Join Mystic Seaport members and friends this summer aboard a classic America's Cup 12 Meter yacht as crew for an exhilarating regatta in Newport, Rhode Island. You've seen these legendary 68' yachts compete for sailing's most coveted prize, the America's Cup, now feel the thrill of competing on board one of these powerful and graceful sailboats in picturesque Newport Harbor. For our fourth annual Mystic Seaport regatta, we've rounded up a team of five classic and modern 12-meter yachts. 

• 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

Experienced sailors may not want to pass up this opportunity of a lifetime, but novice sailors shouldn't be shy! Professional sailing crews will instruct you as you practice trimming, jibing and coming about prior to racing. Participants' skills are matched with a sailing position, the starting line and course are defined and the racing begins.

Sailing positions: Members/$335, Non-members/$360
Includes a complimentary drink at the Newport Harbor Hotel at our post-race celebration. Sign up online now to get the boat of your choice (and make sure to let your friends know which boat you'll be on!).

The glistening, iced-blue Weatherly aside the stunning, red American Eagle is certainly something to see from shore. And even more memorable on board….

See below for more information about the event or call 860-572-5322.

The Mystic Seaport America’s Cup Regatta:

• Free all day parking at the Newport Gateway Center
• Professional instruction
• Crew gratuity included
• Bottled water, and soft drinks (lunch not included)
• Eat lunch on your own prior to event
• Victory round of drinks following the race
• Minimum age 16 years
• Group size limited to 12 per yacht
• We recommend you wear sunglasses with croakies, sunscreen, T-shirts and shorts /swimsuit, rubber-soled desk shoes or sneakers (no black soled shoes), a light sweater or windbreaker, and cap or hat. Sailing gloves, if you have them, are also a good idea.
• Seasickness is generally not a problem on Narragansett Bay, but if you feel you need to take motion sickness medication, you should take it one hour before sailing.
• Length of event: Approximately 4 hours (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Be at the marina at the Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina, located at 49 America's Cup Avenue, Newport, RI, in downtown Newport by 12 noon for our 1 p.m. departure.
• Participants will be asked to sign a release form prior to boarding.

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?