Message from the Commodore
James Gubelmann
Dear 12mR Friends,
At last, our 5-year effort begun in 2014 to host an International fleet of 12 Metres racing for the World Championship in Newport, RI is starting to take shape! As I write, boats from both the Baltic and Mediterranean are making their way to Narragansett Bay via our shipping partner Sevenstar Yacht Transport. Blue Marlin (K-17), Kiwi Magic (KZ-7) and Vema III (N-11) will be the first to arrive in Portsmouth on or around May 25. Nyala (US-12) and Kookaburra II (KA-12) are slated to join us later in June, just prior tor the 12mR Pre-Worlds Regatta. As these pending arrivals remind us, our schedule is really drawing in! With that said, we have a few important reminders for our competitors below:
Ahoy All World Championship Teams!
In order to assure the success of the quickly-approaching 2019 12 Metre World Championship, there are three items that require your immediate attention.
- The Notice of Race (NOR) and subsequent Amendments are posted online. If you have not yet done so, please register today.
- If you have not yet provided your completed crew questionnaire and high-res crew photo, we need it immediately. If not received by May 15, your team will not be represented in the official 12 Metre Worlds program, published in the July issue of QUEST magazine. Please send information to: SallyAnne Santos right away!
- Tickets for the 12MYC Dinner-Dance at Marble House are virtually sold-out. If you would like to purchase Dinner tickets, contact event organizer Elizabeth Allen. Dessert-Dance tickets are still available online here.
Jimmy Gubelmann
Commodore, 12MYC Newport
and your 12MYC Newport Station Friends
p.s.
Please consider joining or renewing your 12MYC Annual Membership; with your help, we'll continue to support the 12mR Class!
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12 Metre Yacht Club Membership: Join Today!
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Your annual membership helps us to continue our mission...
To provide and facilitate discussion and a social environment for 12 Metre owners and others interested in the history of the 12 Metre Class and encourage continued involvement in preserving, restoring and racing 12 Metre yachts in the Newport area.
Benefits of Membership of the 12 MYC Newport Station:
- Unmatched fellowship of the 12 Metre Community
- Invitations to all 12 Metre YC Social & Educational Events
- Subscription to 12 Metre YC E-Newsletter
- Access to IYRS Research Library / Twelve Metre Collection
- Access to Herreshoff Marine Museum America's Cup Hall of Fame
- Preferred reservations at 12 Metre YC Room at Clarke Cooke House
- Exclusive opportunity to advertise in 12 Metre YC E-Newsletter (this publication)
One Year Individual Membership $75
All 12MYC annual memberships now coincide with calendar year (January - December).
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12 Metre Yacht Club Supporter:
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Don't Miss the Best Party of the Summer!
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12 Metre World Championship Press Release: May 14, 2019
A Celebration of Yachting History ~
Decades Later, Champions Return to Claim 12 Metre World Title
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NEWPORT, RI (May 14, 2019) -
When the 12 Metre World Championship takes place in Newport over July 8-13, it will celebrate one of the greatest classes in world sailing history. The 112-year-old International 12 Metre Class encompasses a living history of racing yacht design by the world's foremost naval architects 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).
"It's going to make quite a statement to the world when 21 of these historic 12 Metres - the largest gathering ever in the U.S. - converge in Newport and it becomes clear that they are still being sailed at such a high level," said Gary Jobson (Annapolis, Md.), who will serve as tactician aboard Courageous (US-26), an Olin Stephens design that will be helmed by Arthur Santry (Washington, D.C./Newport, R.I.) in the Modern class, for 12 Metres built between
1967 and 1983
. (Santry also crewed on the 12 Metre Independence (US-28) in 1977.)
Courageous
was the first all-aluminum hulled 12 Metre and the second 12 Metre to successfully defend the America's Cup twice, in 1974 and 1977. The first 12 Metre, also an Olin Stephens design, was the wooden-hulled Intrepid (US-22), which successfully defended in 1967 and '70 and will also sail in the Modern Division with skipper Jack Curtin (Toronto, Ontario/New York, N.Y.) at the helm.
"
Courageous
is in the best shape she's ever been in," said Jobson, explaining that her
benefactors Ralph Isham, Steve Glascock, Alexander Auersperg and Ward Marsh (all Newport, R.I.), who also crew aboard her, lead a syndicate formed 15 years ago to charter the yacht after it was donated to the Museum of Yachting. "There has been some work on her keel, rudder and trim tab over this past winter, and she will be sporting new winches and sails. Our goal is to win every race, but you never know in this division. Otherwise, it's to be a strong contender, to put on a good show and get better with each race."
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Ted Turner's 1977 America's Cup winning Courageous crew
(This photo was provided by Gary Jobson. Did YOU take it? If so let us know; we'll credit you!)
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It just so happens Jobson was the tactician on Courageous in 1977 when Ted Turner defeated Alan Bond's Australia (KA-5) four races to zero in a best-of-seven series. Turner's America's Cup victory (his second try) came long before he was a television media mogul, but with his famously quick wit and tell-it-like-it-is character, he was already well on his way to becoming an authentic American sailing hero. Turner plans to return to Newport to watch the Worlds, and he will be pleased to see Jobson and his fellow sailors from that era making Courageous spotlight-worthy again.
Significantly, four others on the Courageous crew of 16 have won the "Auld Mug" at some point in their lives. Jon Wright, who will serve as jib trimmer, sailed on three America's Cup winners: Courageous in '74, Freedom (US-30) in '80 and Stars & Stripes (US-55) in '87 (he also sailed on Independence in '77 and Liberty (US-40) in'83.) LJ Edgcomb, who will serve as navigator, sailed on Courageous in '74 and '77 (he also sailed on Courageous again in '80). Robbie Doyle will serve as main trimmer, just as he did on Courageous in '77 (he also sailed on Mariner (US-25) in '74 and Courageous again in '80); Stu Argo, who will serve as jib trimmer, sailed on America3 in '92 (he coached the All Women's team on America3 in '95 and raced on Oracle Team USA in 2007).
According to Jack Curtin, who salvaged Intrepid in as a "massive labor of love" after it ran aground on Nantucket, his crew hasn't changed much from when it was first assembled in 1998, after a two-year complete restoration of the yacht.
"I'm most proud that we don't bring in any rock stars," said Curtin. "It's staggering the amount of time people are willing to sacrifice for this summer's racing schedule, but that's how strongly everyone feels about each other."
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Jack Curtin (helm) with Scott Perry racing Intrepid at the 2017 12mR North American Championship
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Among Intrepid's crew members are two father-son combinations. Travis Pierce, son of starboard trimmer Reggie Pierce (Courageous '74, Independence '77),will work the bow, while Ian O'Brien, son of port trimmer Tom O'Brien (Courageous '74, Independence '77),will work the pit. Other America's Cup veterans crewing are tactician Scott Perry (Independence '77) and main trimmer Skip Beck (Clipper (US-32) '80).
"We've started practicing already, so we are serious, and we've done whatever we thought we could do to make us more competitive," said Curtin, noting he has now completed major improvements to Intrepid a total of four times (including this year in preparation for the Worlds). He pointed out other American owners such as Dennis Williams, Charles Robertson, Jack LeFort and Gunther Buerman - owners, respectively, of Victory '83 (K-22)
, Freedom (US-30), Challenge XII (KA-10) and New Zealand (KZ-3) - who have invested great amounts of money and effort into either restoring or totally rebuilding the magnificent 12 Metres that will be racing in the Worlds.
"In addition to being as beautiful and significant as ever, the fleet is the fastest it has ever been," said Curtin. "Every boat that's racing is in better shape than when it first sailed decades ago."
The 12 Metre World Championship is hosted by Ida Lewis Yacht Club, the International Twelve Metre Association (ITMA) America's Fleet and the 12 Metre Yacht Club.
The 2019 12 Metre World Championship is sponsored by Chateau d'Esclans -Whispering Angel, Grand Banks Yachts, Gurney's Marina and Resort, MJM Yachts and North Sails. Official suppliers include Bacardi, Harborside Marina, Helly Hansen Newport, McMillen Yachts, Sevenstar Yacht Transport, Stella Artois, Trident Studio and Vhernier Milano. Event venue partners are Clarke Cooke House, Ida Lewis Yacht Club, International Yacht Restoration School, Newport Shipyard, Sail Newport and Seamen's Church Institute. For more information please visit: https://12mrworlds.com/partners/
A full list of competitors is here: https://12mrworlds.com/2019-competitors/
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. #12mRWorldChampionship, @12mRWorldChampionship
(end)
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12 Metre Yacht Club Supporter: MAYBE NEW AD?
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Americas Fleet Update: by Peter Gerard
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As the summer nears, the excitement over the largest gathering 12 Metre in the US for the 2019 World Championship continues to grow.
The US based boats are already planning to launch and begin boat tuning and crew practice. The boats coming from the Baltic are now on the high seas, with the boats coming from the Med, close behind.
The Regatta Team from Ida Lewis YC has been working on organizing and social arrangements all winter, and the fruits of this labor will be seen and appreciated by all the competitors and supporters very soon.
As Sherlock Holmes says, "the game is a foot", and what an exciting and fun game it will be. --PG
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Calling All 12mR Snappers & Shutterbugs!
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Please help us with our
60 years of Newport 12s photo gallery for our websites, social media
and for possible inclusion in the official 2019 12 Metre World Championship program in the July issue of QUEST magazine.
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Were We Ever That Young?
by Steve Lirakis
Left to right: Peter Lawson, Duby Joslin peeking over the shoulder of Reg Pierce, Tom O'Brien, Arthur Santry and Teddy Hood onboard Independence (US-28) with Courageous (US-26) following- 1977.
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If you have
ANY Newport 12 Metre photos from 1958 - 2018 sailing, on the docks or hard, candid crew shots, etc.
we'd love to see and share them! Please send highest resolution possible, with caption and your photo credit to us at
12myachtclub@gmail.com and
you just may see your photo(s) online or in print in QUEST magazine!
No digital file? No worries!
Contact us and we will scan your print(s) or slide(s) and return to you.
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Just Announced: History of the 12 Metres Panel Discussion
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 The International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) has just announced that they will be hosting a panel discussion on The History of 12 Metres with David Elwell, Peter Gerard and Dyer Jones, moderated by Jamie Hilton.
The event, scheduled for Thursday, June 27 starting at 6pm will be held Restoration Hall on 449 Thames Street, Newport, RI.
Space is limited, early registration is advised. More details and tickets are available for purchase here.
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12 Metre Yacht Club Supporter:
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12 Metre Owner's Interview Series by Jamie Hilton
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Interview with Gunther Buerman, owner of
New Zealand (KZ-3)
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After several inquires from eager sailors AND in view of 12s returning to the racing fleet that will need crew...
We are continuing to build our online
CREW LIST for the convenience of our Members! If you are a SAILOR looking for opportunities to crew on 12mRs, visit our
CREW SIGN-UP page, create a Screen ID and complete a quick racing experience profile.
Attn: Owners, Captains & Project Managers: We currently have
19 crew candidate listings posted on our website. Each profile displays credentials, experience, availability and contact information. Eleven candidates indicate 12mR racing experience! Click through, perhaps you'll find your next crew MVP
here.
If you are a 12mR OWNER or CREW MANAGER, book mark our
CREW LIST page for your future reference.
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12 Metre Yacht Club Supporter:
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Photos by Stephen Lirakis, 12MYC Historian
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| Northern Light (US-14) and Onawa (US-6) |
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| Challenge XII (KA-10) and Freedom (US-30) |
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| Moderns Racing Downwind |
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12mR Worlds Team Photos
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From Italy and Canada to Newport, Here They Come!
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| Top: Nyala Team, Courageous Syndicate; Middle: Team Columbia, Kookaburra II Team; Bottom: Intrepid Team, Kookaburra II (outer circle) and Nyala (inner circle) Teams |
ATTENTION Owners & Program Managers: if you have not yet done so, please complete and return the 2019 12 Metre World Championship Competitor Questionnaire with a high-res photo to represent your team asap. We have tight deadlines to meet for our programme inclusion in QUEST magazine and request your help to insure that all teams will be included.
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12 Metre Yacht Club Supporter:
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2019 AMERICAS FLEET EVENTS
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Don't Forget: the
Waypoints to the Worlds Trophy is Still Up for Grabs!
The competition resumes June 14-16 at the NYYC 165th Annual Regatta; below are the standings to date:
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12 Metre Yacht Club Supporter:
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OFFICIAL 12MYC GEAR, GET IT HERE:
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BURGEES: FADE-RESISTANT 12" X 18" DOUBLE-FACED APPLIQUE
NECKTIES: 100% SILK w/ WOVEN DESIGN
BOTH MADE IN USA
FOR SALE TO MEMBERS ONLY
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SUPPORT 12MYC, ADVERTISE WITH US
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This 12 Metre Yacht Club E-Newsletter is proud to have a very sophisticated readership comprised of yacht owners, sailors, entrepreneurs and community leaders among others. If you would like to bring your business to the attention of our discriminating subscribers,
please contact us for our reasonable rates and advertising options.
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Do you have extra 12mR gear gathering dust in a container? Would you like to sell or lend it to another 12mR program just getting underway?
or
Is your 12mR program in need of practice gear?
Based on your responses, we will set-up a webpage at 12MYC.org to list pre-owned 12mR gear wanted or available in the Newport area.
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