Please select your home edition
Edition
Lloyd Stevenson - Catalyst GT 1456x180px TOP

The Sailing Museum announces May 10th grand opening

by The Sailing Museum 21 Apr 2022 03:39 NZST May 10, 2022
The Sailing Museum announces May 10th grand opening © The Sailing Museum

The Sailing Museum has announced it will officially open its doors to the public on May 10th, 2022. Located on the waterfront of downtown Newport in the historic Armory Building built in 1894, the museum will offer an innovative multi-media experience.

An educational and cultural non-profit organization, The Sailing Museum will feature the National Sailing Hall of Fame and America's Cup Hall of Fame. In the space once used as the Press Room for the America's Cup, the heritage of sailing will be celebrated, the legends of the sport honored, and new sailors and innovators inspired. In addition to the Halls of Fame, The Sailing Museum will feature a mix of high- and low-tech interactive exhibits that share the principles of sailing, provide seasoned sailors with opportunities to test their skills and knowledge and connect new sailors with resources to get started on their sailing journey.

A collaborative design effort led by award-winning Healy Kohler Design, The Sailing Museum will offer sailing enthusiasts the chance to revel in their sport and new sailors to be enticed to take to the water for the first time. The personalized museum journey begins with the selection of a boat. For sailors, they can select from one of seven; while those experiencing sailing for the first time will be given the option of a short quiz that will help them select a boat. For all, this boat will become their avatar throughout their museum experience, guiding them through the interactive elements, and offering the chance to build skills and earn virtual rewards. The first floor of the museum is divided into six thematic areas: Wind & Water; The Making of a Sailor: Mental; The Making of a Sailor: Physical; Teamwork; Competition; and Legends of Sailing - National Sailing Hall of Fame & America's Cup Hall of Fame. The second floor is home to additional exhibits and a private lounge honoring Hall of Famers.

Embedded with 'stealth learning', exhibits will provide real-world applications of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) concepts that come alive through sailing. These five disciplines are used in everyday activities, promoting problem solving, and creative and analytical thinking in a more open-ended way and make them applicable to real life. Formal and informal educational programming will be layered into the experience throughout the year.

"The museum is Newport and Rhode Island's newest cultural institution and tourist attraction and is directly tied to the heritage and identity of the Ocean State," said Heather Ruhsam, Executive Director, The Sailing Museum. "Opening the museum fulfills a longstanding vision of the organization's founders. A dream 17 years in the making, made possible by the work and support of so many individuals who came together to make this truly stunning location a reality. The Sailing Museum is not only intended to preserve the history of the sport, but to educate and inspire future sailors and innovators."

"Our new home will be a feast for the senses, harnessing technology to bring the excitement of sailing to life and honoring our sport's heroes in exciting and innovative ways," said Gus Carlson, President of the National Sailing Hall of Fame. "Our goal is to create a special place that engages everyone, from our sport's faithful to casual sailors to newcomers who are curious about what happens when wind and water meet. We are confident The Sailing Museum will be a unique venue to showcase our sport and the accomplishments of its heroes."

"In The Sailing Museum, sailing has a home that trumpets its achievements and inspires generations to excel on the water, and to serve the sport," said Gary Jobson, Hall of Famer and Board Member. "The memorable moments in our sport are countless, and unless there is a common place to preserve these memories, we're in danger of losing the relevance of sailing's past and future."

"Sailing is an activity without limits," said Betsy Alison, Hall of Famer and United States Paralympic Sailing Team Coach. "The Sailing Museum stresses the inclusivity of the sport and is a venue that celebrates the passion that drives people to take to the water. I am confident that the exhibits here will educate and entertain visitors of all abilities or interests."

"I am lucky indeed to be a member of both the National Sailing Hall of Fame and the America's Cup Hall of Fame," said Tom Whidden, Executive Chairman, North Technology Group. "What an honor it will be to sit alongside so many accomplished people, who have achieved so much in our sport, presented in this incredible new facility in Newport. For anyone, of any age, who loves to sail, The Sailing Museum will be a must visit."

A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place Friday, May 6th from 10:30 a.m. to noon, to which the public is invited to attend. Rhode Island Lt. Governor Matos will be in attendance and the Governor will provide remarks alongside other dignitaries.

Beginning May 10th through the Summer season, The Sailing Museum will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets will be offered at $18, with discounts for seniors, students and military, and children 10 and under will enjoy the museum free of charge. In keeping with their goal to increase access to the sport and create an inclusive environment to learn, The Sailing Museum is a member of the Museums for All program, which provides reduced admission to low-income visitors at over 800 museums in the country. Tickets for visitors participating in the SNAP program will be $2.

For more information on The Sailing Museum, to buy tickets or to learn more about annual memberships, please visit thesailingmuseum.org.

Related Articles

Sled looking to avoid 2024's late season slide
As the 52 Super Series starts next week in Saint-Tropez Fourth overall last season, 2024 and fourth also on 2022's final standings, fifth in 2023 Takashi Okura's USA flagged Sled team start 2025 looking to find the small percentage gains here and there. Posted today at 5:28 pm
Smarter at the Dock, Safer at Sea
How Upgrades Are Changing Cruising The service being offered by yacht manufacturers leaps forward every year - responding to a market which demands the highest quality in every aspect. Posted today at 3:00 pm
Transatlantic Race 2025 Preview
A North Atlantic adventure like no other The Transatlantic Race 2025 from the East Coast of the United States to the shores of the United Kingdom stands as one of sailing's most time-honored and demanding challenges. Posted today at 1:52 pm
A+T Instruments 10th Anniversary Celebrations
"We set out to make the World's Best Yacht Instruments" Globally recognised yacht instruments company A+T Instruments is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year after a decade of successful growth by pushing the boundaries of quality and customer service. Posted today at 11:00 am
Is the Côte d'Azure set to deal a dose of déjà vu?
All set for the 52 SUPER SERIES 2025 season opener next week Teams from the 52 SUPER SERIES, the world's leading grand prix monohull circuit, have been hard at work through the winter and spring preparing for the 2025 season, technical updates giving way recently to on the water training. Posted today at 5:26 am
Ficker Cup sets stage for Congressional Cup
Eight international match racing teams prepare to do battle Eight international match racing teams will prepare to do battle at the Ficker Cup this weekend, 25-27 April, an official qualifying event of the World Match Racing Tour, hosted by the Long Beach Yacht Club. Posted today at 5:09 am
Melbourne Osaka Cup Update
A Thrilling Finish for Quest and Lord Jiminy After more than 5,500 nautical miles of ocean racing, just 44 seconds separated Quest and Lord Jiminy in one of the closest finishes of the Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race so far. Posted on 24 Apr
56th Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères day 4
Kiteboarders and windsurfers go for Friday gold as shifts play havoc with process On a day in which fortunes shifted as much as the winds, French Olympic Week will have its first Medal Races on Friday as the top 8 men and women kitesurfers and windsurfers battle it out for the podium. Posted on 24 Apr
Transat Paprec Day 5
Galley & Bloch: "We couldn't have dreamed of much better!" Laure Galley - Kévin Bloch (DMG MORI Academy): "We couldn't have dreamed of much better!" Posted on 24 Apr
Be a Dynamic Team
The right clothing brings so much to a sailing campaign The right clothing brings so much to a sailing campaign. It unites the team, helps improve performance, and engenders loyalty to the yacht. Quite simply, it can be a game-changer - a performance upgrade for the boat. Posted on 24 Apr
Armstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - BOTTOMNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastCollinsonCo 728x90 BOTTOM