PORT TOWNSEND — A replica of the schooner that won the first America’s Cup Tour will be on display in Port Townsend on Sunday.
The public will have opportunities to tour the boat, view a free presentation and go for an evening sail.
The yacht is a replica of the original America, which in 1851 won the legendary sailing race around the Isle of Wight and took home the trophy that now bears the ship’s name, America’s Cup.
Sunday’s events include a multimedia presentation by Troy Sears, the owner and skipper of the yacht based in San Diego, Calif., in the Maritime Meeting Room at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St.
The program will include an overview of the cup’s history and the most recent contest, as well as an inside look at what to expect for the next event in 2017.
Tours of the schooner will be open to the public at the Northwest Maritime Center dock from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Tickets will be $5 for adults. Children younger than 13 are admitted free.
A public sail is planned from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with tickets costing $75 for adults and $55 for children 12 and younger.
Tickets can be purchased at www.zerve.com/nxtLevelSail.
Next Level Sail purchased the historic 136-foot America in 2006.
The appearance, materials and architecture on the America are authentic, while the inner workings have been modernized, said John Berry, who represents the owner.
The biggest difference, Berry said, is that the replica has engines that serve as a backup during windless times; the original vessel ran on wind power alone.
“Everything on deck is as it was, while there is some modernization down below,” Berry said.
“Other than that, it’s exactly as it was built in 1851.”
The vessel is in the middle of a summer tour that began on the Fourth of July in San Diego and extends through Labor Day weekend in locations around the West Coast.
“The purpose of the tour is to expose younger people to the America’s Cup and get them involved in yachting,” Berry said.
“We want them to know that it isn’t just for rich people.”
Since the America’s Cup’s only reward is a trophy, the involvement takes a substantial financial investment on the part of the boat owner, but there is still room on the crew for people who want the experience, Berry said.
He said the America’s Cup has “always been at the forefront of technical development” with regard to sailing, characterizing it as “the Formula One of boat racing.”
Today’s racers use lightweight catamarans that can travel at 45 knots, while the schooner America’s top speed is 18 knots, making it a bit of a relic.
Automobile racing has followed a similar path: In the 1950s, they traveled at 30 mph, while today’s races boast speeds five times faster.
As a result, those who visit the vessel or take a sail are exposed to a slice of maritime history, Berry said.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
