Organizers of America’s Jubilee have announced that three vessels — the tall ship Tabor Boy, the 12-metre Intrepid, and the world-class racer Temptation — will lead the fleet in a Celebration Sail off Newport on June 5.
The race gets underway at 10 a.m., with celebrations beginning at 5 p.m. and capped by a fireworks finale. The event coincides with World Environment Day during World Oceans Week and is intended to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The 24-mile offshore course starts and finishes off Castle Hill Light, heading south approximately five nautical miles to Narragansett Bay buoy NB, then east approximately nine nautical miles to Schuyler Ledge, then west approximately 7.5 nautical miles to Breton Reef, before turning north back to the finish line. The course is subject to change by the America’s Jubilee Committee.
Organizers are targeting 250 boats for the sail. Registration is open to sailboats 24 feet or larger, with an entry fee of $250 and a fleet cap of 250 boats.
America’s Jubilee was inspired by the America’s Cup Jubilee, which drew 201 sailboats to race around the Isle of Wight in Cowes, England.
The three lead vessels each carry significant sailing history. Tabor Boy is a 115-foot, two-masted schooner built in 1914 and owned by Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts, where it serves as a floating classroom for students. Intrepid is a 12-metre yacht that won the America’s Cup in both 1967 and 1970 and has been owned by Jack Curtin since 1996. Temptation, a Judel/Vrolijk-designed 66-footer captained by Art Santry, set a course record last year in the Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race and will use the June 5 sail as a tune-up for the Newport to Bermuda Race.
Net proceeds from America’s Jubilee benefit the Tall Ships America Endowment, which supports sail training and workforce development. Registration information is available at americasjubilee.org/registration.
