America’s Cup Tour: historic replica yacht America visiting St. Petersburg, teaching marine ecology and engineering

  ST PETERSBURG, FL - 10/13/2016 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

Visitors will have a unique opportunity to see and sail aboard the schooner AMERICA, a 139-foot replica of the yacht that shocked the world and won the first ever Royal Yacht Squadron’s “100 Pound Cup” regatta around the Isle of Wight in 1851. That race resulted in the America’s Cup competition, which continues to this day. From October 18^th – 22^nd, AMERICA will host free dockside tours from 10:00am – noon, and tickets are available for sunset sails to take place from 4:45pm – 7:15pm. Plus, youth are invited to take part in an applied STEM talk presented by Captain Troy Sears (Tuesday and Thursday only from 3:30pm – 4:30pm). All activities begin at St. Petersburg’s Harborage Marina: 1110 3rd St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

The Harborage Marina is hosting this opportunity in partnership with Next Level Sailing as part of the official America’s Cup Tour to bring you a day filled with fun and excitement, not to mention history, education and tradition.

“The goal of the America’s Cup Tour is to celebrate the event’s storied history and infuse a new level of excitement and involvement in the America’s Cup now and for generations to come,” Troy Sears, AMERICA’s owner/captain, said.

Tickets for the sunset sail will be $85.00 for adults, and $42.50 for children 17 and under and military. A multimedia presentation will be made by Sears. The program includes an overview of the Cup’s storied history, a chance to relive the dramatic comeback of AC34, and an inside look at what to expect for AC35 in Bermuda. The presentations offer an exciting way to experience the America’s Cup in an evening of entertainment for everyone.

This event is open to the public, so invite all your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers for this rare event, and don’t forget to include students in the highly informative STEM talks. Here they will learn about the converging disciplines that are needed to make and operate a world-class sailing vessel that works with immense respect and care for the biology, ecology and oceanography of the living ocean environment.

INVITATION TO PRESS:

A press conference and exclusive photo opportunities of the sailing yacht AMERICA will be held at the Harborage Marina, St. Petersburg on October 19, 2016 at 9:30am. Elected officials and community leaders will be present to welcome in this unique visit to St. Petersburg, a community that holds a strong tie to competitive sailing now and throughout its history. Additionally, we will discuss the importance of the state of our oceans and marine life and the responsibility we each have to be ecological stewards of our waters. The AMERICA will then be open to public tours.

Harborage Marina location: 1110 3rd St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

Sailing Yacht AMERICA Photos: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B70aXeanSOnHdmNZclNFcHR4dkU

About STEM Talks (Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 – 4:30): Next Level Sailing STEM talks are open to all students. They will be presented by Captain Troy Sears, owner of the sailing yacht AMERICA. These STEM talks are designed to present discussions on the engineering of the state-of-the-art composite technology of today’s America’s Cup racing yachts while being aboard the AMERICA, a replica of the yacht that showed the world in 1851 our country’s leadership in naval architecture. Additionally, information will be presented on environmental issues and the state of our oceans and marine life. Specifically, students will learn about:

• The history of the AMERICA, originally built in 1851 as the world’s fastest ocean racing yacht
• Today’s America’s Cup racing yacht and how the engineering of these foiling carbon fiber vessels achieve speeds in excess to three times the wind speed
• Our oceans and marine life and the importance of protecting our ocean environment