She’s called the “Age of Russia”....

and she is a sight to behold. The 73-foot cherry-red foam-cored carbon-fiber hull with stainless steel and titanium structural elements has a 93-foot tall aluminum alloy mast, 31-foot long carbon-fiber boom, and 18-foot beam. She is designed to carry 4,600 square feet of sail. She weigh in at roughly 50,000 pounds, which includes the 400 pound rudder and a whopping 30,000 pound keel bulb.

Hailing from Leningrad in the former USSR (now Saint Petersburg, Russia) the fledgling of St. Petersburg Yacht Club was conceived with aspirations to be one of two Russian teams challenging for the 1992 America’s Cup. It is estimated to have cost 6 million rubles to build (roughly 10 million USD).

Ordered from the company that built Sputnik (Energia Space Center) the hull was hurriedly built in a vacant missile silo and flown by cargo plane (Antonov-124) to San Diego in December 1991, despite a lack of authorization from the America’s Cup officials to participate in the trials.

Upon arrival, the “Age of Russia” was refused permission to be placed in the water by the U.S. Port Security officials. The U.S. government had agreed, under a special waiver, to only allow the other Russian team (“Red Star”) to sail in the San Diego Bay area. The waterways were off limits to the Russians due to security rules affecting naval installations.

After discovering the rival team, “Red Star”, would not be able to make the competition, “Age of Russia” fought to be included – but ultimately, was denied a chance to compete.

The yacht was left to sit in her dry-dock cradle as the Soviet Union collapsed and the team ran out of money, leaving them to return home empty handed.

The yacht languished for years in a San Diego shipyard until a Canadian racing team stepped in. The boat was transported by freighter to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Here she would be fitted with aluminum racing spar, rigging, deck and a keel with intentions to become part of a fleet of rejuvenated racing yachts.

Sadly, the work was not completed and the boat again sat, unfinished, this time until a private sale in 2006 allowed her to spend a winter getting outfitted just enough to sail again and bring her back to the waters where it all started, San Diego Bay Area.

The Plan

Minor Repairs

  • Servicing of engine injectors
  • Installation of engine box
  • Addressing blisters in fairing that covers the carbon
  • Addressing damage to fairing compound where keel meets hull due to natural flexing

Upgrades

  • Complete outfitting below decks
  • Upgrading current accommodations

About Your Captain

Hi, I’m Sam. I grew up in a small town outside of Chicago, Illinois. I enjoy travelling and seeing the world, some of the places I have visited include: Canada, Ireland, China, Japan, Singapore, Venezuela, Thailand, Malaysia, The British Virgin Islands, Mexico, Hawaii, Australia, Guam, Ecuador, and Scotland.

I have been crewing on a racing yacht off the shores of San Diego for the last 5+ years. Racing on two 1st place 50 foot sailing yacht (feats which included 5 day races through 36 knot gusts and storms in the open ocean).

I also own a slightly smaller sailboat (25 feet) currently moored at The Dana on Mission Bay in San Diego, which is where you can find me most weekends - taking friends and family out for a day of sailing.