By Art Petrosemolo
More than a century and a half ago – exactly 165 years this month – the Schooner America sailed to England as an underdog competitor for the One Hundred Sovereigns Cup, the precursor to the modern America’s Cup. To the surprise, better described as shock, of the British Navy who set a difficult course around the Isle of Wight that favored their Royal Yacht Squadron entries, America sailed away from the fleet to finish 18 minutes in front of its closest competitor.
For the next 100 years, the British and other nations tried to wrestle the ornate trophy from the hands of the New York Yacht Club – which built America and defeated the British in 1851 and then planned, hosted and won dozens of defenses – but to no avail. That changed, however, in 1983 when an Australian boat defeated American Skipper Dennis Connor off of Newport, Rhode Island, to become the first nation to claim the cup from the United States. It was the start of the modern era in America’s Cup racing that has seen the influence of billionaires like Oracle’s Larry Ellison and the emergence of high-tech, foiling catamarans sailing at previously unheard of speeds.
Today, the schooner America replica harkens back to that sailing era of classic boats, large yachting crews and ocean races and it will bring that story to the Atlantic Highlands for four days next week (Aug. 24-27).
Ed Novak of Cranbury is the boat’s co-owner with his partner and America captain Troy Sears. The boat was built in Albany, New York, in 1995 by a Virginia restauranteur Ray Giavanonni and Sears and Novak have owned it and exhibited it on both the East and West Coasts since 2006. “It truly is a beautiful boat and other than the keel and the interior, an exact replica of the 19th century schooner which won the first cup.”
The partners met in the 1980s while studying at the University of California at San Diego. Sears was the sailor and introduced Novak to the sport as part of his crew on a one-design Thistle.
After graduation Novak says he embarked on a world tour in finance with stops in several countries before returning to the United States and positions in New York’s financial district. Novak reconnected with Sears when they ran a marathon together in 2000 in Alaska and shortly thereafter Sears suggested a business sailing partnership with his former crewman.
More than a century and a half ago – exactly 165 years this month – the Schooner America sailed to England as an underdog competitor for the One Hundred Sovereigns Cup, the precursor to the modern America’s Cup. To the surprise, better described as shock, of the British Navy who set a difficult course around the Isle of Wight that favored their Royal Yacht Squadron entries, America sailed away from the fleet to finish 18 minutes in front of its closest competitor.
For the next 100 years, the British and other nations tried to wrestle the ornate trophy from the hands of the New York Yacht Club – which built America and defeated the British in 1851 and then planned, hosted and won dozens of defenses – but to no avail. That changed, however, in 1983 when an Australian boat defeated American Skipper Dennis Connor off of Newport, Rhode Island, to become the first nation to claim the cup from the United States. It was the start of the modern era in America’s Cup racing that has seen the influence of billionaires like Oracle’s Larry Ellison and the emergence of high-tech, foiling catamarans sailing at previously unheard of speeds.
Today, the schooner America replica harkens back to that sailing era of classic boats, large yachting crews and ocean races and it will bring that story to the Atlantic Highlands for four days next week (Aug. 24-27).
Ed Novak of Cranbury is the boat’s co-owner with his partner and America captain Troy Sears. The boat was built in Albany, New York, in 1995 by a Virginia restauranteur Ray Giavanonni and Sears and Novak have owned it and exhibited it on both the East and West Coasts since 2006. “It truly is a beautiful boat and other than the keel and the interior, an exact replica of the 19th century schooner which won the first cup.”
The partners met in the 1980s while studying at the University of California at San Diego. Sears was the sailor and introduced Novak to the sport as part of his crew on a one-design Thistle.
After graduation Novak says he embarked on a world tour in finance with stops in several countries before returning to the United States and positions in New York’s financial district. Novak reconnected with Sears when they ran a marathon together in 2000 in Alaska and shortly thereafter Sears suggested a business sailing partnership with his former crewman.
Sears was friendly with legendary America’s Cup skipper Connor through the San Diego Yacht Club and proposed to Novak that they purchase Connor’s 1995 Cup defender series winner Starts and Stripes (USA 34) and its training partner Abbra Kadabra (USA 54) and offer sailing experiences for tourists and corporations in sail-rich San Diego Bay.
The pair formed Next Level Sailing and went into business in 2003 and, according to Novak, “we waited, and waited for the phone to ring.” He says the pair had a good business plan but did not have a strong marketing and probably would have failed except for some wild luck. Explains, Novak, “We got a call from one of the first reality TV shows called ‘Real World’ and they wanted to use San Diego as a base to follow six individuals living and working together over eight weeks and offered them to us as crew. What transpired,” Novak explained, “was amazing, with people worldwide learning about San Diego but also about our boats. “We had requests from as far away as India to buy T-shirts,” Novak laughs.
The publicity kick-started their business and they continued to operate both boats for corporate events and tourist sails through 2015 before selling them to a Chicago company who continues the tradition of sailing and informal match racing in Lake Michigan.
Sears, an encyclopedia of facts and stories about the history of the America’s Cup, according to Novak, learned about the availability of the Schooner America in 2006. The boat was in the tourist trade in Key West. The pair purchased America and moved it to San Diego for refitting (it holds 76 passengers) and is sailed by a crew of seven. Novak and Sears partnered with the San Diego Nautical Museum and they use it as a home port when not on tour providing sailing experiences for corporations and their guests and tourists.
The pair formed Next Level Sailing and went into business in 2003 and, according to Novak, “we waited, and waited for the phone to ring.” He says the pair had a good business plan but did not have a strong marketing and probably would have failed except for some wild luck. Explains, Novak, “We got a call from one of the first reality TV shows called ‘Real World’ and they wanted to use San Diego as a base to follow six individuals living and working together over eight weeks and offered them to us as crew. What transpired,” Novak explained, “was amazing, with people worldwide learning about San Diego but also about our boats. “We had requests from as far away as India to buy T-shirts,” Novak laughs.
The publicity kick-started their business and they continued to operate both boats for corporate events and tourist sails through 2015 before selling them to a Chicago company who continues the tradition of sailing and informal match racing in Lake Michigan.
Sears, an encyclopedia of facts and stories about the history of the America’s Cup, according to Novak, learned about the availability of the Schooner America in 2006. The boat was in the tourist trade in Key West. The pair purchased America and moved it to San Diego for refitting (it holds 76 passengers) and is sailed by a crew of seven. Novak and Sears partnered with the San Diego Nautical Museum and they use it as a home port when not on tour providing sailing experiences for corporations and their guests and tourists.
America’s Cup winner Ellison has used the boat to entertain guests during his past America’s Cup defenses as well as for Oracle corporate outings. In recent years America has become a licensed partner for the America’s Cup Tour and has appeared at venues across the country that introduce new audience to high-tech America’s Cup sailing. America appeared in New York Harbor for several days as part of the New York City stop of the Cup tour.
“We are a commercial venture but with a very strong commitment to education and support of junior sailing programs,” Novak explains. The way it works is America is hosted by a yacht or boat club in a coastal port. The crew provides on-board tours and hosts junior sailors during the stay and Sears gives an illustrated lecture on the history of the America’s Cup. “We do all this without charge to the club,” Novak says, “and if they do charge, we ask that the money go to support junior sailing programs and instruction.” The boat also takes passengers out for two-hour sails that it does charge for usually at about $80 per person with half-price for children up to age 17.
“We are a commercial venture but with a very strong commitment to education and support of junior sailing programs,” Novak explains. The way it works is America is hosted by a yacht or boat club in a coastal port. The crew provides on-board tours and hosts junior sailors during the stay and Sears gives an illustrated lecture on the history of the America’s Cup. “We do all this without charge to the club,” Novak says, “and if they do charge, we ask that the money go to support junior sailing programs and instruction.” The boat also takes passengers out for two-hour sails that it does charge for usually at about $80 per person with half-price for children up to age 17.
Currently touring the East Coast, America was in Massachusetts and Maine in July and will sail to Atlantic Highlands Aug. 22 from Nantucket via Long Island Sound and the East River emerging into Sandy Hook Bay not far from where the New York Yacht Club hosted America’s Cup races early in the 20th century.
America will be moored in the Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor and will welcome tours from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 24 – 27. Sails about America will be from 1 to 4 p.m. and 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. daily. The free America’s Cup multimedia presentation by Sears will be hosted by the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club each evening from 8 to 9 p.m.
For more information (nextlevelsailing.com) or to book a sail aboard America from Atlantic Highlands, visit fareharbor.com/yachtamerica.
America will be moored in the Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor and will welcome tours from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 24 – 27. Sails about America will be from 1 to 4 p.m. and 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. daily. The free America’s Cup multimedia presentation by Sears will be hosted by the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club each evening from 8 to 9 p.m.
For more information (nextlevelsailing.com) or to book a sail aboard America from Atlantic Highlands, visit fareharbor.com/yachtamerica.
