For Immediate Release
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Cynthia Goss (203-453-2731 / media@iyrs.org)
Susan Daly (401-848-5777, ext 220 / sdaly@iyrs.org)
30th Annual Classic Yacht Regatta Sponsored by Panerai and Presented by Land Rover North America Takes Place in Newport over Labor Day Weekend
Newport (R.I.) August 25, 2009 — The Museum of Yachting will host the 30th Annual Classic Yacht Regatta sponsored by Panerai and presented by Land Rover North America from September 4-6. To mark the 30th running of this classic Newport event, regatta organizers and sponsors have included events so Rhode Islanders, Newport visitors, and other classic-boat enthusiasts can enjoy the regatta's festivities over the Labor Day weekend.
On Friday night, September 4, sponsor Panerai will kick off the weekend with a festive opening night celebration at the Museum's waterfront home at Fort Adams State Park. Classic-boat enthusiasts are invited to join the international crowd of owners and crews who are traveling from ports throughout the United States and Europe to compete at the regatta (see below for information on tickets).
Organizing Authority Sail Newport will run two days of racing, starting on Saturday and concluding Sunday afternoon. The racing fleet will again mix restored classics with "spirit of tradition" yachts of contemporary build and classic styling. But with entries already received from East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast, and European owners, and with class associations and one-design fleets making their way to Narragansett Bay for the festivities, the 30th running of this classic event promises to draw a notable fleet.
Heading to the starting line are sailing yachts with design pedigrees from Sparkman & Stephens, Fife, Herreshoff, and other venerated designers along with an international fleet of 6-Metres, who will use the event as a tune-up for the 2009 6-Metre World Cup that begins in Newport the week following the Classic Yacht Regatta.
Sunday morning brings a highlight of the event for both participating crews and the public when the regatta's annual Classic Yacht Parade turns the waters off Newport into a panorama of majestic classics, historic one-designs, and classic powerboats. The fleet will assemble at 10:30 AM and trace a course around the harbor before heading to the parade's endpoint off the Museum of Yachting.
This year, the public will judge the display and determine winners in several best-of categories by texting or calling their category choices in to 401 2060 MOY. The parade can be viewed from the Museum of Yachting, Bowen's Wharf, Bannister's Wharf, and other spots along the Newport harbor front. Award categories include: Most Patriotic, Best Costumes, Best Sailboat, Best Powerboat, and Best Overall.
A fleet of Huckins powerboats concluding their Northeast Rendezvous in Newport on Labor Day weekend will enhance both the event and the parade. These fast lightweight yachts were considered groundbreaking in the 1920s and 30s, and are still sprightly boats by today's standards.
Fans of the classic fleet can make their way to Fort Adams during the weekend to spy which boats are berthed off the Museum's waterfront home and tour three summer exhibitions, including: "Coronet: The Long Life and Revival of an Historic American Schooner Yacht," a look at a 133-foot, 1885 yacht that has intrigued people with her majesty and mystery, with photography and artifacts that depict Coronet's opulent interior and the yacht's colorful owners and adventures at sea; "Imagination in Scale: The Practical Art of Ship and Yacht Models," with toy-like ship and yacht models that capture the imagination of children and adults alike and showcase the artistry, functionality, and painstaking detail of yacht models; and "The America’s Cup – The Newport Years," covering the rich history of the Cup during its Newport years. The Museum is open from 10 AM to 6 PM throughout the weekend.
The Friday night opening party takes place from 6 to 8 pm at the Museum. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by contacting Cristina Marfuggi (401-848-5777, ext. 202 / cmarfuggi@iyrs.org).
For more information on the 30th Annual Classic Yacht Regatta sponsored by Panerai and presented by Land Rover North America, or about the Museum of Yachting and its summer exhibitions, please visit www.moy.org or call 401-847-1018.
About Panerai
The history of Panerai watches began in 1860 in Florence (Italy) and has always been linked to the sea. The high standards of quality and great reliability that have contributed so much to the Royal Italian Navy, to which the company supplied watches, reflect Panerai’s dedication to research, innovation, and tradition.
Similarly, every classic yacht is a symbol of the age-old art of sailing, handed down through generations. It is therefore an ideal counterpart to the world of high-quality watchmaking, where the emphasis on tradition and quality are not the result of good fortune, but the outcome of persistence and longevity.
About the Museum of Yachting
For more than 25 years, the Museum of Yachting has worked to preserve the culture and heritage of yachting. Situated in one of New England's most beautiful seaside locales, the Museum celebrates the traditions of yachting through the presentation of informative exhibits and educational programming. In 2007, the Museum converged with the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS), located across Newport Harbor. Together, these two organizations are creating a rich educational living heritage experience by coordinating exhibits, events, and restoration projects.
About Sail Newport
Sail Newport is the Organizing Authority for the 30th Annual Classic Yacht Regatta. The non-profit organization was founded in 1983 after the loss of the America’s Cup catalyzed the sailing community to attract more sailing events to Newport. Twenty-five years later, Sail Newport is a thriving sailing center located in Fort Adams State Park. Sail Newport has a wide variety of sailing programs including learn-to-sail programs, racing clinics, and advanced classes for youth and adults. In addition, Sail Newport has hosted many local, regional, national, and world-class sailing events. The facility has two hoists, dinghy and deep- water boat ramps, regatta dockage, ginpole, event center, and storage. Most recently Sail Newport hosted the largest one-design event of the year in the U.S. with the 2009 Optimist New England Championship. In 2007, Sail Newport managed the Olympic Trials. For more information, visit www.sailnewport.org.