The "America" Sails Again

While Bus Mosbacher '43, skipper of the "Intrepid," was leading this country's defense of the America's Cup, another Dartmouth man, Jerry Schnitzer '40 was involved in a more ancient version of the same international sailing contest. He was the producer and leading creative force in the film documentary, "Sail to Glory," which told the story of the first U.S. victory in England in 1851 and required the building of an exact replica of the original "America."

The building of the replica of the 105-foot schooner, based on specifications found in the Smithsonian, and the documentary were both sponsored by the Schaefer Brewing Company, where another Dartmouth man, Jack Morris '32 had a special interest in the enterprise as vice president for marketing.

The TV documentary "Sail to Glory" was first shown on the NBC network on August 30. The schooner "America" was launched in East Boothbay, Maine, and after sailing to New York harbor she joined the spectator fleet for the America's Cup races off Newport. At the conclusion of the races she was scheduled to begin a tour of ports all over the country as the goodwill ambassador of the Schaefer Brewing Company.

Schnitzer, a longtime yachtsman and deepwater sailor, is head of Gerald Schnitzer Productions in Hollywood. The firm is celebrated for filming TV commercials and documentaries. It has earned 21 major film awards in the past seven years, including the Grand Prix at the Venice Film Festival and the Gold Award of the International Film Festival. In 1959 Schnitzer became the first American to win the coveted Grand Prix du Cinema at the Cannes Film Festival.

After spending a lot of time in Maine filming "Sail to Glory," Schnitzer was glad to get back to his own cruising ketch, "Infinity." Before that he had a 41-foot Akin ketch, "Moonglow."

The replica of the America sailing offthe Maine coast, and below, JerrySchnitzer '40 (r) and Jack Morris '32 atthe launching ceremony this summer.