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2023 12mR Worlds Wrap-Up
Submitted by 12MYC Commodore, Steve Eddleston, December 11, 2023
The America’s 12mR Fleet had an extremely exciting 2023 by any measure with the World Championship held in Newport, Rhode Island being the first International 12mR Regatta in the US since 2019 and the significant challenges of Covid.
The event was sanctioned by ITMA, and hosted by the 12 Metre Yacht Club in partnership with Organizing Authority Ida Lewis Yacht Club (ILYC) and the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) as main venue and dockage provider. As part of the preparation for the event, our Modern, Traditional and Vintage division 12mRs participated in the 169th NYYC Annual Regatta, June 9-11 and the Sail Newport 12mR Regatta, July 8-9.
Ten 12mR yachts converged on Newport, Rhode Island from July 31st through August 5th for the 2023 12mR World Championship. The 12 Metre Yacht Club Newport Station was delighted to attract 16 sponsors to help make the event a great success. More than one hundred VIP guests watched the racing action aboard 3 gorgeous spectator yachts provided by Palm Beach Motor Yachts and 12MYC Commodore Steve Eddleston, Owner of the 1935 Trumpy yacht Enticer.
The event was blessed with very good weather on a daily basis with an excellent variety of sailing conditions, in the bay as well as outside. More than 350 attendees enjoyed the pre and post race events each day at IYRS and the Clarke Cooke House’s 12MYC room.
The key takeaway from the event was how tightly competitive all the racing was with most finishes coming down to seconds and minutes across the two racing divisions across all the days, Moderns and Traditional/Vintage.
VIDEO Coverage: WATCH the 2023 12mR Worlds here!
12 Metre Parade
The event was beautifully rounded out by a spectacular boat Parade with 7 saluting stations featuring 12 yachts of our fleet, including Intrepid (US-22) and Heritage (US-23) who hosted prospective sailors from the Boys and Girls club of America.
Results
Divisional Championship winners recognized with trophies were Challenge XII (KZ-10), Jack LeFort, and Columbia (US-16), Kevin Hegerty/Anthony Chiurco, each of whom repeated their wins from 2019, which was amazing to witness. The Commodore of the 12 Metre Yacht Club – Newport Station, Steve Eddleston was also honored to receive the Ted Turner Trophy for the most significant contribution to the 12mR Class, and he subsequently presented the Tiedemann Trophy for best Vintage yacht to Onawa (US-6).
All in all, a most special and spectacular 2023 World’s Championship by any measure. We look forward to many more such events here in Newport, and around the world in future years.
Thank You!
Special thanks to our Race Committee, Ida Lewis Yacht Club and PRO Mark Foster for making the racing so competitive and well organized. — 12MYC Commodore, Steve Eddleston, December 11, 2023
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