New IRC trophy

More silverware to be awarded for this year's Newport-Bermuda Race

Those entered in either the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Division or the St. David’s Lighthouse Division of the 2008 Newport Bermuda Race still have time to submit their IRC certificate, in order to compete for a new prize for the winner under IRC - the new North Rock Beacon Trophy.

The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club has donated the new silver and bronze North Rock Beacon Trophy to the race. It will be awarded to the IRC corrected time winner of all IRC boats in the combined Gibbs Hill and St. David’s Lighthouse Divisions. The same silversmiths who make the famous Bermuda Race lighthouses are crafting the new prize

All IRC entries in the Newport Bermuda Race are also eligible to enter both the Onion Patch Series and the Gulf Stream Series.

The Onion Patch Series includes racing in the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta, the Newport Bermuda Race, and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Anniversary Regatta. It is a top quality series with racing on a wide variety of courses, not just windward-leewards, with both team and individual yacht competition. The Onion Patch series had 48 entries in 2006, a record turnout.

Entry for the Onion Patch Series begins in the entry process for Newport Bermuda. Both regatta events have individual entry processes that must be completed. Also see the Notice of Series and 2006 results at http://www.onionpatchseries.com/.

The Gulf Stream Series includes racing in up to 18 events starting in January with Ft. Lauderdale to Key West, includes all the Onion Patch events, and ends with the IRC East Coast Championship in Annapolis at the end of October 2008. Entry is at http://www.us-irc.org/.