Graduates of Yacht Restoration School sail their creations

10:45 PM Thu 4 Jun 2009 GMT

'Beetles for sail constructed by students' .

June 06 is 'Launch Day' for the non-profit International Yacht Restoration School in Newport Rhode Island, when graduates of the school will launch and sail the boats they have restored over the year to see how their workmanship fares under sail.

The event has become a waterfront happening for the Newport community, drawing a crowd of onlookers to the school docks each year. Boats launching this year include a fleet of 12-foot Beetle Cat? sailboats and a Herreshoff 12 ? dinghy.

If you ever had an ambition to build your own sailboat or even make a career of building boats, but didn't know where to start, this could just be the place. The school teaches the skills, history, art and science of building, restoring and maintaining boats and their systems.

Newport Street - photo by roamingtimes.com - .. .

There are intensive programs in traditional boatbuilding and marine systems, teaching problem solving, teamwork, project management and hands-on skills. There are also summer schools. To take a course, you have to put up with spending a little time in Newport Rhode Island - that could be the really rough part.

The IYRS campus is located on a 2 ? acre historic waterfront site in downtown Newport, Rhode Island. Classes are held in Restoration Hall, a converted electric generating plant. IYRS has its own marina with dockage for restored vessels and visting classics. The campus includes an 1831 steam mill building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places that is also undergoing restoration and Coronet, an 1885 schooner yacht, currently scheduled for full restoration beginning in Summer 2008.

Newport at sundown - not a difficult place to stay - .. .

The area is rich in boating history and marine industry, and was the traditional home of the America's Cup before that challenge descended into mayhem and madness.

Sailing at Newport Rhode Island - .. .

IYRS graduates are highly regarded for their passion and craftsmanship, and work in many of the premier modern and restoration yards around the world.

IYRS was founded in 1993. In 1996, the school opened its doors with a two-year apprentice program in boatbuilding and restoration. Its first graduate completed the program in 1998.

In 2005 and 2006, the school rolled out two additional professional programs: Continuing Education programs and a Marine Systems program, the latter in partnership with the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC).

The unique nature of the IYRS educational model allows students to learn an in-demand craft while restoring, maintaining and returning historically important small yachts to the water. To date, IYRS students have returned nearly 100 historic boats to the water.

by IYRS/Nancy Knudsen