ABOUT NEWPORT BERMUDA RACE
About the Race
The Newport Bermuda Race is a 636-mile biennial ocean sailing competition from Newport, Rhode Island, to Bermuda. Established in 1906, it's the oldest regularly scheduled ocean race and one of the few international distance races held almost entirely out of sight of land, alongside the Transpac Race.
Organized by the Bermuda Race Foundation—a collaboration between the Cruising Club of America (CCA) and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC)—the race emphasizes safety, seamanship, and the spirit of amateur sailing.
Historical Milestones
The race was conceived by Thomas Fleming Day, editor of The Rudder magazine, who challenged the notion that offshore racing was only for large yachts. His vision promoted the design and sailing of smaller, seaworthy yachts by amateur sailors.
Over the years, the race has attracted sailors worldwide. In 2024, participants represented 25 countries, with 48 boats featuring at least one sailor from outside the U.S.
In 2022, the CCA and RBYC again have joined forces to form Bermuda Race Foundation, Inc., which is a recognized 501c3 tax-exempt public charity, and is the official Organizing Authority for the Race, implementation of which is through its all-volunteer Bermuda Race Organizing Committee.
In 2024, the race featured a new starting point off Fort Adams, allowing over 4,000 spectators to witness the commencement up close, with an additional 12,000 tuning in online to watch a livestream. It also used a new Forecast Time Corrected scoring, which leveraged technology and forecast models to create a fairer system for comparing boats of different sizes. The Newport Bermuda Race was the first offshore race in the world to implement this scoring.
The 2026 race will be the 54th since the 1906 founding, and it also marks the 100th anniversary of the relationship between the Cruising Club of America and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in jointly organizing the race.
Photo: Steve Cloutier/ 2024
RACE HIGHLIGHTS
- Distance: 636 nautical miles
- Frequency: Biennial (every two years)
- Next Race: June 19, 2026
- Start Location: Off the shoreline at Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI
- Finish Line: St. David’s Lighthouse, Bermuda
- Typical Duration: 3–6 days
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Tracker Sponsor
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Premier Sponsor
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Official Gear Supplier
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Official Shipyard
Official Sponsor
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Official Connectivity Sponsor
Media Partner
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Official Supporter
Divisions & Classes
The Newport Bermuda Race accommodates various classes to promote inclusivity and fair competition. Boats are sailed under the Offshore Rating Rule (ORR). Divisions are based on different criteria that sailors enter into and sub-classes within those divisions group boats based on similar size.
Photo: Steve Cloutier/ 2024
St. David’s Lighthouse Division
This division features versatile cruiser-racer monohulls, mostly sailed by amateur crews. With nearly 100 boats, it limits professional crew and allows only amateurs to steer.
Photo: Daniel Forster/ 2024
Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Division
This division is for all-out racing, typically lightweight and high-performance boats often sailed by professional crews, who may steer.
Photo: Daniel Forster/ 2024
Finisterre
Division
This division, formerly the cruising division, is for boats with mostly amateur crews and sail limits—but it's just as competitive as the others.
Photo: Steve Cloutier/ 2024
Double-
Handed
Division
For teams of two, this is your division—one crew can be a professional and may steer.
Other Divisions
- Open Division: Cant-keel racers with professional helmsmen permitted, examples include 11th Hour Racing, the IMOCA 60, in the 2022 Race
- Super Yacht Division: Yachts over 90 feet, adhering to the International Super Yacht Rule, including Arabella, the 157 foot Palmer Johnson Schooner
- Spirit of Tradition Division: Replicas and traditional boats, such as the Spirit of Bermuda
Photo: Daniel Forster/ 2026
Race Records and Facts
The race is nicknamed “the Thrash to the Onion Patch” because most Bermuda Races include high winds and big waves, and Bermuda is an agricultural island.
165
Number of boats that started in 2026 with 1,367 sailors onboard.
39%
Percent of the sailors in 2024 were first time Bermuda Race sailors.
10
The average crew has 10 men or women, often including many from the same family.
50%
Half the fleet is New England based and rest of are from the US, Bermuda, and globally.
25
Countries represented by sailors in the 2024 race with 48 boats having multiple nationalities.
COURSE RECORDS
Monohull:
COMANCHE (2016)
Jim and Kristy Hinze Clark
34h:42m:53s
Multihull:
ARGO (2024)
Jason Carroll
33H:00m:09s
St. David's Lighthouse Division:
Kodiak (2012)
Edwin Llwyd Ecclestone
46H:53m:12s
BIGGEST FLEET
265 boats for the
100th Anniversary Centennial Race in
2006 followed by 198 in 2008
MOST VICTORIES
3 - John Alden, Malabars
(1923, 1926, 1932)
3 - Carleton Mitchell
Finisterre
(1956, 1958, 1960)
5 - Carina (1970, 1982, 2010, 2012, 2024) - three of which have been under the ownership of Rives Potts
MOST RACES
30 - Jim Mertz, (every race except two, 1936-2004)
28 - John Browning
27 - Rich du Moulin
Take a Deeper Dive
Photo: Daniel Forster/ 2018
History
The first Bermuda Race in 1906 was an act of rebellion. Defying beliefs that offshore racing in boats under 80 feet was dangerous, Rudder editor Thomas Fleming Day insisted the real danger was ignorance. Confident it would be safe and improve sailors and boats, he launched the race himself.
Roll of Honour
The Bermuda Race Roll of Honour celebrates exceptional contributions to the Newport Bermuda Race. Established in 2006 for the race’s centennial, it now includes numerous honorees—founders, record holders, top designers, legendary sailors, and heroes of the sport.
Gulf Stream Society
Over 50,000 sailors and 5,000 yachts have raced in the famed “Thrash to the Onion Patch.” The Gulf Stream Society honors those who’ve completed five or more Newport Bermuda Races, with special recognition for 10, 15, or more.
Committed to Sustainability
The Newport Bermuda Race is striving to become a leader in sustainability through its ongoing commitment to the Sailors for the Sea Clean Regattas program. In partnership with Sailors for the Sea, the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee has upheld Platinum-level certification—the program’s highest standard—since 2014. This collaboration has inspired a range of Green Boating Initiatives, including waste reduction, responsible fueling, and the use of environmentally friendly products. The race also promotes best practices through the E-Steward program, encouraging competitors and organizers alike to take measurable action in protecting ocean health. By embedding sustainability into every phase of the event, the Newport Bermuda Race aims to set an example for offshore racing worldwide.
Results 1906 - 2022
Previous Race Results to 2022
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