Sailing Vessel Jakab Stands Watch While Silversides is aweigh at dry dock
Sailing Vessel Jakab – A Vintage 12‑Meter Racing Yacht Experience
Step aboard S/V Jakab, a 1933‑design, third‑generation “Vintage Era” 12‑Meter America’s Cup racing yacht replica—the same class of elegant racing vessels that competed in the America’s Cup from 1958 to 1967. As the document notes, Jakab is modeled after the classic 12‑Meter racers, “similar to the racing tallships that raced in the America’s Cup in 1958, 1962, 1964 and 1967.”
What Makes a “Tall Ship”?
The term tall ship dates back to the 1500s and originally described vessels with notably high masts. Over time, it evolved into a global label for large, traditionally‑rigged sailing vessels. As the text explains, “the term tall ships was first recorded… in approximately 1548… [and] became a standardized, global descriptive label during the 1956 International Tall Ships Races.”
Tall ships historically fell into three categories:
Cargo vessels – wide, deep, and built for carrying goods
Warships – fast, maneuverable, and heavily provisioned
Racing vessels – sleek, efficient, and designed to “point high” into the wind
Jakab’s Remarkable Lineage
Jakab has three notable sisterships:
Jour D’Ete – owned by The Beach Boys, who “bought her in 1968 and sailed extensively on the California coast.”
Curragh (Charisma) – owned by the Kennedy family, prized for surviving a violent Lake Michigan storm
Eros – circumnavigated the globe twice
Jakab’s mast has its own story: it once belonged to Sir Edward Heath, former Prime Minister of Great Britain, who retired from racing after surviving the deadly 1979 Fastnet storm. The document notes, “he gave up competitive sailing and sold his backup mast – which now sits before you aboard S/V Jakab.”
A Living Piece of Maritime History
S/V Jakab blends:
authentic 12‑Meter racing heritage
elegant classic design
a storied lineage of famous owners
seaworthy engineering
and an unforgettable sailing experience
Aboard Jakab, guests don’t just sail—they step into the legacy of one of the most iconic racing classes in maritime history.
Safety Guidelines:
- Proper footwear will be worn by all persons boarding the vessel [rubber sole shoes, sneakers or boat shoes]. Leather sole shoes are slippery and dangerous on deck. Absolutely no spike heels are permitted aboard at any time.
- Visitors or guests will not sit on rails or bulwarks enclosing the deck.
- Smoking is not permitted aboard the Sailing Vessel.
- The public is not allowed to climb the ship’s rigging.
- Alcoholic beverages are not permitted aboard.
- No food [including chewing gum] or beverages of any kind will be brought aboard by guests.
- Handrails will be used by guests when boarding and departing the vessel. No one will run, jump or bounce on gangways.
Hours & Visitor Information — Summer 2026
Museum open to the public:
- Daily 10am – 5pm
Program Dates:
- July 1 – September 30, 2026
Ship Arrival:
- July 9th
General Admission (includes museum + one deck tour aboard S/V Jakab):
- Adults: $30
- Seniors/Veterans: $26
- Children (5–17): $22
- Family (2 adults + up to 4 children): $95
- Additional child: $18
Day Sail (includes museum admission during open hours)
- Adult: $50
- Senior / Veteran: $42
- Child: $35
- Family: $149
- Additional child: $30
Sunset Sail (includes museum admission during open hours)
- Adult: $65
- Senior / Veteran: $55
- Child: $45
- Family: $189
- Additional child: $40
Deck tours available daily
Day sails and sunset sails offered Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Schedule: Advance reservations strongly encouraged!
- Monday-Thursday: Deck tours run every hour
- Friday-Sunday: Deck Tours run in between sail excursions
- Friday-Sunday: Sunset Sails at 7:00pm and at 9:00pm
- Friday-Sunday: Sail Excursions run a length of 75 minutes at 10:30am, 1:00pm, and 3:30pm
Your Sailing Experience
- 55 feet long with a 14‑foot beam
- USCG‑inspected for 40 passengers (we sail with 28 for comfort)
- Classic racing pedigree with modern safety and stability
- A smooth, powerful ride shaped by nearly a century of design evolution