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12 Metre Yacht Club

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Dawn Riley and Oakcliff Trainees to sail Courageous in 2023  12 Metre Worlds



We are happy to announce that Oakcliff will campaign the historic 12 Metre Courageous for the 2023 World Championships in Newport RI. The boat will be raced by a young and diverse team of sailors selected from Oakcliff’s Acorn and Sapling training programs.

This will be a bit of a David-and-Goliath situation with our young, aspiring sailors racing 12 Metres against the best of the best from around the world. Most of our sailors and some of their parents were not even alive the last time this class competed for the America’s Cup. 12 Metres were used from 1958 to 1987.

Courageous has meant so much to the American sailing community and to Newport in particular,” said Kimbra Walter, who with her husband Mark, owns Courageous, and will provide support for the forthcoming campaign. “We feel a responsibility to use Courageous’ next chapter to help the world of sailing gain a wider and more diverse following. We want to offer more young women and people from every background the opportunity to experience the joy of sailing—and to be able to turn it into a profession."

Courageous, USA 26 won the America’s Cup in 1974 with Ted Hood and Dennis Connor on board, and again in 1977 skippered by Ted Turner with Gary Jobson as tactician, becoming the second and last boat to successfully defend the Cup. Jobson has agreed to share his experience and insight with the Oakcliff team this summer. Courageous also holds a prominent place in The Sailing Museum and the America’s Cup Hall of Fame in Newport.

“Having this team onboard Courageous will do so much to continue to move the conversation forward and break new ground in ethnic and gender diversity” said Heather Rusham, executive director of The Sailing Museum. 

Oakcliff is a workforce training center for those wishing to explore a professional career in the sport.

12 Metre North American Championship






12 METRE PARADE 

                SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH AT 10AM


Newport Yachting Center

The 12 Metre Yacht Club, the North American fleet of 12 Metre yachts, along with Ida Lewis Yacht Club will be hosting the 12 Metre North American Championships Sept. 16 -18.  On the final day of racing, Sunday, Sept. 18th, the fleet of 12 Metres will proudly parade through Newport Harbor at approximately 10:00 AM. Attendees at the Show on Sunday, join us at the Newport Yachting Center Marina docks for this must-see moment!  Flags will be flying, and horns will be tooting as these iconic yachts, many former America’s Cup contenders, circle the harbor before their final day of racing.  Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to see them all in one place, up close and on the water!