May 14, 2020

Lecture Video: “Setting Sail In America: The Remarkable Story of Herreshoff S Class Sailboats”

Setting Sail in America is an homage to the Class, and takes the reader on a compelling journey through the history of the S boat- a journey that visits milestones in American society, politics, business, and social life.

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary 1919-2019

Presented by Alan Silken. Photography by Cory Silken

May 16th, 2019

Lifelong sailors, Alan and his son Cory have been always been passionate about the sea. In 2005, the duo joined the classic racing circuit by purchasing Firefly, a 1926 S boat, which they campaign together. Alan is currently the Vice Commodore of the Narragansett Bay Herreshoff S Class Association. While Cory's photographic specialty is superyachts and the luxury lifestyle market, traveling the globe on assignment for highly renowned shipyards and dedicated owners, he began his career focusing on wooden boats.


2019 marks the 100th Anniversary of the Herreshoff S Class design. The first owners of the S Class boats were remarkable leaders of industry in the United States, and their stories are as intriguing as the boats are beautiful. Setting Sail in America is an homage to the Class, and takes the reader on a compelling journey through the history of the S boat- a journey that visits milestones in American society, politics, business, and social life. The Herreshoff S Class is the oldest American one-design fleet still racing the original boats, with active fleets in Cape Cod, Long Island Sound, and Narragansett Bay.

Filmed by Cory Silken.

Buy the book online.