On September 8th the replica of the yacht America sailed into Annapolis. The Midshipmen, a few staff and guests escorted her into the Santee Basin onboard our Schooner Summerwind. Joining the crew onboard were former NASA Space Shuttle astronaut (and Navy Sailing volunteer) Capt Ken Rightler, Vice Admiral Dixon Smith and Jimmy Buffet
The 1929 John G Alden schooner Summerwind escorts the replica 1851 schooner America into Annapolis harbor.
Jimmy Buffet takes the helm with America's Cup Hall of Fame inductee Jon Wright and space shuttle astronaut Capt Ken Rightler in the afterguard.
A big fan of Naval Academy Sailing, Jimmy has been wearing our gear on stage this summer.
After its historic win of the Hundred Guinea Cup (soon after renamed the "America's Cup") the America served both sides of the Civil War and later as a Midshipman training vessel in both Newport R.I. and Annapolis.
Members of the Sailing Team onboard America in the Naval Academy's Santee Basin.