Tuesday Night Dinner-and-a-Lecture Series
Fall 2009

Bigger is Better: The Great Yachts, Yesterday and Today

IYRS will host five experts for a series of lectures on some of the most famous motor and sailing yacht ever built.

• Stop by Café Zelda for dinner with a special IYRS menu (528 Thames Street), 6–7:15 pm. Call Zelda’s for reservations: 401-849-4002
• Walk to IYRS Restoration Hall for the 7:30 lecture (members–free; nonmembers–$7)

October 27: Earl McMillen, “The Restoration of Freedom”, 7:30 pm
After a four-year restoration, the gorgeous Mathis-Trumpy built motor yacht Freedom was re-launched this spring. Earl will describe the monumental task of returning the 83-year-old, 104’ yacht to better-than-new splendor and discuss the challenges involved in restoring and managing yachts for fractional ownership.

November 10: Halsey Herreshoff, "The Great Herreshoff Schooners", 7:30 pm
Lecture Cancelled

November 17:  Tim Murray, "The Kingdom Years: Ninety Years of Ownership of the Schooner Yacht Coronet", 7:30 pm
In an evening lecture, Captain Tim Murray explores an important period in the history of the historic 1885 schooner yacht Coronet. The Kingdom owned the yacht from 1905 to 1995, and during that period, Coronet was used for their missionary forays around the world. Murray’s life story is closely intertwined with the historic yacht: his father served as captain, and at age 12, Murray moved onboard Coronet with his family. The lecture corresponds with the exhibit on "Coronet: The Long Life and Revival of an Historic American Schooner Yacht," which includes photography and artifacts that depict Coronet's opulent interior, as well as a focus on the yacht's colorful owners and her sometimes-controversial adventures at sea. Coronet is currently being restored at the International Yacht Restoration School, located across Newport Harbor.

December 8: Elizabeth Meyer, “The Ongoing Resurgence of the J-Class”, 7:30 pm
Elizabeth is not unfamiliar with the undeniable allure of the J class of racing yachts. Indeed, it was her five-year restoration of Endeavour that not only saved and resurrected the majestic J class, but many believe began a new era of classic yacht appreciation and restoration. This past summer Newport witnessed the return of the awesome “J”s in the form of two replicas - Ranger (a replica of the 1937 Cup winner Ranger) and Hanuman (a replica of the 1937 challenger Endevour II). Elizabeth was also willing to make the trip to Europe to research the ongoing resurgence of the J class and report back on the racing and the 4 new “J”s currently being built.

December 15: Llewellyn Howland III, “The Great Steam Yachts”, 7:30 pm
Renowned yachting historian and author Llewellyn Howland III will bring his vast knowledge of the grand yachts of the past and the colorful millionaires who sailed them to IYRS for a fascinating evening of “old school mega-yachting”.

For more information, call 401-848-5777 x222.

Photo generously donated by Cory Silken, www.corysilken.com .