Venice, Italy will host the America’s Cup World Series in May of 2012 and April of 2013. Venice’s location is ideal for spectators watching racers compete offshore. The Arsenale di Venezia, which dates back to the 12th century, will be the location for the bases for the racing teams. Describing the suitability of Venice for sail racing, mayor Giorgio Orsoni called his city “a cradle of sailing… inseparable from the sea.”

Teams will sail AC45 wing-sailed catamarans as they have in other America’s Cup World Series races in Portugal and the U.K. this year. The main event for the 34th America’s Cup will take place in Summer/Fall 2013 in San Francisco Bay. Read more about all the America’s Cup events on the Americas Cup website.

You can also see a replay of Race Day 7 in Cascais in this YouTube video.

Located in one of the most beautiful East Coast seaside locations, the Newport Museum of Yachting (MoY) preserves the tradition of New England yachting through informative exhibits and educational programs. Founded in 1979, MoY is associated with vessel and artifact exhibits as well as its sponsorship of local events and regattas (including the annual MoY Classic Yacht Regatta).

The Newport Museum of Yachting is part of Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island. It is open to the public from June through October and can be reached by car or water taxi. For more information, visit the Museum of Yachting website.

Boston Harbor Auctions has announced an upcoming auction of important historical artifacts related to the history of the sport of yachting and the America’s Cup race. Items to be auction included a replica of the America’s Cup that was presented to Chandler Hovey, a long-time participant and winner of the race.

Other items of special interest include an assortment of museum-quality model boats representing participants in the America’s Cup. The auction includes a selection of original press photos from Americas Cup races dating back to the 1930s as well as marine paintings, globes, compasses and binoculars. There are also original photographs of JFK sailing with friends.

The auction will be held on October 16, 2011. Find out more about this fascinating auction by visiting the Boston Harbor Auctions website.

The Museum of Yachting (MoY) held the 32nd annual Classic Yacht Regatta on September 3-4 in Newport, Rhode Island, marking the final segment of the North American Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge. Narragansett Bay was the setting for the event, which features a fleet of classic and vintage 55 yachts. The overall winner of the regatta was Valiant, while the yawl Black Watch won the trophy for overall winner of the Classic Yacht Challenge.

On Sunday, the participating yachts took part in the regatta’s traditional Classic Yacht Parade, circling Newport’s inner harbor with yacht club pennants hoisted.

Read more about the Classic Yacht Challenge on the official Panerai website.