Newport Rhode Island - time to visit for a new yachting exhibition

by Cynthia Goss/Sail-World Cruising on 9 Apr 2013 Nowhere in the world is the history of yachting more lovingly preserved than in Newport Rhode Island, especially at the Museum of Yachting itself. If you are anywhere within reach of the one of the oldest yachting-mad towns in the world, there's an exhibition you wouldn't want to miss, and there's plenty of time to get there, opening on 1st June.

The Museum’s upcoming exhibition will feature a diverse collection of Newport yachting and coastal scenes. The exhibit will include artwork done in different mediums from the 19th century to contemporary times to give both residents and visitors alike a look at the rich and varied history of yachting in this New England city.

The exhibition will be staged in the IYRS/Museum of Yachting Library, located in the Aquidneck Mill Building on Thames Street. The exhibit’s opening will coordinate with an important weekend at IYRS when students launch their careers into the workforce, along with their boats and student projects, at Graduation & Launch Day.

This summer’s exhibition marks a new chapter for the Museum of Yachting. In 2013, the Museum is leaving its location at Fort Adams State Park and will stage all exhibits at its in-town location on the IYRS campus. Since 2008, the Museum has staged exhibits and restoration projects at both the IYRS campus and out at the Fort. In 2012, the Museum reduced its footprint at Fort Adams by sharing the building with Sail Newport.

Sail Newport is a non-profit public sailing center that provides sailing programs for all ages. The organization not only runs on-the-water activities, but the added classroom space enables Sail Newport to expand its educational programs.

The Museum and Sail Newport will continue to co-manage the Classic Yacht Regatta (CYR) at Fort Adams, an annual event for classic boats that is held over the Labor Day weekend. With sponsorship from Panerai, this event has grown in stature and is now part of a regional circuit, the North American Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge. This year, the CYR will be held August 31 to September 1.

Even visiting the library, where the exhibition is to be held, is an experience in itself. The IYRS/MoY Library has a sweeping view of Newport Harbor and its entrance from Narragansett Bay. One of the most extensive collections of maritime reference materials in the northeast, the library has become a valuable resource used by yacht designers, students, writers, documentary filmmakers, and others who travel from throughout the U.S. and Europe to access the collection.

The library contains over 4,000 nautical titles, some 100 rare books, source materials such as logbooks and yacht club directories, and technical materials for IYRS students. It is open year-round to the public.

For more information about the Museum, visit www.moy.org. For more information about Sail Newport visit www.sailnewport.org.