News
32nd Classic Yacht Regatta Takes Place September 2-4, 2011
Registration for the 32nd Annual Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta sponsored by Officine Panerai is now open. The event, which is the third and final event in the North American Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, will take place in Newport over the Labor Day weekend, September 2-4.This annual regatta includes two days of racing and will draw a fleet that stands as a time capsule of classic design—from small traditional one-designs to large, majestic yachts built over a century ago. A festive welcoming reception will be held on Friday evening, September 2. Racing takes place Saturday and Sunday, September 3-4, and a cocktail reception follows each day of racing. A final awards dinner will be held on the evening of Sunday, September 4. Sail Newport is the Organizing Authority of the event. Online registration is available. Learn more...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IYRS Christens Newly Restored 1831 Aquidneck Mill Building
IYRS celebrated a milestone in the school's history on May 14: the official opening of the restored 1831 Aquidneck mill building. The $7.5-million restoration transforms what was once an abandoned shell into a vital cornerstone of the Lower Thames Street neighborhood. The building now houses the school’s administrative offices, a maritime library, and a Visitor Center—along with lease space for ten companies that have brought businesses, jobs, and new economic activity to the Newport waterfront. A crowd of over 150 community leaders, local businesspeople, school supporters, and area residents gathered to mark the occasion. During the ceremonies, IYRS Chairman George Isdale recognized the contributions of IYRS trustees Joseph Dockery, who chaired the Mill's construction committee, and committee member David Elwell. Newport Collaborative Architects served as architects of the project and construction was managed by Farrar & Associates of Newport. Organizations that contributed funding to the Mill include the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, 1772 Foundation, Alletta Morris McBean Charitable Trust, U.S. Small Business Administration, Prince Charitable Trusts, Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission, and The Champlin Foundations. Also in attendance for the ceremony was the family of the late William Combs, whose miniature model collection is on display in the new Visitor Center. The family marked the occasion by gifting a painting of the historic Coronet by maritime artist John Mecray to the school, in honor of their mother Edmee Schaefer Combs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William H. Combs Miniature Model Collection Now on View
Visit the new IYRS Visitor Center in the Aquidneck Mill building to view the William H. Combs Miniature Model Collection, including twenty exquisitely crafted ship models by two of the top marine model artists in this genre: Donald McNarry F.R.S.A. and Lloyd McCaffery. The collection was thoughtfully developed over a period of thirty years by the late William H. Combs, a West Point graduate, yachtsman, philanthropist, and Pennsylvania businessman with a life-long interest in sailing. Learn more about the collection by reading The William H. Combs Miniature Model Collection at IYRS, a superbly produced full-color, 65-page book with text and photography by noted ship model expert R. Michael Wall. Click here to read more.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Milestone Chapter for IYRS and MoY
The 2007-2008 period has been a milestone chapter for both IYRS and the Museum of Yachting. In addition to "A New Launch" at the Annual Summer Gala and the celebration of the combined future of IYRS and the Museum, there have been other launches as well. The restoration of the Aquidneck mill began, and a new program in Marine Systems was established. Read about a year of exhilarating change in the President's Report, given by IYRS and MoY President Terry Nathan at the Annual Meeting held during gala weekend.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The William H. Combs Miniature Model Collection at IYRS - a catalogue by Michael Wall
The William H. Combs Miniature Model Collection at IYRS, a superbly produced full color 65 page book, with text and photography by noted ship model expert R. Michael Wall, is a photographic catalogue of a collection of twenty excellently crafted ship models by two of the top marine model artists in this genre, Donald McNarry F.R.S.A. and Lloyd McCaffery. The collection was thoughtfully developed over a period of thirty years by William H. Combs, a West Point graduate, yachtsman, philanthropist, and Pennsylvania businessman with a life long interest in sailing. Click here to read more.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Convergence of IYRS and the Museum of Yachting
In May 2007, IYRS and the Museum of Yachting joined forces to coordinate their efforts. "Many great schools are connected to a museum or cultural center. While a school may be focused on educating students and advancing research, a museum can take that knowledge to a wider public," said John Mecray, co-founding trustee of both IYRS and the MoY. Click here to read the press release. An interview with IYRS and MoY President Terry Nathan highlights this new chapter for the two instititutions. Read the interview.