IYRS Tuesday Night Dinner-and-a-Lecture-Series
The entire community around Newport is buzzing about the upcoming America’s Cup World Series event taking place on the waters of Narragansett Bay off Fort Adams this June. To satisfy the curiosity of so many about what to expect and what these high tech multi hull boats are all about, as well as to remind everyone about the rich history of America’s Cup Sailing that took place here between 1930 and 1983, some of the local experts will come to IYRS and share their knowledge and entertaining stories about the Cup. Have a great dinner at Zelda’s and then settle in for a fun evening.
March 6th: Brad Read, Chair of The America's Cup World Series Host Committee and Executive Director of Sail Newport
The America’s Cup World Series Comes to Newport: What to Expect Out on the Bay
As Chair of the AC Host Committee, Brad will give us a glimpse of what to expect in June – the village set up at Fort Adams State Park, the teams scheduled to compete as well as the course and racing.
March 20th: Chris Museler
Making it to Prime Time: How the America's Cup will be in every living room by 2013
Shawn White, Venus Williams, Michael Phelps, Peekaboo Street. We know them. We love to watch them. After the 34th America's Cup, if the biggest brand in the yachting world plays its cards right, Jimmy Spithill, Loick Peyron, Dean Barker, Terry Hutchinson and their crews will become household names like the rest of the planet's top athletes. We'll show you how the Cup is taking a visionary stance with digital media, crazy, dangerous boats, and a relentless (and ruthless) group of elite athletes and turning the sport into "must see TV." A side promo can be never-before-seen behind the scenes footage of physical training off the water, nightlife, and on the water action. And finally, an Up Close and Personal with one of the athletes, called, "the making of a sports hero." It's not about the race!
April 3rd: Halsey Herreshoff, President of Herreshoff Designs Inc.
Remembrances of the 12-Metre Era of the America’s Cup in Newport
There is no one who knows more about racing 12-metres for the America’s Cup in Newport than Halsey Herreshoff. He has the rare distinction of being the first sailor over the line on a 12-metre in the America’s Cup as well as the last sailor over the line in a 12-metre in the America’s Cup. He achieved this as the bowman on Columbia in 1958 and as the navigator in the afterguard in 1983.
Halsey will present what is arguably the most colorful era of cup racing full of controversy, commotion and characters.
April 17th: Ben Hall, Vice President of Hall Spars
Wing Sails, Carbon Fiber and Multi-Hulls: The New Technology of the Cup
Ben has a wealth of experience and knowledge about the America’s Cup and wing sails. He has built spars for a number of America’s Cup racers, successfully competed with wing sails aboard his own A-Class cat and worked on wing sails for the last America’s Cup boats as well as the upcoming boats. Ben is very well suited to present the technology and construction of these space-age racers, explain how they work and prepare us for the excitement we’re about to witness in June.
For more information, please contact Jay Picotte jpicotte@moy.org or (401)848-5777, ext 222.
NEW! Brought to you by The America’s Cup Host Committee, IYRS, Newport County Chamber of Commerce & the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association.
May 22nd: Stan Honey, Director of Technology for the 34th America's Cup
The Technology Behind the America’s Cup
Director of Technology for the America's Cup Stan Honey will make a special appearance at IYRS on May 22 to talk about “The Technology Behind the America’s Cup: TV Graphics, Race Operations and Umpiring.” Lecture-goers will not only hear from a two-time Emmy Winner and major figure in technological innovation in sports television; Honey is also a world-class competitor and a winning Volvo Ocean Race navigator, Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, and navigator onboard the Jules Verne Trophy offshore record-setter Groupama 3. In the past, America’s Cup broadcasts have only featured graphics visible in an animated view of the race; for the 34th Cup, Honey has developed a system to track the Cup catamarans and superimpose graphics on live helicopter footage to attract a new generation of fans and engage experienced sailors. Come to IYRS to learn how these groundbreaking innovations will allow the America’s Cup to be experienced in a way it has never been before.
Doors open at 7pm, lecture begins at 8pm. Seating is limited.
For more information please contact Tricia Yeoman (401) 619-0258