March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 49 F

Bringing the America’s Cup home to Annapolis

aycThe Annapolis Yacht Club Foundation is pleased to host a fundraising event on Thursday, October 1, featuring the America’s Cup trophy and an evening of activities to raise funds that will directly benefit sailors of the Chesapeake Bay. The event, which will be held at the Annapolis Yacht Club, will also honor two AYC members who have won the America’s Cup, as well as highlight a presentation of the America’s Cup Tour, presented by Tucker Thompson, a long-time Annapolis resident, former America’s Cup sailor, and active member of AYC.

Mr. Thompson was recently chosen to be the TV and Public Host of the 35th America’s Cup, scheduled to be held in June, 2017 in Bermuda. “As soon as I got this job,” Tucker said, “I thought that being able to begin right here at the Annapolis Yacht Club would be an immensely proud moment for me to kick off the world tour.”

The America’s Cup Tour includes a full multimedia presentation in support of the 35th America’s Cup and covers all aspects of the America’s Cup, its history, the role of technology, the future of the series, and what to expect in Bermuda for this world-class event. Mr. Thompson’s goal is to bring the America’s Cup Tour to one-hundred venues around the world over the next two years, including yacht clubs, regattas, boat shows, and corporate events. It is a significant undertaking.

But the most exciting element of the October 1 event is that Tucker has arranged to bring the actual America’s Cup, the prized trophy of this 164-year-old sporting event, to the Annapolis Yacht Club. Known as “Auld Mug” to many generations of racing sailors, it is the oldest sporting trophy in international competition, older, in fact, than the modern Olympics. Its presence in Annapolis is an extremely rare and unique opportunity to see a piece of sporting history.

Tickets to the October 1 fundraiser will be available to members of the Annapolis Yacht Club starting Friday, August 7, and will be open to the public, starting Friday, August 14. Space is limited and this is expected to be a sold-out event, therefore a maximum of four tickets per reservation can be purchased. Tickets are $135 per ticket and include heavy hors d’oeuvres, live and silent auctions that will include America’s Cup collectables, travel, and other exciting items, as well as a two-hour open bar ($35 of the ticket price will be tax deductible). Proceeds will support the efforts of the AYC Foundation, whose programs are dedicated to growing the sport of sailing, including junior and competitive sailing and giving back to the Chesapeake Bay maritime community.

Non-AYC members can make a reservation request at aycfoundation.org/americascupevent. For more information, please visit the Official America’s Cup website at americascup.com or contact Cynthia Hartman at [email protected]. The AYC Foundation also invites those interested in sponsorship opportunities or auction donations to contact Cindy Hartman as soon as possible.

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