This event has unfortunately been cancelled; we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Learn more about other upcoming member programs here.

You’ve seen these legendary 68′ yachts compete for sailing’s most coveted prize, the America’s Cup. Now you can feel the thrill of competing head-to-head aboard these powerful and graceful sailboats in picturesque Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay, the yachting capitol of the East Coast.

Back again are:

• Weatherly, the 1962 America’s Cup defender
• American Eagle, Ted Turner’s famous champion and the 1964 Cup Contender
• Nefertiti, 1962 America’s Cup contender, designed by the legendary Ted Hood.
• Intrepid, two-time defender of the America’s Cup
• Columbia, winner of the 1958 America’s Cup

The professional sailing crews on each yacht will show you what to do. Your skills will be matched with a sailing position and you’ll practice trimming, jibing, and coming about prior to racing. The race will culminate in a final victory lap around Newport Harbor, followed by a reception and awarding of prizes at the Newport Harbor Inn.

Space is limited to 12 crew members plus a Museum staff member on each boat. Experienced sailors will not want to pass up this unique opportunity, but novice sailors shouldn’t be shy! America’s Cup Charters specializes in working with sailors of all levels and they help involve everyone in the racing. Please note that all crew members participate in the competitive racing.

The Boats

Weatherly: The swift and graceful America’s Cup Defender Weatherly is the only vessel in history to win the Cup without doing so when new. Built in 1958, the legendary Emil “Bus” Mosbacher brought her back in ’62 to defeat Gretel, the first Australian America’s Cup Challenger. She was a favorite of President and Mrs. Kennedy, who closely followed the 1962 Twelve Meter racing season from their summer home at Hammersmith Farm in Newport. The acclaimed yacht designer Philip Rhodes, designed only one 12 Meter in his career, the Cup winner Weatherly! She is stunning to see under sail, with the long overhangs and finely tapered ends of a classic. Beautifully appointed below decks, she glistens with raised mahogany paneling, tufted leather seating, and the warm glow of varnished wood.

American Eagle: Before the young Ted Turner bought American Eagle and won most of the world’s greatest ocean races, she began her career racing for the America’s Cup in Newport. Eagle was designed and built by A.E. Luders for the 1964 America’s Cup Defense. She won the observation trials, but by the close of the season, her rival Constellation had secured the right to defend the America’s Cup, easily beating the British Challenger, Sovereign. American Eagle was subsequently Ted Turner’s stepping stone to America’s Cup victory – could she do the same for you?

Nefertiti: Named after a beautiful Egyptian Queen, Nefertiti was designed and skippered by the multi-talented, 32-year-old sail maker, Ted Hood. Her outstanding performance and ability in a strong breeze earned her a close second to Weatherly in the 1962 defender’s trials. Her seaworthiness was clearly demonstrated during her second life of ocean voyaging around the world. America’s Cup Charters brought her back from Durban, South Africa, to join her stable mates in the familiar racing waters of Newport, RI. Thoroughly restored to her former glory she remains a pleasure to sail.

Intrepid: The 12 Meter Intrepid, two-time defender of the America’s Cup, is one of the most famous racing yachts of all time. Known as “the people’s choice” because of her popular appeal, she remained a competitive America’s Cup contender well into the era of the aluminum Twelves. Intrepid was the last classic wooden yacht to defend the Cup in 1967 and 1970. She has been totally rebuilt and restored to “as new” condition under the direction of America’s Cup Charters partners George Hill and Herb Marshall.

Columbia: In 1958 a new class of sailboats, the 12 Meter class, was introduced as the racing class of the America’s Cup. Off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island sleek and fast, Columbia (12 Meter US-16), stunned its competition with a sweeping win of the first 12 Meter America’s Cup, proving that 12 Meters were justifiable competitors in the coveted America’s Cup.