race in over 20 years, the longest gap between challenges in the history of the ocean-going competition. The Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS), the challenger, launched their newly-christened Sceptre from the Scottish docks. The New York Yacht Club (NYYC), the defender, answered with the Columbia , a boat constructed on City Island in the Bronx.

In the waters off Newport, Rhode Island, Columbia ended up sweeping its rival 4-0.

Sceptre ’s heavy defeat resulted in great disappointment across the Atlantic where hopes for victory on the waves were once again dashed. A combination of factors was cited for her underwhelming results, including inadequate test trials at home. For the U.S., superior yacht design and masterful skills against the wind were proven once again in a new class of boats. Americans would keep defending the Cup successfully with the 12-meters until 1983 when the Royal Perth Yacht Club sailed the Australia II to victory, putting an end to the NYYC’s 132-year reign.

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Columbia - Crewed Sailing Yacht Charter

Columbia $68,000.

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• From $68,000 / week
• Sailing Monohull + 9 crew
• Summer Port: Cruising Areas Summer: New England, Florida, Great Lakes, USA - Annapolis - MD, USA - North East Summer Port: Newport, RI Winter: Caribbean Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Caribbean Leeward Islands, Caribbean Windward Islands, Florida, Central America ">Newport, RI
• Winter: Cruising Areas Summer: New England, Florida, Great Lakes, USA - Annapolis - MD, USA - North East Summer Port: Newport, RI Winter: Caribbean Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Caribbean Leeward Islands, Caribbean Windward Islands, Florida, Central America ">Caribbean Virgin Islands
• Length: 141.1 ft / 43 meters 141.1 feet 43 meters
• Guests: 12 in 4 cabins
• Builder: Custom
• Built: 2014
• Offers Rendezvous Scuba Diving only

Plus Expenses

Cruising Area of Columbia

Accommodations, columbia specification, water sports, scuba diving, entertainment, green initiatives, columbia crew profile.

Name: Seth Salzmann Position: Captain Nationality: US Description: Captain Seth Salzmann took command of Columbia in 2018, after 15 years´ captaincy behind him on some of the most unique classic boats afloat. Over the course of tens of thousands of miles the Fife schooner Adventuress, Alden schooner When and If and Alden racing schooner Malabar X rank among his most recent commands, along with a slew of well-known East Coast schooners in the USA. A deep and abiding passion for sailing and the ocean, coupled with 20 years in Guest Experience at sea have given Seth an unparalleled talent for sculpting a fun, safe, successful charter in all weathers according to the requirements of his guests. And if the weather really is that bad, two decades at sea have equipped him with stories well worth hearing over a cozy dinner down below! Well-known for his calm demeanour under pressure, his advocacy for independent thinking and professional advancement in his crew, and his talent for doing what ´can´t be done´ under sail, Seth is acknowledged among the Old Salts as one of the last true schooner captains; a perfect match for the classic sailing behemoth that is the schooner Columbia. Name: Jenny Salzmann Position: Stewardess Nationality: British Description: As Steward on Columbia Jenny is proud to make the care of her guests and crew her first consideration. Her quest for The Perfect Drink For Every Occasion has started her down the path of craft cocktail making and she strives to serve any beverage at any angle of heel under sail. She loves a bit of sailing and if the deck crew have room for her she´ll gladly take a sheet for a race and furl topsails at the end of the day if there is time. However, more often than not she´ll be making bunks, polishing brass, arranging flowers, creating drinks, folding underwear, laying tables, stocking fridges, and cleaning something. Name: Isaac Provo Position: Chef Nationality: US Description: Energetic culinary professional with a blend of creativity, passion for food and exceptional cooking skills. Isaac is a dynamic leader in high-pressure settings with 20 years experience in the culinary industry including front of house, fine dining service, bar tending, chef, management and marketing. He is passionate about sourcing great produce wherever he can find it and serving delicious dishes - no matter the sailing conditions - to exceed his guests expectations. Isaac grew up sailing inland waters on a home built 22’ Norwegian sail boat. Isaac also enjoys sailing in the San Juan Islands. Name: Dylan Ferry Position: Mate Nationality: US Description: Dylan grew up in the Caribbean sailing with his family. Through high school and college he would continue to sail every summer aboard tall ships such as the HMS Bounty and Pride of Baltimore. In 2005 he did is first transatlantic crossing. After college he signed onboard the clipper ship ´Stad Amsterdam´ in Australia. While onboard he managed to transit the Indian ocean, South Atlantic, 4 Atlantic crossings, as well as travelling throughout the Mediterranean, Caribbean and North America. Over the last couple of years he has been living back in the Caribbean where he built and raced a Bequia work boat as well as competed in the the Caribbean race circuit on carbon high performance yachts. Dylan was one of the original riggers of ´Columbia,´ has continued to race on her over the years and is happy to be sailing onboard once again. Name: Cosima Franchini Position: 2nd Mate Nationality: US Description: Cosi hails from the Pacific North West in Washington State, and grew up sailing the beautiful waters of Pugit Sound with her family and friends. At 19 she entered the classic boat world with schooner Adventuress of Seattle, Washington. When she moved to Martha’s Vineyard, Cosi got a taste of yachting and offshore sailing with the all-girls team on Saphedra before undertaking her first Transats on the J Class Lionheart and schooner Elena of London. Cosi has a BSC in Science and Marine Biology and never misses an opportunity to swim and explore when her boat is still. When not working she can be found playing her guitar or banjo, working on leathercraft, baking bread, and singing like a nightingale. Name: Nick Pillon Position: Engineer Nationality: US Description: Nicholas Vaughn Pillon is a 30 year old native of rural New Jersey. He grew up out in the woods on ATVs, off-roading in Jeeps, fishing, and hiking. He obtained his bachelor´s in Mechanical Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2012. After college he went on to work in the oil and gas industry for 6 years prior to his current career as an engineer aboard private and charter yachts. Nick hopes to one day circumnavigate the world on a sailboat, ideally one he designs and builds himself. Name: Brendan DuBlois Position: Engineer Nationality: US Description: Brendan grew up on the shores of Narragansett, Rhode Island which fostered a love of the ocean, sailing and surfing. He attended the University of Denver on a lacrosse scholarship, majoring in real estate finance and construction management. Pursuing an alternative lifestyle after college he moved to Nicaragua to open the country´s first brewpub and beer garden in San Juan del Sur. This proved to be a rewarding learning experience on many levels as the team were pioneers in a foreign landscape. It also provided a platform to develop his brewing skills, learn Spanish and spend more time in and on the water, exploring the world-class surf breaks of Nicaragua. In search of a Real Job, Brendan took on the position of Rotation Engineer on Columbia and enjoys the day-to-day challenges it presents along with the opportunity to explore and sail offshore. Outside work Brendan enjoys playing the guitar, dirt bike riding, surfboard shaping, skiing and yoga. Name: Charlie Perry Position: Deck Hand Nationality: US Description: Charlie grew up in Newport, Rhode Island and his family’s love for the local beaches cultivated his affinity for the ocean at a young age, motivating him to work as a lifeguard and diver as soon as he was old enough to take a paycheck. After high school sailing, Charlie joined Roger Williams University’s competitive and nationally ranked team to continue honing his skills on the often-chilly Narragansett Bay. During his summers, Charlie worked as first mate on a schooner in Newport. Having had a taste of larger vessels, Charlie joined the community of seasonal sailors racing classic 12 meters during the New England summers and diving the Caribbean in the winters. Since then, Charlie has earned his PADI Dive Master certification, continued to foster his competitive streak in 12 meter North Americans and super yacht regattas, and learned to take yachting to a new level with Columbia in the charter boating world. Name: Cameron Burgess Position: Deck Hand Nationality: US Description: Cammi hails from Newport, RI but she grew up a bit unconventionally and had 30,000 ocean miles under her sailing belt by the time she was 14. Raised on various different sailboats throughout the Eastern seaboard and Caribbean islands, Cammi’s fondest memories are from the two years she and her family spent crossing the Pacific Ocean. During high school Cammi made her best attempt at a “normal” land life and studied ballet, traveling across the world to dance both academically and professionally, however, her love for the sea eventually became too strong to deny. Since leaving land life, Cammi has spent summers working on schooners and yachts in New England and winters split between catamarans in the Caribbean and a writing degree in Boston. Columbia has provided an exciting new experience for Cammi, who challenges herself to become well-acquainted with as many aspects of big-boat sailing as possible including engineering, rig work, topmanship, stewarding and deck crewing. Eager to up her game further, Cammi has also opted to pursue culinary training and loves experimenting with local cuisines, creating delicious, healthy meals like her mother taught her to do as a “boat kid”. Name: Cody Smith Position: Deckhand Nationality: US Description: Cody Smith is a born and bred Mainer, and grew up sailing the southern and mid-coast in the gorgeous Penobscot Bay and surrounds. His first taste of larger boats was on the legendary Maine Windjammers and he has worked seasons on both Ledona and Stephen Tabor - the most fun you can have on a grueling programme of sailing, racing and wholehearted hospitality. He has spent three years as a boat builder restoring the schooner Ernestina, and this experience opened his eyes to the world of the turn-of-the-century fishing schooners. As he says: “When I heard about Columbia I just had to sail aboard.” Cody’s favourite pass times include playing ice hockey, and exploring the Maine rivers for some good fishing, hiking and kayaking.

Columbia Calendar

Columbia reservations & port locations, columbia rates / week, low price: $68,000, high price: $75,000, additional rate details, columbia guest reviews, we currently don't have any reviews for columbia., columbia sample menu, we currently don't have a sample menu for columbia. please inquire for more information., similar yachts, check out similar yachts to columbia.

Perseverance 1

€95,000 / week

Guests in Cabins: 8 / 4

Length: 129.9 ft (39.6 m)

Winter Port: Leeward Islands

Prices from: €95,000 / week

$44,000 / week

Guests in Cabins: 10 / 4

Length: 115 ft (35.1 m)

Summer Port: Newport, RI

Winter Port: St Thomas, Virgin Islands

Prices from: $44,000 / week

$145,000 / week

Guests in Cabins: 12 / 6

Length: 133 ft (40.5 m)

Winter Port: Virgin Islands

Prices from: $145,000 / week

$80,000 / week

Guests in Cabins: 36 / 18

Length: 157 ft (47.9 m)

Summer Port: Jersey City, NJ

Winter Port: Jersey City, NJ

Prices from: $80,000 / week

• Private Charters: (401) 849-5868
• Ticketed Sails: (401) 846-9886

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Sail with the largest fleet of America’s Cup Winners in the world. Come race, train, celebrate or just relax aboard our legendary Classic America’s Cup 12 Meter yachts.

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Private sailing charters | newport, ri, 401.236.5005, sailing in newport - an experience you'll never forget.

It's Almost

The warm weather is right around the corner! We will be officially sailing on April 1st!  Book your sail early to guarantee your preferred date.

We can't wait to have you aboard.

Embark on an exclusive maritime adventure ... Reserve a private yacht charter with McCurdy Sailing in the enchanting setting of Newport, Rhode Island. Unwind and savor the experience as you set sail aboar d our 36' sloop , ' Hurrah '. Let our licensed, seasoned, and exceptionally knowledgeable Captain guide you through a captivating sailing tour of the east passage of Narragansett Bay, where a tapestry of historically significant and breathtaking landmarks aw aits.

Marvel at the former Kennedy estate, Hammersmith Farm , Clingstone , and the iconic Rose Island Lighthouse , each steeped in its own unique history. Whether you choose to take the helm or simply relish the journey, your voyage will weave through Newport Harbor, renowned as the sailing capital of the world. Witness the majestic beauty of numerous sailboats, mega yachts, distinctive racing vessels, and historic America's Cup sailboats dotting the shimmering waters.

'Hurrah' offers comfortable seating for up to 6 adults in the cockpit, complete with a bimini and dodger for those seeking shade. For the ultimate thrill, venture to the bow and immerse yourself in the invigorating salt air and spray. Enhance your experience by bringing along a picnic lunch, champagne, or any refreshments of your choice.

Let McCurdy Sailing curate a memorable and personalized journey where the allure of Narragansett Bay's landmarks meets the luxury of a private yacht charter in the heart of Newport's maritime splendor.

Downtown Pickup Location - Step Right on from the dock. Our pickup location is now right in Downtown Newport  at Perrotti Park !  Meet your Captain right at the Harbor Shuttle & Ferry Landing Gazebo.  Easy parking at the  Visitor's Center or simply walk right from town!  A hop, skip & a jump from the   Marriott and Brenton Hotels.    Step right on the boat from the dock for easy, quick access.

2024 calendar now available.

Pick Up Here

Reserve Now. Sail Later.

B ook earl y to guarantee your preferred date and time.  

What People Are Saying

NANCY BREEN

This was the first time I did a private charter instead of a group sail on a larger boat. I do not think I will ever go back to buying tickets for a group sail.

RONALD WATANABE

We had such a wonderful time on this 2-hour sail with Captain Dave! It was the highlight of our trip to Newport! We highly recommend it!

PETE & JESS

Absolutely the best experience. Dave was hands down the most amazing captain and made the entire experience so memorable. Do yourself a favor and book a ride with McCurdy's.

Sailing Charters For All Occasions

bachelor/bachelorette Sail The best place to celebrate this momentous occasion is together with friends on the water! 

DAY Sail We will sail to the mouth of the East Passage of Narragansett Bay and venture into Mackerel Cove

Team Building  

Corporate sailing is one of the best team building exercises you will ever engage in.

Similar to a corporate environment, when sailing, teammates need to constantly adapt to face-paced change.  Perfect for small teams to hone their communication skills!

Call us for pricing and additional information.

Engagement/Wedding Sail Choose the wind, sea and sun to propose to the love of your life.  Get married aboard our Sailboat, Hurrah by our ordained Captain.  Head to a romantic cove or stay in Newport Harbor for your ceremony. 

Sunset Sail Let the heat of the day drain away, all while enjoying the cool evening breeze on Narragansett Bay.

Sail of Remembrance

Celebrate the life of your loved one. An intimate ceremony is performed onboard.

"To reach a port we must sail, sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor." OLIVER WENDALL HOMES, SR.  

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SY COLUMBIA 141ft (42.9m) Starling Burgess Schooner

LOCATION Newport, Rhode Island USA

FOR MORE INFORMATION

PRICE $14,500,000 USD

SY COLUMBIA is a faithful steel replica of the schooner COLUMBIA built in Essex, Massachusetts which was designed by the renown Starling Burgess to sail out of Gloucester to fish the Grand Banks off Newfoundland in the winter North Atlantic and to race the equally famous historic Canadian schooner BLUENOSE.

Unlike so many replicas, every detail is just right with sensitive adaptations to accommodate her owner’s large family or a pampered charter party, though she still has two 5,000 pound fish holds with their own industrial ice machines. COLUMBIA boasts a spacious saloon and four luxurious en suite guest staterooms for up to twelve guests in a beautifully executed timeless and traditional superyacht interior. COLUMBIA is equally suited for racing in classic yacht regattas, entertaining in high style or even tackling the Northwest Passage. She has an enviable charter record and is maintained to the absolute highest standards. As neither a narrative not still photos can do her justice, we encourage the viewing of the attached two videos.

After starting in Newport, Cole Brauer is first American woman to sail solo nonstop around world

On Thursday, Cole Brauer made history, becoming the first American woman to sail solo nonstop around the world. The 29-year-old from Long Island, New York, celebrated at the finish line in Spain by drinking champagne from her trophy.

Friends, peers and sailing enthusiasts had been cheering Brauer on since last October , when she embarked on her more than four-month journey.

Race organizer Marco Nannini told USA TODAY he started the Global Solo Challenge to "create a platform for sailors like Cole to showcase her skills and move on to a pro sailor career."

While at sea Brauer kept her more than 400,000 Instagram followers updated − and entertained − with videos from onboard First Light. The trip was extremely challenging and physically exhausting, Brauer said in one video from December.

In the post, she describes how frustrated she felt when she had to fix and replace different parts of the boat.

"I don't want you guys to think I'm like Superwoman or something," Brauer said. "Right now I've been feeling just broken," she added, describing how she had to fix the boat's autopilot system after injuring her torso against the side of the boat's hull amid intense waves.

Cole Brauer coming to Newport to talk about solo experience

Sail Newport will be hosting Brauer on May 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Jane Pickens Theater where guests will be able to meet Brauer and hear about her journey. Sail Newport Executive Director Brad Read will emcee the event. Tickets went on sale Friday and are already sold out, but those interested in attending may register to be on the waitlist.

Who is Cole Brauer?

Brauer is from Long Island and competed for the University of Hawaii sailing team. She went to high school in East Hampton, New York, her university team website says. She was the youngest of more than a dozen sailors, or skippers, in the Global Solo Challenge.

The professional sailor lives in Boothbay, Maine, and during the spring and summer, she can be also found in Newport, gearing up for races, the Newport Daily News  reported last year .

Brauer has sailed on First Light, a 40-foot yacht, for over five years, the outlet reported.

"I always said I wanted to race around the world in this boat," she told the Daily News.

From above and below First Light's deck, Brauer shared aspects of her journey with followers and die-hard sailing fans.

On New Year's Eve, she donned a dress and  danced at midnight , and in another post, she  showed off  how many pull-ups she can do.

As the only woman racing solo, nonstop around the world in the first Global Solo Challenge, Brauer said she was determined to prove there's nothing women and girls cannot accomplish.

"I push so much harder when someone's like, 'No, you can't do that,'" Brauer  told NBC Nightly News . "And I'm like, 'OK, watch me.'"

Brauer is the first American woman to sail solo around the world. But Kay Cottee of Australia was the first woman in the world to accomplish the milestone, sailing off from Sydney Harbor in Australia in November 1987 and returning 189 days later.

On her profile page on the Global Solo Challenge website, Brauer said she wanted to send a message to the sailing community that it's time to leave its male-dominated culture in the past. In the profile, Brauer took aim at a lack of equal pay and what she describes as harassment in the sailing industry.

"Just as well as this community has built me up it has broken me and my fellow female teammates down. I am doing this race for them," Brauer said.

Brauer and her spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

How long was Cole Brauer at sea?

Brauer was sailing for over four months after departing on Oct. 29.

She finished second in the race, behind a sailor who departed about a month before she did.

The start times differed because that first place boat, Phillipe Delamare's Mowgli, is much slower, Nannini said, explaining the race's staggered start times.

"The format means that if you enter on a slow, small boat you can still win, which makes it much more inclusive than an event where a bigger budget is a definite advantage," he said.

France's Delamare will win first-place prize money of 7,500 euros (about $8,140), Brauer will win 5,000 euros (about $5,430) and the third place finisher will win 2,500 euros (about $2,710), Nannini said.

How dangerous was Cole Brauer's sailing race?

A medical team including a nurse and a physician trained Brauer and sent her on her journey with medicines and medical supplies, in case of any health issues, according to her Instagram account.

Early in the race, Brauer administered her own IV with a saline solution after she became dehydrated, according to one video posted to her social media.

Brauer's most serious health scare happened in early December when she said gnarly ocean conditions caused the boat to jolt, throwing her across the inside of the boat and slamming her hard against a wall.

Her ribs were badly bruised as a result, and her medical team told her to alternate between taking Advil and Tylenol, Brauer said on Instagram.

"Rigging up a sleeping seat belt has been added to my priority list," she said in the post's caption. "I know I'm very lucky that this wasn't a lot worse."

What is the Global Solo Challenge?

The inaugural Global Solo Challenge is a nonstop sailing race in which competitors departed last year from A Coruña, Spain.

The race encompasses nearly 30,000 miles and takes place mostly in the southern hemisphere.

After leaving waters off the coast of Spain, sailors travel south and around Africa's Cape of Good Hope. The race then includes the two other capes that together make up the famous three great capes: Australia's Cape Leeuwin and South America's Cape Horn.

About half of the other competitors dropped out of the race, according to racing data posted online by the Global Solo Challenge.

Delamare finished the race late last month after embarking on his journey in late September 2023, according to race data.

Contributing: Newport Daily News and Associated Press

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• Port of Embarkation * Portugal Malta Croatia Montenegro Slovenia Venice Albania Greece Turkey Cyprus French Rivera & Monaco Provence Coast & Marseille Cosrsica Italy Catalonia Balearic Islands Costa Del Sol Canary Islands
• Port of Embarkation * UK & Northern Ireland Ireland Netherlands Baltic Sea Denmark Norway Sweden Finland Russia Iceland Greenland Arctic Spitsbergen/Svalbard
• Port of Embarkation * Brazil Argentina Galapagos Peru
• Port of Embarkation * Panama Belize Costa Rica Honduras Nicaragua
• Port of Embarkation * Malaysia Hong Kong Japan South East Asia Philippines Taiwan Vietnam singapore Andaman Sea Komodo Thailand Bali
• Port of Embarkation * Maldives Seychelles Madagascar Reunion Mauritius
• Port of Embarkation * Fiji Tonga Palau New Caledonia Solomon Islands French Polynesia Australia New Zealand
• Port of Embarkation * Red Sea Arabian Gulf Abu Dhabi Dubai
• Number of Guests Sleeping *
• Allocated Budget * $25,000 - $35,000 $35,000 - $55,000 $55,000 -$75,000 $75,000 - $100,000 $100,000 - $150,000 $150,000 - $250,000 $250,000 +
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Sleeps 2 Guests in 1 Cabins 44.00 Ft Builder : Zeelander Year : 2014 Number of Crews :

$24,000 - $28,000 / Week

Sleeps 7 Guests in 4 Cabins 86.00 Ft Builder : Ferretti Year : 2013 Number of Crews : 4

$39,600 - $43,560 / Week

Sleeps 8 Guests in 4 Cabins 90.00 Ft Builder : Pershing Year : 2007 Number of Crews :

$53,000 - $53,000 / Week

Sleeps 8 Guests in 4 Cabins 106.00 Ft Builder : Lazzara Year : 2003 Number of Crews : 4

$49,500 - $60,000 / Week

Sleeps 6 Guests in 3 Cabins 111.00 Ft Builder : Holland Year : 2011 Number of Crews : 3

$64,000 - $100,000 / Week

Sleeps 10 Guests in 4 Cabins 115.00 Ft Builder : Brooks Motor Craft, Lowestoft, England Year : 1939 Number of Crews : 5

$44,000 - $49,000 / Week

Sleeps 8 Guests in 4 Cabins 120.00 Ft Builder : Feadship Year : 1991 Number of Crews : 5

$72,000 - $77,000 / Week

Sleeps 8 Guests in 4 Cabins 124.00 Ft Builder : Breaux Bay Craft Year : 1979 Number of Crews : 6

$69,000 - $75,000 / Week

Sleeps 12 Guests in 4 Cabins 141.00 Ft Builder : Custom Year : 2014 Number of Crews : 9

$68,000 - $75,000 / Week

Are you considering a trip to Newport, Rhode Island and dreaming of exploring the Atlantic Coast from the luxury of your own private yacht? You owe it to yourself and your guests to consider the glamour and excitement of a yacht charter or boat rental with us.

There’s nothing more amazing than spending some time on your own private boat charter or yacht rental. Reach out to us and we’ll help you plan the perfect voyage! Imagine yourself on a superyacht on the Atlantic Coast with the marinas of Newport in the background, and otherwise relaxing and discovering a unique region of the world.

We offer a variety of luxurious yachts equipped with a range of water toys, all designed to make your vacation absolute perfection. Enjoy experiencing Newport from your own private charter yacht complete with captain and crew (including a private chef who’ll craft a custom menu) and live the good life for a couple days, a week, or even longer on a yacht fit for celebrity or millionaire. Either way, you’ll be in the capable hands of our captains and crew.

When you are looking for a yacht charter in Newport or anywhere else on the Atlantic Coast, Y Charter’s boat rental and yacht rental options are what you are looking for. From ultra-luxurious boat charters to corporate yacht charters to fully-equipped yacht rentals in Newport and everything in between, ask yourself “why charter?” And we’ll tell the answer is “why not?” And here’s why you should do it with us.

No other boat rental and yacht rental company has a more nuanced understanding of what you desire most from a yacht charter. Let us help you plan your boat charter journey to Newport – it’ll be the experience of a lifetime.

If that isn’t enough to persuade you to book a charter yacht with us, the sheer array of water toys and activities available on board our luxury boat rentals will – from jetskis to inflatable slides to scuba diving and snorkel gear to on-board massages, we’ll create your own personal definition of the good life and make it a reality.

We design and plan itineraries for private yacht rentals and luxury boat charters in Newport and many other desirable destinations. Let our extensive knowledge, yachting experience, and hospitality make your next vacation the most memorable one yet – the only limit to the possibilities is our collective imagination.

Celebrate a birthday, holiday, milestone event, or other special occasion – or just celebrate the fact that it’s the weekend – with an affordable VIP boat rental in Newport. Our yacht rentals and boat charters can be anything that you can dream up – and more – so contact us today and begin planning your next voyage with one of the world’s leading yacht charter companies.

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