A spectacular Friday morning greeted an international group from Nautica clothing company when they arrived at our Maritime Museum location to do some racing on America’s Cup yachts ‘Stars & Stripes’ and ‘Abracadabra’. 

Nautica Clothing company set to race on America's Cup yachts in San Diego

The twenty guests from China felt right at home with the Next Level Sailing team decked out in beautiful Nautica sailing shirts.

Captain Scott Poorman of Next Level Sailing ready for Nautica guests

Stylish Nautica Sailing clothes worn by Next Level Sailing crew

After a short briefing and then a much longer translation, guests applied sunscreen and headed off on both yachts to try their hand at some America’s Cup racing prior to finishing up at the San Diego Yacht Club for lunch.

America's Cup yacht 'Abracadabra' ready for 'Nautica' guests

America's Cup yachts 'Stars & Stripes' and 'Abracadabra' ready to launch with 'Nautica Clothing Company' guests from China

Style was certainly the case in a recent Riviera Magazine event on the ‘America’ as part of their annual “Men of Style” issue. From the stylish guests, the stylish drinks, the stylish food & presentation, to the ever-present style of the yacht ‘America’ itself, this was a lovely evening.

Riviera Magazine 'Men of Style' event on yacht 'America'

Photographer Tim King captured some of the moments and the atmosphere.

'Men of Style' pitching in to get yacht 'America' under way.

Busy Bar on yacht 'America' during Riviera Magazine sail

Catering provided by Justin Fitzgerald of ‘Authentic Flavors’ was equally as appetizing to look at as it was to eat. 

Stylish presentation from 'Authentic Flavors'

Food Style on yacht 'America'

Delicate and delectable on yacht 'America'

Lovely wine and specialty cocktails were a hit from ‘Snack Oil Cocktail Co.’

Only the finest bar ingredients for 'Men of Style' on yacht 'America'

Casual & relaxed 'Men of Style' on yacht 'America' in San Diego

Between April 2nd and May 7th there were 7 corporate groups who utilized all 3 of our yachts for our ultimate team sailing experience on San Diego Bay.

Next Level Sailing America's Cup yachts on San Diego Bay

Those groups ranged from internationally recognized computer firms, technology companies, data storage companies, gaming & software giants, major manufacturers, household names in communications, financial institutions and law firms. You’d recognize most of them if I posted their names. Two of these groups even drove all the way down from Orange County resorts like the Ritz Carlton to experience this event.

Yacht 'America' and 'Abracadabra' transfer teams between yachts on San Diego Bay

Group sizes were as few as 49 and as many as 104 and all guests took their turn at crewing on our 80 Ft America’s Cup race yachts before transferring on and off our ‘America’ which acts as the mother-ship, transfer vessel, hospitality suite etc. This event is the most unique group sailing activity in the USA. 

Team Building sailing on San Diego Bay

There is no place other than San Diego that 108 novice sailors can participate in a hands-on authentic America’s Cup match race. That’s right…..our two ‘IACC’ yachts are possibly the last generation America’s Cup yacht that any public guests will ever get to sail. Why is that? Well the current racing for the ‘cup’ is being conducted in 45 Ft high speed twin hull catamarans. They are light weight, very fast and technologically advanced with revolutionary ‘wing’ sails compared to a traditional sail plan. These are not made to carry any more than 5 very professional sailing crew, fine tuned athletes whose fitness level has to be at their very best to scamper around continuously on these ‘adrenaline junkie’ machines. So….the chances of them ever carrying passengers is ‘zero’, and if the future of the America’s Cup is to stay with these vessels then the public will be waiting a long time to get on anything newer than the last generation “International America’s Cup Class” vessels that we have. These yachts “Stars & Stripes” and “Abracadabra” are the “only pair” of these vessels in the USA.

Abracadabra passes close in front of Stars & Stripes while racing on San Diego bay

Consider then that our larger yacht “America” is also one-of-a-kind and the combination of the three makes this an incredibly unique event. 

While the majority of the ‘America’ dining events are on deck in a casual format and relaxed atmosphere, last Friday 13th saw 17 VIP guests enjoy the finer dining environment of the yacht “Olde Worlde” salon. With Dennis Conner as their special guest and Dennis Conner’s America’s Cup trophy for photographic opportunities, these folks shared the intimate atmosphere of the yacht salon, enjoyed great food and wine, listened to all of Dennis’s stories and left with a very unique experience now checked from their ‘bucket list’. Staying at the Hotel Del Coronado meant the ‘America’ would meet these folks at the very convenient Glorietta Bay dock adjacent to the Hotel Del. However ‘mother nature’ had other plans for us this evening with rain throughout the day and particularly strong winds in the afternoon that prompted us to cancel any docking maneuvers in the tight Glorietta Bay location. Luck was on everybody’s side however, and with guests arriving at our ‘Maritime Museum’ location the blue sky appeared, the winds abated some and guests cruised the bay in this big black yacht in their cozy salon dining room.  

Dennis Conner in fine dining salon of yacht 'America'

 SONY not only uses yacht ‘America’ for thanking and entertaining their valued customers, but to also demonstrate their wonderful camera equipment in our sailing environment. The ‘America’ carries a supply of quality SONY cameras and guests on our public whale watching and sunset sails are welcome to apply in advance to use it, bring their own storage cards and take home great photos of their experience. The ‘America’ is sailing late today with valued SONY “professional” customers….a wonderful way to say thank you after spending time at their San Diego facilities.

Sunset over San Diego Bay

Tuesday saw 28 visiting corporate folks getting into some hands-on America’s Cup yacht match races, a yacht race with just two vessels in the true America’s Cup fashion. The weather was next to perfect. Sunscreen was definitely required this day. This group arrived from ‘The Grand Del Mar’ and started their experience with a nice box lunch on board the  two yachts.

America's Cup yachts racing hard on San Diego Bay

It was our pleasure to have a group of 25 NATO officials spend a few evening hours sailing with us last Tuesday. They dined at ‘Il Fornio’ restaurant on Coronado before boarding the famous yacht ‘America’ for a sail complete with dessert and after-dinner cocktails. The ‘America’ met them at Peohe’s Restaurant dock on Coronado.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q44r_-8zUk