NEWS
Spirit of Bermuda leads America at the start of the race24 CLASSIC BOAT SEPTEMBER 2016TELL TALES
Newport hosts the fi nal stage of the North American
Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge with the 37th annual
Newport Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta from
September 2-4. This year the event will be based from the
campus of IYRS School of Technology & Trades. Those
taking part can reserve a berth at the IYRS pontoons or at
Casey’s Marina through IYRS. Berths will also be available at
the Alofsin Piers through Sail Newport.
The regatta was launched in 1980 and now attracts
dozens of boats each year including the rich Newport
classic fl eet and yachts from up and down the east coast,
enjoying racing in Narragansett Bay and the delights of the
town thereafter. The overall and class winners of the Panerai
series are awarded at the regatta prize-giving.Entry and registration, visit iyrs.edu/newport-classic-yacht-
regatta or email Jenny Holmqvist at [email protected]Fifty-two boats decided not to start the 50th Newport Bermuda
Race on 17 June, with gales forecast over the exposed race route,
but the remaining 133 boats – ranging from 36ft to 100ft – ended
up with breezes that were described as ‘challenging, but not threatening’.
A total of 122 fi nished, many recounting tales of atmospheric night sailing at
speed under a full moon. Skippered by Ken Read, Comanche received line
honours and was back in Newport before most of the fl eet had arrived in
Bermuda. Among the classics competing was Black Watch, a beautiful S&S
yawl. Winner of the Spirit of Tradition division was training ship Spirit of
Bermuda, a replica of a Royal Navy sloop-of-war. Among her competitors was
Troy Sears’ America, which had made the trip from San Diego, California.
There have now been 50 races held across 110 years, making the event the
oldest regularly scheduled ocean race, not to mention one that attracts boats
and sailors from across the spectrum and across the world. This year saw
entrants from all over North America, the UK and Russia. The rules still state it
is ‘not a race for novices’. bermudarace.comA new association for classic yacht owners in the US aims to help
create a series of classic regattas similar to that in the Med.
The Classic Yacht Owners Association already has almost 80
boats as members including Dorade, Weatherly, The Blue Peter,
Marilee, Sonny, Rowdy, Brilliant, Wild Horses and other well-known
yachts, and interest is mounting as the season’s regattas begin.
President of the association Clark Poston, who was one of the
founders of the IYRS (International Yacht Restoration School)
boatbuilding college in Newport, said: “The association is an
initiative designed to bring order and organization to the dynamic,
yet often enigmatic classic sailing yacht community in the United
States. It will be dedicated to all aspects of owning, caring for,
restoring, sailing, crewing, cruising and racing classic sailing yachts.”
One of the key objectives is to “establish a series of classic yacht
regattas built upon the same business plan as that used in the
Mediterranean classic yachting circuit”.
The association, which has a 30-member advisory board made up
of key people in the classic scene, does not intend to be a regatta
organiser itself, but Poston said: “The CYOA may be a catalyst to
bring existing classic regattas, beyond the current three in the
Panerai North American Classic Yacht Cup series, into the fold toenhance and extend the overall unifi ed series of possible events. The
association will also assist in the encouragement of new events, such
as the Camden Classic Cup, supported and run by Wayfarer Marine
and Lyman Morse in Camden.”
The association will be funded privately initially, with membership
fees and possibly sponsorship to follow later as a step towards
self-sustaining status. It is hoped a more coherant US scene will
encourage classic yachts to visit the country from Europe and
dissuade the migration of US classics abroad.
Poston said: “We will work to promote and support world class
events that will attract classic yachts from around the globe to travel
and compete in New England waters.”
classicyachtownersassociation.orgNEWPORT CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA
Clinch the Panerai prize
NEWPORT BERMUDA RACE
To Bermuda for the 50th timeASSOCIATION
US classic yacht group
targets regatta growth
PPLROB PEAKE
President of the new association Clark Poston