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American Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 565
Rockland,
Maine 04841
Phone: 207-594-4174
Fax: 207-596-1091
info@lighthousefoundation.org
The American Lighthouse Foundation is a
Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization dedicated to the
preservation of America's historic
lighthouses & lightships and
their heritage.
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Newport Harbor Light Plays Key Role in 2005
Grey Goose ISAF Team Racing World Championship
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Historically,
lighthouses were established to warn mariners away from specific dangers
to navigation along our coasts and harbors. In the case of Newport
Harbor Lighthouse, Rhode Island, the 1842 granite beacon recently
discarded its traditional role and instead “invited” sailors to come
near and disembark at its base – a probable first in the light’s
163-year history.
From September
26th through October 1st, the historic Newport
Harbor Lighthouse was on center stage during the 2005 Grey Goose ISAF
(International Sailing Federation) Team Racing World |
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
The Vanguard 15s seek out
Newport Harbor Lighthouse
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Championship,
hosted by the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) in Newport, Rhode Island. The
spectacular event was described by a NYYC press release as “Sailing’s
equivalent of World Cup soccer.” The press release went on to state, “This
is the sixth time since 1995 that this biennial world championship has been
held and only its second time in the U.S.A.” Australia, Great Britain,
Ireland, Japan, New Zealand and the U.S.A. each sent two teams to compete,
while Canada, the Czech Republic, India, Italy and the U.S. Virgin Islands
sent one team each.
For those not familiar with the Grey Goose ISAF Team Racing World
Championship, you might be wondering just what is this race? The NYYC |
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Photo by Dan Nerney
Teams competing against each other in
Narragansett Bay...
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sheds light on this stating, “As the name implies, team
racing is not about a single boat’s performance but the best combined
score for each country’s three-boat team in head-to-head races. The
regatta is sailed in Vanguard 15s – small high performance planing
dinghies. Each |
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Vanguard 15 is manned by a crew of two for a total of six competitors per
team, with at least one female sailor per team. The on-water action takes
place at a lightning-fast pace, with races typically between seven to eight
minutes in duration. The result is an emphasis on tactics and boat
handling.”
By partnering with the New York Yacht Club, the American Lighthouse
Foundation (ALF) – which serves as the steward for Newport Harbor Light,
enabled the rugged 29-foot sentinel to serve a unique and highly visible
role throughout the 2005 Grey Goose ISAF Team Racing World Championship. The
beacon’s unmistakable presence at the entrance to Newport Harbor beckoned
the sailors from ten different countries competing on Narragansett Bay to
come near.
Steven Wolff, Chairman of the New York Yacht Club’s Sailing Committee and
the Team Racing Worlds, explained the light’s role in |
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the race,
saying, “The lighthouse served as the "rotation" platform for the
competitors in the event. We had sixteen teams from ten countries and
eight sets of boats (each team fields three boats at a time). By setting
up our racecourse just off the north end of Goat Island and being able
to rotate crews at the lighthouse we are able to start a race every five
minutes (approximately 55 races per day). This also allowed us to
establish a spectator site on the Hyatt property.”
The field of
play for the 2005 Grey Goose ISAF Team Racing World Championship was set
by the New York Yacht Club Race |
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
(L to R) Steve Wolff, Chairman of
the New York Yacht Club's Sailing
Committee and Bob Trapani,
Executive Director of the American
Lighthouse Foundation
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Committee between
Rose Island in Narragansett Bay and Goat Island near the entrance to Newport
Harbor, and “allowed the large crowd of spectators gathered on the northern
end of Goat Island to see, and in some cases, hear, everything taking place
on the water,” according to press releases highlighting race action. The
racers departed each morning from the NYYC’s beautiful Harbour Court
Clubhouse before heading out to race on the unpredictable waters of
Narragansett Bay.
The partnership between the New York Yacht Club and the American Lighthouse
Foundation has allowed both organizations a chance to build on their
respective missions. As stewards for lighthouses like Newport |
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Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Racers utilized a 10 x 35 temporary
floating dock at the lighthouse for the
rotation of crews
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Harbor, ALF is consistently looking for
unique opportunities to share America’s rich lighthouse heritage with a
new audience. In doing so, greater awareness and appreciation for the
preservation of these historic treasures can be fostered – and what
better group of people to be sharing lighthouses with than folks like
the New York |
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Yacht Club who
have a passionate connection to the sea. The partnership presented the
perfect opportunity to blend our seafaring history represented by Newport
Harbor Lighthouse with the fast and furious action of 21st
century sailing with the fascinating Vanguard 15s.
Steven Wolff talks
about what the race meant to the New York Yacht Club, saying, “Our mission
statement includes the following: To sustain a leadership role in yachting,
its history, its development..." Team Racing is really at the leading edge
of sailboat racing. It promotes camaraderie as winning for yourself in not
all there is since your entire team needs to score well enough to beat the
other team.”
Wolff went on to
say, “Team Racing provides our members with a learning experience - they
have the opportunity to improve their boat |
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| handling skills, the knowledge of the
rules, and gain new insights to strategy on the racecourse. Finally,
because we are not only hosting one of the five top international world
championships, but also because teams carrying our burgee travel to
events of all sizes and scales around the world, we are able
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Photo by Michael Levitt
Grey Goose ISAF Team Racers pass Rose
Island Lighthouse along their course set by
the New York Yacht Club
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to engage with
other like-minded people who love the sport of sailing, competition and
teamwork.”
Bob Trapani,
executive director for the American Lighthouse Foundation, summed up the
event saying, “Lighthouses continue to make history today, and in more
creative ways than ever. ALF was proud to partner with the New York Yacht
Club during the 2005 Grey Goose ISAF Team Racing World Championship and have
Newport Harbor Lighthouse “guide” racers to and from their demanding course
on Narragansett Bay. America’s lighthouses are more than historic treasures
– this kind of exciting opportunity shows how these coastal sentinels can be
creatively integrated within diverse activities that are important to our
communities.”
Photo by Dan Nerney
When not racing, competitors gather
at Newport Harbor Lighthouse to watch
their comrades in action...
New York Yacht Club's Press Release:
Team Whishbone of U.S.A Wins 2005 Grey Goose
ISAF Team Racing World Championship! |
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