The powerful gusts of winds envelop the yacht, propelling it and tilting it to a near 90 degrees. The further along it sails, the rougher the course. It’s dramatic, it’s wild, it’s wet, and it’s a hell of a ride.

Stretching 65 feet in length and 12.5 feet in width with a 77 feet high mast extending from the deck, America II, managed by a Maui charter business, settled in Hawaii in 1989 after being auctioned off following the America’s Cup, an international sailing competition. On an average day, the ship sets sail three times for tourist rides with the exception of winter days when an extra trip is offered for whale watching.

The escapade begins in tranquility; the mellifluous sound of the rippling waves fills the air, while riders are cautioned of the roaring waves ahead and crewmen assume the position to prepare the mast.

In no time, the unperturbed journey takes a 180-degree turn. Sailing at a maximum speed of 10.8 nautical miles per hour, the gentle rocking of the boat transforms into extreme sways, and passengers are instructed to grip a red rope along the edges of the boat. As buckets of water are washed aboard, unlucky passengers are drenched from head to toe, while others feel only a few spritzes of water.

As the powerful wind shakes the yacht, crewmen turn off the motor and set the mast. Now, all that can be heard are the screams of wet passengers from the slaps of the icy ocean water and the sound of the royal blue waves collapsing and crashing. Just when the flooding seems to have ceased, another wave abruptly crashes into the bow of the yacht and tips it to one side.

Amidst the boisterous cries, Captain John Moore and crewmate Elliott Smith lounged at the stern, recounting their overseas experiences after briefly discussing the yacht’s history. Moore shared how his love for sailing originated from his childhood spent living on a boat, whereas Smith, a recent high school graduate, revealed his passion for the seafaring job despite initially working merely to earn money.

When the course’s dripping thrills are finally over, the yacht steadily enters placid waters and slowly drifts with the winds. Simple snacks and cold drinks are provided for passengers mid-way into the journey. With the motor off and mast set, looking out into the distance as the horizon backs away from industrialization and enters the primordial stages of life – land, air, and water – juxtaposes the previous uneven, calamitous excitement.

The round trip back parallels the first half of the journey as riders attempt to absorb as much of nature’s beauty – the Lahaina dock, the perpetuating horizon, and the massive mountains – as possible within the last portion of the two-hour trip.

Needless to say, America II has come a long way from its origins at the New York Yacht Club, where it was birthed in hopes of becoming the challenger in the 1987 America’s Cup. Falling short at the challenger trials a few months before the actual Cup, America II then retired and was retrofitted to accommodate its purposes now. At the time, 11 crewmembers were required to navigate the yacht; today, only two are needed to complete the task while 22 passengers can bask in the sunlight and immerse themselves in their own ocean adventures.

From shrieks of terror to shrieks of delight, those aboard America II are in for one spectacular excursion, in which they embrace the captivating beauty of Maui, the fleeting heartbeats of the yacht’s upright tilt, and the drenching aftermath of the rolling waves.