For Immediate Release
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Susan Daly (401-848-5777, ext 220 / sdaly@iyrs.org)
Cynthia Goss (203-453-2731 / media@iyrs.org)
IYRS Fall Lectures to Focus on History and Evolution of Speed on the Water
Newport (R.I.) September 22, 2008 — For five evenings this fall, the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) will host a different expert who will explore a topic of interest to many boating enthusiasts: the history and evolution of speed on the water. IYRS's five-part Dinner-and-a-Lecture Series, which is coordinated with a special dinner menu at Newport's Café Zelda, begins on Tuesday, October 7 and runs into early December.
"When we designed this series, we wanted to explore one central theme: how designers and builders have tapped technology and innovations to make boats go faster on the water—and how that effort has changed over the years," said Susan Daly, vice president of marketing at IYRS.
The series looks at boats powered by both wind and high-horsepower engines. Local sailor Chris Museler opens the series on October 7 with an overview on "The History of Speed." Museler's talk—which takes both a look back at past efforts and a look at the current cutting edge in waterborne speed—sets the stage for subsequent lectures on different types of boats.
On the powerboat side, the series explores the racing of vintage powerboats as well as a look at the designs of the Huckins Yacht Corporation, a producer of notable recreational powerboats and PT boats whose first designs date back to the late 1920s.
On the sailing side, the series looks at two different classes of boats: the International 14, a development class that has a long history of taking advantage of the latest developments in technology and materials; and the 6-Meter, a popular meter-rule class, whose history dates to the early 1900s, that will host its 2009 world championships in Newport.
Below is a schedule of the series:
Tuesday, October 7
Chris Museler – "The History of Speed"
Tuesday, October 21
Keith Brown – "The Vintage Era of Powerboat Racing"
Tuesday, November 4
Steve Clark – "The International 14: Evolution of the Oldest International Sailing Class"
Tuesday, November 18
Cindy and Buddy Purcell – "The History of the Huckins Yacht Corporation"
Tuesday, December 2
Toby Rodes – "The 6-Meter Class"
Lecture-goers can start the evening with dinner at Café Zelda (528 Thames Street) and dine from a special lecture-night menu, then walk to IYRS (449 Thames Street), where lectures begin at Restoration Hall at 7:30 pm. Lectures are free for IYRS members, $7 for nonmembers.
For reservations at Café Zelda, call 401-829-4002. For more information on the IYRS Dinner-and-a-Lecture series, visit www.iyrs.org or call 401-848-5777.