Ted Turner, a Force of Nature, Passes Into History at 87 – Loose Cannon
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When all else fails, try journalism. Ted Turner, a Force of Nature, Passes Into History at 87Probably the Last ‘Amateur’ To Ever Win the America’s Cup
With thanks to Scuttlebutt Sailing News for letting us republish this obituary. Ted Turner, the media maverick, sports team owner, sailing champion, and philanthropist, died peacefully May 6, 2026 at his home near Tallahassee, Florida. He was 87. As a 12-year-old at the Savannah Yacht Club, Turner dove into sailing the same way he would do everything: with pedal to the metal and damn the torpedoes, and with wholesale success. He spent as much time in the water as in his Penguin, but while observers were busy laughing, he started winning. He took the same approach to Lightnings, then dinghies at Brown University before moving on to Y-Flyers and Flying Dutchmen on Atlanta’s Lake Allatoona. He was runner-up at the 1970 5.5 Metre Gold Cup before winning the title in 1971. Turner moved into big boats with charters for the Southern Ocean Racing Circuit, literally learning the ropes as he went along. He learned fast, winning the SORC overall in 1966, and leading a timber-rattling après sail crew celebration that was considered “outrageous.” Turner’s venture into the America’s Cup in the 1970s shook up what was (then) a venerable bastion of propriety. His public battles with Dennis Conner, Lowell North, and local clubs are storied. He was labeled “Captain Outrageous” by a media overjoyed to have an uninhibited rock star in their midst who spoke his mind. Turner acquired the 12-Metre Courageous after its America’s Cup victory in 1974. Always loyal, he put together a crew of old SORC hands including tactician Gary Jobson and trimmer Robbie Doyle, and made the cover of Sports Illustrated after winning the right to defend the Cup. In 1977, Turner steered Courageous to a 4-0 sweep of Australia. Turner won the coveted Congressional Cup that same year, and prevailed in the storm-ravaged Fastnet Race in 1979. The only man Voted Rolex Yachtsman of the Year four times, Ted Turner will probably be the last amateur skipper to win the America’s Cup. He was inducted into the first Class of the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2011. The Ohio-born Atlanta businessman parlayed his father’s billboard -advertising company into television stations TNT, TBS, and CNN. He was also an owner of professional sports teams—Atlanta Braves (MLB), Atlanta Hawks (NBA), and Atlanta Thrashers (NHL). In September 2018, Turner revealed that he was battling Lewy body dementia, an ailment that causes a progressive decline in mental abilities with physical signs and symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease. Turner married three times, most famously to Jane Fonda from 1991 to 2001. He is survived by his five children (Rhett Turner, Laura Turner Seydel, Jennie Turner Garlington, Teddy Turner, and Beau Turner), 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Gary Jobson on Sailing With Turner:Over the years I have given nearly 3,000 lecture presentations. While the topics have varied, one subject is always included — the America’s Cup. And the most frequent question I am asked is “What is it like to sail with Ted Turner?” I always take my time when I answer. Ted is a gifted sailor, and he recruits top sailors. Ted always says he likes when decisions are made at the lowest level. He is quite methodical when working with a tactician and navigator. He will ask probing questions that challenge you to think hard. He appreciates people who think through all the possible options available. He will often surprise me with an alternative option that I might not have thought about. In sum, Ted does three things well on long distance races: 1. He is a superb helmsman. I’ve attended many business meetings and a few board meetings with him over the years. His routine on the water is analogous to his work in the boardroom. He considers all the options, makes a decision, and presses ahead at full speed. He has a good way of lifting everyone’s game. He had an extraordinary run on the water, but he had to give up sailing to focus on his media business. Ted retired from grand prix yacht racing at the young age of 41.
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