Yachtsman, Designer Charley Morgan
to Lecture on America's Cup April 14

(March 30, 2007) – With the America's Cup races looming this summer, famed yacht designer Charles E. Morgan will talk about his experiences designing and racing his 12-meter contender for the 1970 America's Cup Saturday, April 14, at New College of Florida.

The free, public lecture, "Charley Morgan on Yacht Design and the 1970 America's Cup," will be held from noon to 2 p.m. in Room 8, Hamilton Classroom Building (HCL 8). Nearby free parking is available in the lot at the Sudakoff Center, located east of U.S. 41 (turn east onto Gen. Spaatz Boulevard).

Sponsored by New College's Campus Waterfront Program, the lecture will be of interest to novice as well as expert sailors and anyone interested in competitive sailing.

Morgan, who grew up in Tampa and today lives in Treasure Island, Fla., developed a passion for sailing at the age of 10. He started a sailmaking firm in St. Petersburg in 1952.

He won international recognition for his yacht design of the ocean-racing yawl, “Paper Tiger,” which became the 1961 Southern Ocean Racing Conference champion in its first year of competition. On the strength of this success, he founded Morgan Yacht Corp., which quickly became a highly successful fiberglass yacht manufacturer that eventually expanded to a 20-acre plant in Largo, Fla. In late 1968, Morgan Yacht merged into the multinational Beatrice Foods Co.

After retiring from yacht manufacturing, Morgan has engaged in yacht design, business and marketing consulting, including designing more than 100 vessels for Disney World.

A distinguished international yachtsman and champion helmsman, he crewed aboard the America’s Cup contender, "Columbia," in 1962. He designed and helmed the 1970 America’s Cup contender, "Heritage," the last wooden 12-meter racing yacht to be launched in the United States. Built in St. Petersburg under Morgan's supervision, "Heritage" lost to the eventual America's Cup winner, "Intrepid."

The 32nd America's Cup races begin June 23 in Valencia, Spain. The America's Cup was last won in 2003 by the Swiss-built boat, Alinghi.

For more information on Morgan's lecture, contact Colin Jordan, recreation director of New College of Florida, at 941-487-4218 or by e-mail at cjordan@ncf.edu.