100 years

Latest news of Newport Bermuda Race

The Newport Bermuda Race is set to start on June 16, 2006, commemorating 100 years of this ocean racing classic. A record size fleet is anticipated as yachts from both sides of the Atlantic prepare to take part in the anniversary event.

Race organizers, the Cruising Club of America and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, desire to be as inclusive as possible of the many yachts interested in the event. This has resulted in use of two rating rules for the race. The new Offshore Racing Rule (ORR) will be used as well as IRC. ORR is based on the Velocity Prediction Program technology of IMS and Americap, both of which have been used in the Newport Bermuda Race in recent years. ORR blends the best of those rules into a rating system well suited to offshore, distance races. At the same time, IRC is being widely introduced in the United States and some yachts will like the opportunity to be scored under that rule as well. There will be significant trophies offered under each rule, including the prestigious Lighthouse Trophies.

As in recent years, the Race will also offer separate divisions for amateur and professionally crewed boats to keep level playing fields among competitors. Following on the battle of the super-maxis in the 2004 event, there will again be a special division for these big boats.

“We think we have created a race that will accommodate both the professional and the amateur while accommodating two forward looking rules at a time of change in the sport,” commented Race Chairman Bill Barton. “We want to continue our successful use of VPP based rules that we believe are well suited to distance ocean races like ours. This has resulted in a diverse group of boats taking home the lighthouse trophies in recent years, giving everybody an equal chance.

“At the same time, we realize that many boats will be sailing under the rapidly spreading IRC rule and we want to welcome the skippers sailing under that rule and tuning their boats for other popular IRC events in the US and abroad. We believe we are offering the best of both worlds.”

Certificates for both rating rules are easy to acquire. The new ORR rule can use data from a yacht’s previous IMS or Americap certificate, or the measurements of a sistership. US-IRC has been running seminars and training a large team of measurers in the US; for boats that have existing IMS certificates, much of the data already exists for those yachts. Additional information about the rating systems can be found on their respective web sites at http://www.offshorerace.org and http://www.us-irc.org

Cruising Club of America Commodore Truman Casner stated, “The two sponsoring Clubs are working together closely to make the 2006 centennial race a special event drawing the largest possible fleet.” Andy Cox, Vice Commodore of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, confirmed that: “We expect a big turn out in the main Cruiser/Racer Division where we will be using both rules. The use of IRC should also build participation in the Onion Patch Series of races that occur just before and after the Newport Bermuda Race.”

The Newport Bermuda Race is co-sponsored by the Cruising Club of America and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. Race information is available on the web site at www.bermudarace.com for the Newport Bermuda Race and www.onionpatchseries.com for the Onion Patch Series.

Newport Bermuda Race Centennial 2006 Divisions and Prizes

Racing Division
Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Trophies
ORR or Endorsed IRC Certificate Required
Yachts race under one certificate, separate scoring
Professionals Unrestricted

Cruiser/Racer Division
St. David’s Lighthouse Trophies
Trophies awarded under each rule if different winners
ORR Certificate Required
Optional Endorsed IRC for dual scoring
Amateurs and Limited Professionals

Non-Spinnaker Division
Herbert L. Stone Trophy
ORR Certificate Required
Amateurs and Limited Professionals

Double-Handed Division
Phil Weld & Moxie Prizes
ORR Certificate Required
Amateurs & Limited Professionals

Big Boat Demonstration Division
Big Boat Prize
Rating rule to be announced
Professionals Unrestricted