2025 America’s Cup Hall of Fame Challenge Set for June 21-22 in Newport, R.I.
An event commemorating the legacy of America’s Cup racing in Newport, Rhode Island, will take place June 21-22. The 2025 America’s Cup Hall of Fame Challenge will feature four teams of 10-person crews racing in classic 12 Metre yachts. The race will take place on Narragansett Bay.
The yachts include Columbia (US-16), Weatherly (US-17), Nefertiti (US-19), and American Eagle (US-21). According to the website sailingscuttlebutt.com, the yachts played historic roles in Defender selection trials, and two secured America’s Cup victories in 1958, 1962, and 1967.
During the competition, crews will switch boats for each race to allow teams an opportunity to sail all four 12 Metre yachts.
Each team will contribute a $10,000 entry fee, a portion of which is tax-deductible, to participate. The fee will support the Herreshoff Marine Museum STEM Education Program. A portion of the proceeds will fund scholarships for youth sailors and boat builders from disadvantaged communities.
Each competing boat will include a Hall of Fame inductee on board, enabling participants to sail with some of the legends of the sport.
An opening reception will be held on Friday evening, June 20, at The Sailing Museum and National Sailing Hall of Fame in Nantucket. At the conclusion of racing on Sunday, June 22, competitors and guests will attend a reception and prize-giving ceremony at the 12-Metre Yacht Club in the Clarke Cooke House Sky Bar.
“We are thrilled to host this extraordinary event, which not only celebrates the legacy of America’s Cup racing but also provides critical support to the future of sailing through our STEM education initiatives,” said Bill Lynn, president and executive director of the Herreshoff Marine Museum and the America’s Cup Hall of Fame, in a media statement. “This will be a weekend of fierce competition, camaraderie, and a shared passion for the sport.”
