59° North Sailing · video

What this video covers

Troy Sears owns and operates the 144-foot schooner *America*, a replica of the 1851 racing yacht that inspired the America’s Cup.7:59 Based in San Diego, the vessel serves as a platform for daily whale-watching tours, operating approximately 330 days per year.10:23 Sears, a former investment banker, transitioned into the maritime industry by purchasing International America’s Cup Class (IACC) boats after the 1995 America’s Cup.24:28 He later acquired the *America* to expand his business, Next Level Sailing, after securing financial backing from a local developer.47:32 The schooner features a full-beam main salon decorated with historical half-hull models representing the evolution of yacht design.10:44 Sears lives aboard the vessel with his dog and has utilized the boat for high-profile charters, including hosting government officials.10:20 The *America* was built at the Scarano boatyard, the same facility that constructed the 74-foot schooners *Woodwind*.48:37

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