The Coronet

Last night, Newport Interactive Marketers' held its monthly talk at the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) on lower Thames Street. I've walked by it several times to go to Gary's Handy Lunch or Aqua boutique across the street, but I never paid attention to the huge warehouse before.

The IYRS has been around since 1993 and it is dedicated to keeping the craft of boat building alive. The school has three schools based in Newport and Bristol:  School of Boatbuilding & Restoration, School of Marine Systems, and School of Composites Technology. 

One of the IYRS projects is the restoration of the last turn-of-the-century schooner in existence: Coronet.

Here is a brief description of the Coronet from the International Yacht Restoration School:

Coronet was first launched in 1885, and was one of the most elegant sailing yachts of her day. She was designed for crossing the ocean in style, and featured a marble staircase, stained glass doors, mahogany paneled staterooms, and a piano in the main salon. Since 1995, Coronet has been on the campus of the IYRS, awaiting restoration. Coronet Restoration Partners purchased her in 2006, and restoration has now begun in earnest.

Before Newport Interactive Marketers' talk began, I looked at Coronet, which is housed in a separate warehouse behind IYRS. It's huge. Coronet has been restored by hand for the past ten years and is projected to finish in three to five years.

To learn more about Coronet, read about her history and check out her restoration blog.