The Annual Newport Regatta hosts eleven courses of one-designs over three days of racing

The Annual Newport Regatta hosts eleven courses of one-designs over three days of racing

by Sail Newport 14 Jul 13:48 EST
July 10-12, 2026

A summer season weekend in Newport sometimes brings loads of reliable southerly breeze for sailors within the Newport Regatta®.

Sail Newport has managed the annual regatta for 42 years, however this previous weekend was undoubtedly an anomaly for sailors in Newport with very gentle winds, principally within the single digits. However, the race committee persevered and accomplished three days of racing for the fleets.

On three circles of racing, the Sail Newport race committee leveraged the obtainable breeze and efficiently accomplished between 4 and eight races for the eleven courses of one-design sailboats on this 12 months’s Newport Regatta® offered by Hammetts Hotel. Sailors traveled from Canada and 18 U.S. States to take part within the regatta.

For a number of courses, the Newport Regatta® served as class championships, together with the Etchells North American Championship and the Melges 24 East Coast Championship. Also, the Snipe class sailed for his or her Atlantic Coast Championship, and the Shields Class named their New England Championship winner.

Dr. Robin Wallace Performance Trophy awarded to Etchells sailor

One of the 2 particular awards offered on the Newport Regatta® annually is the Dr. Robin Wallace Performance Trophy. The award is called after one in all Sail Newport’s founders, former president, and a pacesetter in creating Newport as a thriving regatta venue.

The Wallace Trophy was awarded to Jim Cunningham (Miami, FL), helmsman of “Lifted,” who sailed together with his crew, together with Steve Hunt (San Diego, CA), Erik Shampain (San Diego, CA), and Newporter Serena Vilage.

The group has been crusing collectively for six years; that longevity, he says, is “our secret sauce.”

Cunningham says “Lifted’s” profitable components depends on good begins. “We practice starts in between races,” he says.

“Our downwinds were particularly successful, too,” he provides. “Erik (Shampain) and I work on speed all of the time, and everyone focused on their job: speed, boat handling, and tactics. We just kept grinding forward,” he says.

Team “Lifted” had a formidable 5 first-place finishes, a second, and dropped a 3 as their worst rating, ending with seven factors total. The “Lifted” group additionally took residence the Etchells North American Championship trophy from the Newport Regatta®.

Elizabeth Kahane Wins Sally Helme Award

In 2025, Sally Helme’s household and Sail Newport created an award to honor the previous Sailing World writer and marine business pioneer for the highest feminine skipper of the Newport Regatta®.

The award was offered to Elizabeth Kahane (Newport, RI), who completed in first place within the Herreshoff 12 1/2 class. She had fellow Newport sailors Libby and Alie Toppa onboard “Chestnut.” The group had all single-digit finishes of 2-2-1-1 with a ultimate rating of six. That stellar racing put skipper Kahane in first-place incomes her the fleet trophy and the Helme award.

“On Saturday, we took a first, but ‘Weatherly’ upped everyone’s game and we just focused on what was ahead of us,” she says.

On Sunday, “It was all about the current. Alie (Toppa) on my team called it right not to tack. We played it well and finished the day,” she provides.

The traditional Herreshoff 12 1/2 class joined the Newport Regatta® for the primary time. Kahane is energetically main a bunch of sailors to develop the native fleet for extra racing alternatives.

“We have everyone from college students up to sailors in their 80s,” she provides.

First Day of Racing for Etchells, Melges 24 and A Cats

On Friday, July 10, a number of courses began their three-day race sequence at Halfway Rock in 5 to seven knots. Three races had been posted on the scoreboard for A Cats and Etchells. Although the primary race was deserted as a result of collapsing breeze, the Melges 24 accomplished two races that afternoon.

Eight extra fleets joined racing for Saturday and Sunday

Conditions various throughout the three race circles, with places altering to chase the wind. The race committee had a alternative of areas offshore of Brenton Cove, between Rose and Goat Islands, Potter’s Cove, and the world close to Halfway Rock.

On Saturday, the courses break up throughout three separate areas on the Bay. IC37, Melges 24 and Etchells on Circle One chosen an ocean course off Brenton Point. Herreshoff 12 1/2, Snipes and S Class boats raced on Circle Two between Rose and Goat Islands. Circle Three was the furthest north circle that day, with F18, A Class, 505, VX One and Shields racing at Potter’s Cove close to Jamestown.

Three profitable days of racing regardless of difficult situations

Saturday delivered the very best crusing situations of the regatta for all courses. Around midday, the breeze arrived at six to seven knots and constructed to 10 knots in some areas, permitting many courses to finish 4 races. Sailors on Circle Two skilled the longest delay, working into the early afternoon, however they had been rewarded with splendid situations and accomplished three races.

Sunday’s gentle situations wraps the Newport Regatta® early

On the final day of the regatta, all courses posted another race in very gentle situations. Circle Two began on the scheduled time, however the fleets needed to wait just a little longer for the breeze to stabilize and the programs to be adjusted.

The race committee moved Circle One contained in the Bay and first selected the Halfway Rock space, however with no wind, they moved the IC 37, Shields, and Etchells farther north to an space southwest of Prudence. They discovered wind and had been in a position to leverage 5 knots to finish another race for all three fleets.

The Herreshoff 12 1/2, Snipes, and S Class in Circle Two began on time in a meager 4 to six-knot northerly, which then decreased to a few knots. Still, the fleet completed the race, bringing their sequence whole to 4 for the regatta.

In Potters Cove, simply as the primary race was about to begin on Circle Three, the wind dropped out fully. Once the course was shifted northeast, 5 knots arrived, barely sailable situations to begin in, however the race was shortened on the gate for the 505 and Shields courses.

Sailors get pleasure from Sail Newport hospitality

Sailors not solely get pleasure from three days of racing, however Sail Newport additionally hosts socials every day as soon as races are completed on the water. On Saturday, July 11, Sail Newport introduced within the native iconic reggae/rock band “The Ravers” and a festive Caribbean BBQ. On Sunday, an awards ceremony and reception was held for the eleven courses of one-design sailors.

It takes a whole harbor group to run the Annual Newport Regatta

An huge volunteer group is required to function a significant occasion just like the Newport Regatta®. The regatta wants 50-60 on-the-water volunteers and dozens of volunteers to run the shoreside registration, receptions, and crusing middle operations.

Next 12 months will mark the forty third Annual Newport Regatta®, to be held July September 11, 2026.

Final Results