The 139-foot yacht America, a replica of the schooner that made history when it launched the America’s Cup tradition in 1851, will arrive in Greenport next week.
The schooner will dock at the east pier next Wednesday and will be open to visitors next Thursday and Friday, before setting sail again on its tour of the East Coast.
Thursday night, Captain Troy Sears and the crew of America will give a lecture at the East End Seaport Museum, which organized the visit, to discuss the history of the ship.
The stop in Greenport is part of a much larger trip for the captain and crew, who departed on their journey in April for the America’s Cup Tour, which will likely keep them busy until June 2017 when the America’s Cup will be held in Bermuda. Sears said in an interview with the Associated Press that he plans to head to Europe and “points beyond” after the race next year in a “voyage of a lifetime.”
The mission of the tour is to spark excitement about the cup, and to engage and educate children, who are “the next generation of fans,” according to the ship’s website.
While in port in Greenport, the ship will conduct STEM seminars for students ages 13 to 18. Youth will board the ship “to explore the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM disciplines) that have fueled the progression and performance of the sport” of yachting.
The East End Seaport Museum kicked off its season last weekend with a members-only opening party. It will be open on Saturdays and Sundays in June, and will be open daily beginning in July. For a full list of education events over the summer, visit the museum’s website.
