Happy holidays! The Race already has 171 boats entered. Of those, 100 are in the St. David's Lighthouse Division with most others in Gibbs Hill Lighthouse (20), Finisterre (31) and Double-Handed (15).
The discounted fee window is closing—enter by 12/18 to save on entry!
The other reason to enter now is because the single best predictor of a safe and successful passage is how early you start preparing.
WANTED! ONBOARD ENVIRONMENTALISTS
Most of us know what a watch captain, navigator, cook and tactician does on the Newport Bermuda Race, but what about an environmentalist? Both symbolic and substantive, the SailGate crew tool now allows captains to name an “environmentalist.” One who has done so is Gus Carlson, owner of the Reichel-Pugh 66 Aurora, appointing Tucker Sylvia to the position. "All crews can certainly take steps to reduce their footprint," Sylvia says, explaining that his initial focus is on reusable food and drink containers, plus boat-maintenance materials.
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SHORT-HANDED TO BERMUDA ON A JEANNEAU SUNFAST 3300
Over the last few years, double- and short-handed racing has gained significant popularity. Double-handed classes have been added to major races like the Rolex Sydney Hobart, and the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race had 91 DH entries. The Newport Bermuda Race was ahead of this curve, adding a dedicated class in 1994, and next year’s race could see 20-plus boats registered in this class, with 15 signed up already.
Those registered include a Jeanneau Sunfast 3300 (Sea Bear) with another Sunfast 3300 (Alchemist) registered to sail short-handed in the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Division. Purpose-designed boats such as the Sunfast have supported this rise of short-handed sailing, especially as our new Covid environment amplified the recognition that large crews were unnecessary.
TOP HOLIDAY SELLER: OFFICIAL HELLY HANSEN NEWPORT BERMUDA RACE GEAR
Surprise your racers and fans with hats, vests, T-shirts and top gear designed with safety in mind: bibs, jackets, boots, underlayers and more.
Shop NOW for full selection and free shipping in time for the holidays!
Custom gifts for your crew? Nothing looks better behind a Dark & Stormy at race parties than your team name and logo, custom embroidered on Helly Hansen gear. From seasoned pros to those craving offshore, show your appreciation with gear they’ll love for years to come.
JIM TEETERS JOINS US SAILING OFFSHORE RATINGS OFFICE
We’re pleased to report that Jim Teeters has joined US Sailing as Head of the Offshore Ratings Office. Teeters is the long-time scorer of the Bermuda Race, manager of the Offshore Racing Rule (ORR) VPP, and a volunteer on the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee. His hiring signals US Sailing’s long-term commitment to rebuilding the Offshore Office and creating new services to benefit offshore racers using rating rules. The move has already resulted in a program to train and certify more measurers.
