Get your diaries out

Centennial celebrations for 2006 Newport Bermuda Race

Commodore Truman Casner of the Cruising Club of America and Commodore Jane Correia of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club are pleased to announce that the Newport Bermuda Race will start off Castle Hill, Newport, RI on June 16, 2006. This is the centennial of the Bermuda Race and gala celebrations are planned to commemorate this ocean classic, first sailed from Gravesend Bay NY in 1906.

The two clubs also announced that Bill Barton of Hamilton, MA, has been appointed as
Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 2006 event. Barton is a veteran of the Newport Bermuda Race Organizing Committee, having served as Vice-Chairman for the 2004 race and as Chief Inspector, and a member of the Qualifications Committee. He is a long-time member of the CCA and has competed in the Bermuda Race as both navigator and captain over the years.

Barton has accepted the challenge to organize the 2006 Bermuda Race Centennial. "We have an exceptional opportunity to put on a special event that will commemorate all the great boats and famous sailors who have made the Bermuda Race one of the top ocean races in the world." Barton said. "We are already working on 2006 and looking forward to the 100th year race and a celebration of the race that set the standard in the sport. The future of offshore racing seems very bright."

Barton takes over from John Winder, Chairman of the 2004 Newport Bermuda Race that has just been completed. 156 boats in five divisions started the race. Final Results plus accounts of the race and dozens of start, finish and prizegiving photos may be seen on www.bermudarace.com.

This is the 45th Bermuda Race. It has been sailed six times from New London, four times from Gravesend Bay, one time from Montauk and once from Marblehead. The race has been sailed from Newport to Bermuda thirty-three times since 1936.

The Onion Patch Series that includes the ocean race, the New York Yacht Club Annual regatta and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Anniversary Regatta will be sailed June 10th-23rd.

For further information, contact Race Headquarters: 580 Thames Street, Suite 418, Newport RI 02840 Phone (978) 526-7829 FAX (978) 526-9610 Email: chairman@bermudarace.com.