Oakcliff trainees to race iconic 12 Metre

An international fleet of 12 Metres will converge on Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound this summer for a season of competitive sailing punctuated by the 2023 12mR World Championship. In the fleet will be the iconic Courageous, 2-time America’s Cup winner, sailed by a young and diverse team from Oakcliff Sailing.

“This will be a bit of a David-and-Goliath situation with our young, aspiring sailors racing 12 Meters against the best of the best from around the world,” said executive director Dawn Riley. “Most of our sailors and some of their parents were not even alive the last time this class competed for the America’s Cup.”

When 12 Meters were used in the America’s Cup from 1958 to 1987, Courageous USA 26 won in 1974 with Ted Hood and Dennis Connor and again in 1977 skippered by Ted Turner with Gary Jobson as tactician. Jobson has agreed to share his experience and insight with the Oakcliff team this summer.

Kimbra Walter, who with her husband Mark, owns Courageous and will provide support for the forthcoming campaign.

“Courageous has meant so much to the American sailing community and to Newport in particular,” she said. “We feel a responsibility to use Courageous’ next chapter to help the world of sailing gain a wider and more diverse following.

“We want to offer more young women and people from every background the opportunity to experience the joy of sailing—and to be able to turn it into a profession. We’re grateful to be working toward this alongside Dawn Riley, a legend in the sport and a model for our efforts.”

Courageous also holds a prominent place in The Sailing Museum and the America’s Cup Hall of Fame in Newport.

“Having this team onboard Courageous will do so much to continue to move the conversation forward and break new ground in ethnic and gender diversity” said Heather Rusham, executive director of The Sailing Museum. She added, “We look forward to working with Oakcliff and the Walters to showcase what is possible to all visitors and members of our community.”

Oakcliff (Oyster Bay, NY) is a workforce training center for those wishing to explore a professional career in the sport of sailing and the associated marine industry located in and.

The crew will be selected from Oakcliff’s Acorn and Sapling training programs. Need-based scholarships are available, with an additional America True Scholarship reserved for sailors from community sailing programs.

More than 90% of Oakcliff graduates are employed, and many are leaders in their field, playing roles in the America’s Cup, preparing for the Olympics or racing around the world.

Applications are open and available to anyone 15 or older with an interest in sailing.
For more information: https://www.oakcliffsailing.org/programs/acorn-programs or call (516) 802-0368.

RACE SCHEDULE
June 9-11: New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta
July 7-9: Sail Newport Regatta/12 Metre Pre-Worlds
July 31 – Aug 5: 12 Metre World Championship

Event details: https://12mrworlds.com/