USSA Crew Night
Featuring our Charter Show Crew Competitions

CHEF COMPETITION - june 20, 2023

The theme for Chef Competition at the 2023 Newport Charter Yacht Show is A Junkanoo of Hors d'oeuvre. Open to yacht chefs on all registered yachts in the show, this is an opportunity to showcase their skills, experience and passion for cooking onboard for charter guests. It is a celebration of hors d’oeuvres, appetizers and small plates.

The three person judging panel of industry professionals from both the culinary and yachting worlds will evaluate the entries for taste, presentation and use of ingredients.

The competition will be a mystery basket format incorporating ingredients provided by Shoreside Support, the sponsor of the Chef Competition. The participating yacht chefs will create three different hors d’oeuvres with one being a grazing platter. The chefs will be expected to give a presentation that includes an explanation of their chosen ingredients and how they prepared their entry.

Chef Challenge: Create and present three different hors d’oeuvres, appetizers or small plates. Chefs can choose hot or cold hors d’oeuvres from any cuisine. One of the hors d’oeuvre platters is to be in the style of a grazing board/charcuterie board/cheese board. Each of three hors d’oeuvres will be plated on their own serving platter for the judges to share. The entries are to be on serving platters from the yacht’s inventory. Decorating and plating style will be part of the judging criteria. Chefs can choose to incorporate a special dietary requirement for one, two or three of their hors d’oeuvres.

Judging will take place in the main tent on Tuesday, June 20 at 1:00pm and is open for all show attendees to watch. The winner will receive a Large Engraved Carving Board from Soundview Millworks, a bottle of Espolon Cristalino tequila, a knife from CUTCO and other great prizes!

Currently Registered (8 spots available):
1. Sea Axis, Chef Nelson Cartegena
2. Unbridled, Chef Johan Pretorius (3rd place)
3. Lexington, Chef Ranada Riley
4. Serenity, Chef Dominico Laurenti
5. Freedom, Chef Stephanie (2nd place)
6. Unbridled, Chef Nicole (1st place)

Captain & DEck CHALLENGE - june 20, 2023

The Captain & Deck Challenge, organized by Aere Marine Group, Dockwalk magazine, Young Designs Floral Studio and Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard will take place on Tuesday, June 20 starting at 5:30pm in the main show tent. The competition will be made up of three challenges, all of which will be exciting and fun to watch! The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of the three challenges combined will each receive an award and other prizes. Your crew and all other show participants are invited to cheer you on! Beer and wine will be served during the competition.

NOTE: This event is only for the captains & crew of yachts participating in the show. 

Currently Registered:
1. Kaori
2. Mirabella
3. Sea Axis (overall winner!)
4. Unbridled
5. Hoya Saxa
6. Lexington
7. Freedom

TABLESCAPING COMPETITION - june 21, 2023

This competition is open to all interior crew onboard yachts participating in the Newport Charter Yacht Show and will take place on Wednesday, June 21 from 10am-4pm. Crew can compete solo or as a team. The challenge is to artistically decorate a dining table onboard utilizing the yacht’s own linen, china, tableware and decorative items including candles and flowers. The yacht may choose any theme and set-up on either an interior or exterior table.

The judging will focus on what is displayed on top of the table. A panel of design professionals from Newport Yacht Interiors will pick one winner. Show attendees will also pick a fan favorite. The criteria used in judging includes: originality of theme, composition, use of materials and how well the tablescape fits with the yacht.

Currently Registered:
1. Kaori
2. Mirabella (professional’s choice)
3. Sea Axis
4. Unbridled
5. XOXO
6. Hoya Saxa
7. Serenity
8. Freedom
9. Spirit (fan favorite!)

Signature Cocktail Competition - june 21, 2023