Inaugural Ida Lewis

Entry list still open for new east coast offshore race

With two weeks to go until the inaugural Ida Lewis Distance Race, entries are still being received and encouraged.

"It’s a first-time event so the challenge is in spreading the word about the race and the great fleet of boats that is assembling," said Race Chairman Simon Davidson, the professional yacht captain aboard Joe Dockery’s, Carrerra.

This 81ft Reichel-Pugh design leads an impressive line-up of entrants inlcuding Tom Hill’s Reichel-Pugh 75 Titan, Bob Towse’s Reichel-Pugh 66 Blue Yankee, Steve Munger’s Farr 60 Harrier, John Brim’s Farr 60 Rima, David Ford’s TP52 Lightwave and Larry Dickie’s IMS 50 Ptarmigan. "Some pretty incredible competition is already guaranteed, and we are looking forward to some more boats joining the fun as well," added Davidson.

The event starting on 19 August and hosted by Ida Lewis Yacht Club for singlehulled boats of 29 feet or more, is one of the qualifying events for the New England Lighthouse Series (NELS) and Northern Ocean Racing Trophy (NORT), which are administered annually by the Stamford Yacht Club.

The NELS and NORT include such prestigious events as the Newport to Bermuda Race, the Pineapple Cup Montego Bay (Ft Lauderdale to Jamaica) and the Hemingway Ocean Race from Miami to Baltimore.

"The Ida Lewis Distance Race is 242 nautical miles, starts and finishes in Newport and will be sailed on the coastal waters of Block Island Sound and Rhode Island Sound," said Davidson. "It will prove to be a challenge with multiple turning marks, tide and current negotiations and varying weather conditions." Classes are expected to form for IMS Racing and IMS Cruiser/Racer Divisons as well as PHRF Spinnaker.

All social activities surrounding the event will be held at Ida Lewis Yacht Club, the lighthouse on Lime Rock where its infamous female namesake - a lighthouse keeper there from the mid-1800s to early 1900s - saved at least as many lives as are stars on the club’s burgee (18).

The Ida Lewis Distance Race is sponsored by www.driveprestige.com, Hall Spars, New England Boatworks, Blue Water Sailing and Mosquito Magnet, companies which have all recognized that this race will grow to be a spectacular event on the East Coast Racing calendar.

To request a Notice of Race or to enter, contact Ida Lewis Yacht Club at 401-846-1969, or go to their website.