All in a Day's Sail

Most of America's Cup Charters' crew have spent a good portion of their lives on the water, around boats or in a shipyard.  They are doing what they love and their passion translates to the services they provide.  In the time they have been sailing, they've encountered many situations and use that experience to help our customers make the most out of their on-water adventure.  In previous blogs, we've profiled a few of our crew.  Here's a dossier on one of our crew who's spent over half a decade with us.  Meet Ben.

Ben

Name:  Ben Farrar

My hometown is:  Cambridge, Ohio

I've worked at ACC:  over a half-decade, I started in 2007

I learned to sail:

   where?  Salt Fork Lake, Ohio

   on what?  Sunfish & Hobie Cats

   how old?  11

My role at ACC is:  First mate & relief captain on Intrepid

Before ACC:  I worked in San Diego on the Schooner America

In the off season:  I repair boats - Intrepid  and 2 other 12 meters in the Newport fleet, USA 61 and KZ 3                                                                    

My perfect day entails:  relaxing and having no responsibilities

My favorite book is:  Cats Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

My favorite food is:   anything Mexican

My favorite sailing memory is:  Sailing from Key West to San Diego via the Panama Canal.  There was also a special day on Intrepid when Olin Stephens, the designer of Intrepid, came down to the dock for a visit.  I gave him a hand on to the deck of Intrepid and he reminisced about how he designed her.  At the time, he was 99 years old. It was a privilege to meet him, show him around the boat and see his reaction to how Intrepid looks today.  He told me Intrepid was always one of the favorite boats he had designed.  I have to agree with him!

We hope you'll sail with us this coming season and meet Ben.  You can usually find him barefoot on the deck of Intrepid!

Our Intrepid racing team, Ben is 4th from the right

A wet sheet and a flowing sea,

A wind that follows fast 

And fills the white and rustling sail

And bends the gallant mast.

Allan Cunningham

World's Most Beautiful Boats

We sure know a thing or two about classic boats, there happen to be four of them in our fleet of America's Cup 12 Meter yachts.  It's nice to see that Classic Boat Magazine recognized one of them in their November issue.  

Classic Boat Magazine is a British publication dedicated to the world's most beautiful boats.  Weatherly happens to be one of them and was recognized as such in "Overseas News".  Last fall Weatherly received federal recognition for her contribution to the history of naval architecture, engineering, and recreation.  Edward F. Sanderson, executive director of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission, announced that the National Park Service listed Weatherly on the National Register of Historic Places.  According to Sanderson, "The Ocean State has been a world-class yacht racing center for over a century, and Weatherly is an illustrious representative of this proud tradition."
If you want to read more about Weatherly's illustrious history, check out US Harbors write up.  

George Hill on right with partner Herb Marshall

George Hill, the current owner and skipper of Weatherly, also one of the partners in our company, certainly put a major effort into reviving Weatherly to her original specs and he continues to lovingly maintain her.  Throughout this winter, you can find George at New England Boatworks in Portsmouth, RI working on all kinds of projects on Weatherly, getting her ready for the upcoming charter season. 

One more note on the November issue of Classic Boat - the Fife schooner Adventuress, featured as an "American Beauty", was often seen sailing the waters of Narragansett Bay with a young captain at the wheel, Walter Cavanagh.  When she moved on to new waters, we were fortunate enough to bring Walter on as crew aboard Weatherly and now for the last two seasons he's been the captain of Nefertiti for us.

Captain Walter Cavanagh at the helm of Nefertiti

Crew Profile: Micah Reyes

Name: Micah Reyes

My hometown is: Coron, Palawan, Philippines

This is my first season at ACC.

I learned to Sail:

where?: North Carolina

on what?: Hobie Cats &Flying Scots

how old?: 17

My role at ACC is: I am a crew member on American Eagle.

Before ACC I: I worked day-charters and term charters and raced beach-cats in the Virgin Islands.

During the winter: I avoid the cold and go to the Caribbean or Philippines.

My perfect Day Entails: sailing with friends in the islands anywhere in the world.

My favorite Book is: The Bible, The Alchemist, and Oh The Places You'll Go!

My favorite Food is: freshly caught sashimi straight out of the ocean

My favorite Sailing memory is: building a local style 'paraw' trimaran in the Philippines

Get to meet Micah in person by going out sailing on “American Eagle”! For more information email info@americascupcharters.com.

Crew Profile: Nelson Allen

Name: Nelson Allen

My hometown is: Nantucket

This is my first season at ACC.

I learned to Sail

where?: Nantucket Island

on what?: 420s

how old?: 15 years old

My role at ACC is: I am a crew member on American Eagle.

Before ACC: I crewed and captained various yachts between the east coast of the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe.

During the winter: I deliver yachts to and from the Caribbean and travel in the western United States.

My perfect Day Entails: shredding some tasty waves, eating at a raw bar, crunchy tunes, and tossing the Frisbee.

My favorite Books is: Warrior of Light by Paulo Coelho

My favorite Food is: Fish Tacos

My favorite Sailing memory is: surviving a mid-Atlantic knock over.

Get to meet Nelson in person by going out sailing on “American Eagle”! For more information email info@americascupcharters.com.

Crew Profile: Walter M. Cavanagh

Name: Walter M. Cavanagh

My hometown is: Newport, RI

I’ve worked at ACC since: 2010

I learned to sail

where?: At the Newport Yacht Club

on what?: Capri 14.2, Sunfish, Hereshoff 12.5, Lasers and 420s

how old?: I first sailed when I was 8 years old

My role at ACC is: I am the Captain of “Nefertiti”

Before ACC: I was Captain of the 95ft ketch “Adventuress”, which was designed and built in 1924 by William Fife in Fairlie, Scotland

During the winter: I try and head some place warm to work on boats, or to Lake Tahoe to work as a kids ski instructor

My perfect day entails: Let’s just say most days are not too bad in my world

My favorite books are: My Old Man and the Sea, Siddhartha, A Wild Sheep Chase, To Kill a Mocking Bird, Salems Lot, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, David Copperfield, A Cricket in Time Square, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Into the Wild, Blackhawk Down, Winning in One Designs, and anything written by Roald Dhal

My favorite food is: Pizza

My favorite sailing memory is: Sailing on “Nefertiti” with Ted Hood!

Get to meet Walter in person by going out sailing on “Nefertiti”! For more information email info@americascupcharters.com.

Shots From The Water

Today is the first day of the America’s Cup World Series Championship Racing.  Here’s how the AC45’s practice sessions have looked like so far!

AC45s at speed.

AC45s bearaway.

Korea at speed.

Korea leads the fleet.

Mark rounding.

Oracle in front of the Nantucket Lightship.

American Eagle as a spectator boat.

 

New Zealand’s Emirates coming out of the water.

Team Korea.

For the best view in the bay call (401) 846-9886 and come out sailing on a boat that has already won an America’s Cup!

News From The Water

It's been nothing short of a thrill to be able to watch the AC45s practice here in Newport. While the view from the Race Village at Fort Adams is impressive, watching these incredable boats from land can't compare to the excitement of watching them from the water. Naragansett Bay has been lucky to have sunny skies and good breezes while hosting the America's Cup World Seires and the weather looks like it will continue to cooperate. Tomorrow, June 28, marks the first day of Championship Racing, which will end on July 1. There is still time to charter a 12 meter from America's Cup Charters or join us for a ticketed sail. Visit americascupcharters.com for more imformation. If these practices sessions have been such a thrill, I can only imagine how amazing the Championship Racing is going to be!