Ted Turner passed away May 6, 2026 at the age of 87. He lived a lifetime of adventure from becoming a media mogul to being of the most well-known sailing legends of our times. A colorful character he amassed a fortune in the Atlanta area when he started Turner Broadcasting and turning it in a few short years to TNT and CNN.
Ted Turner was one of the most consequential and transformative figures in the history of modern sailing and global media. As the founder of CNN, the world’s first 24-hour news network, he fundamentally changed how people access information and permanently reshaped the global media landscape. Yet long before he revolutionized television, he had already established himself as a fierce competitor, visionary leader and unforgettable presence on and off the water.
As a sailor, Turner brought unmatched intensity, fearlessness, and charisma to the sport, earning the nickname ‘Captain Outrageous’ and inspiring generations along the way. He entered his first sailing competition at age 12 at the Savannah Yacht Club, competed in the 1964 Olympic trials, and went on to become one of the defining figures of American sailing. He won hundreds of trophies in his career.
Gary Jobson, America’s Cup Hall of Fame ’03, National Sailing Hall of Fame ’11, and Tactician for Turner on Courageous.
Ted Turner and Gary Jobson’s story is one of the great partnerships in American sailing — a mix of intensity, loyalty, and shared triumph that shaped both men’s careers. They met during a regatta in Barrington, RI and started a friendship for the ages. The bond was sealed was during the 1977 America’s Cup. With Turner as Captain and Jobson as Tactician the duo created a 50 year long friendship. Though officially leaving sailing in 1980 Turner and Jobson would on occasion board a boat together and race again for fun and charity, perhaps to relive a little of those heyday America’s Cup years of the 1970’s.
Newport during those years in the mid to late 70’s was a wildly competitive sailing and hard partying town. The fun didn’t end on the water. There were crowds on rooftops, on boats and lining the water to watch the action. When the racing concluded for the day the party started in town at the bars. It was a sailor’s paradise.
Gary Jobson had this quote about Ted Turner “Those who sailed with Ted experienced firsthand his relentless pursuit of excellence. He demanded the very best from himself and everyone around him, while also embracing the camaraderie, resilience and adventure that define life at sea.” which sums up a great deal about the man.
Turner during an interview was once quoted with this statement that gives insight to the man. . “Watch me. I’m like a bulldog that won’t let go. Why do you think my own racing yacht is named Tenacious, dummy?
Interviewer: We give up. Why?
“Because I never quit. I’ve got a bunch of flags on my boat, but there ain’t no white flags. I don’t surrender. That’s the story of my life.”
His victory as skipper of Courageous in the 1977 America’s Cup marked a defining moment in the sport’s history. Turner brought extraordinary determination, competitive fire and personality to the America’s Cup, helping elevate it into a globally followed sporting event while inspiring a new generation of sailors. That inspiration still lives on as Newport is one of the premier sailing towns in America. It has a prolific sailing fleet and drawn sailors from all over the world still to participate in events held every summer.
Beyond the America’s Cup, Turner proved himself across the highest levels of offshore racing, including his celebrated overall victory in the storm-ravaged 1979 Fastnet Race, one of sailing’s most demanding and respected competitions. The only person ever named Rolex Yachtsman of the Year four times, he was later inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame in 1993 and the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2011. From his America’s Cup victory to triumphs in some of the world’s toughest races.
Rest in Peace Captain Outrageous.