The Museum of Yachting was a

not-for-profit A not-for-profit or non-for-profit organization (NFPO) is a Legal Entity, legal entity that does not distribute surplus funds to its members and is formed to fulfill specific objectives. While not-for-profit organizations and Nonprofit organ ...

organization in

Newport, Rhode Island Newport is a seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Rhode Island, United States. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, and nort ...

which worked to preserve the culture and heritage of

yachting Yachting is recreational boating activities using medium/large-sized boats or small ships collectively called yachts. Yachting is distinguished from other forms of boating mainly by the priority focus on comfort and luxury, the dependence on ma ...

. The Museum was founded in 1979 by

John Mecray John Marcy Mecray (February 13, 1937 – November 1, 2017) was an American realist painter best known for his marine art Marine art or maritime art is a form of figurative art (that is, painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture) that port ...

and a small group of friends and was first housed at

Fort Adams Fort Adams is a former United States Army post in Newport, Rhode Island, Newport, Rhode Island, that was established on July 4, 1799, as a Seacoast defense in the United States#First System, First System Coastal defence and fortification, coas ...

. In 2007, the

International Yacht Restoration School IYRS School of Technology & Trades (known as IYRS, from its previous name of the International Yacht Restoration School) is a private nonprofit school with a 3-acre campus on Thames Street in Newport, Rhode Island. IYRS focuses on training highly ...

acquired the museum and, in 2008, relocated its collection to the ''Edward W. Kane and James Gubelmann Library'' located in the restored ''John Mecray Aquidneck Mill Building''. The Museum was home to two permanent exhibits: ''The America’s Cup – The Newport Years'', and ''Coronet: The Long Life and Revival of an Historic American Schooner Yacht'', the story of ''

Coronet In British heraldry, a coronet is a type of crown that is a mark of rank of non-reigning members of the royal family and peers. In other languages, this distinction is not made, and usually the same word for ''crown'' is used irrespective of ra ...

''. It was also home to the

American Sailboat Hall of Fame The American Sailboat Hall of Fame is a defunct hall of fame honoring 26 production sailboats built-in the United States. The hall of fame was established in 1994 by Sail America, a trade association for the U.S. sailing industry, to recognize in ...

which honored sailboats built-in the United States and the ''Single-Handed Sailors' Hall of Fame'' which honored achievements of outstanding solo sailors throughout the world.

Classic Yacht Regatta

Starting in 1980, the Museum organized and hosted the annual Classic Yacht Regatta to raise awareness of and showcase vintage sailing yachts. The IYRS School of Technology & Trades has since taken over organizational duties of the Regatta which is scheduled for its 44th running on September 2–3, 2023.

References

External links

* Museums in Newport, Rhode Island Museums established in 1979 Maritime museums in Rhode Island Museum of Yachting Sailing museums and halls of fame {{RhodeIsland-museum-stub