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  Cats in Newport Bermuda Race—Sailing news from North America & beyond
 | | Starting in 2018, multihulls larger than 58' LOA will be eligible to compete in the storied Newport Bermuda Race Rachel Jaspersen |
One of the more interesting evolutions in our sport in the past decade or so has been the acceptance of high-performance multihulls in racing and cruising circles. Many of the concepts behinds high-performance multihulls-including lightweight builds, interesting aero packages, daggerboards and composite structures-have existed for some time. However, it took a historical collision between the America's Cup, the advent of high-performance cruising catamarans such as the Chris White-designed Atlantic-series catamarans, Nigel Irons designs and the various Gunboat designs (and, more recently, the HH catamarans), and the high-profile rise of offshore ocean-racing multihulls contesting sought-after prizes such as the Jules Verne Trophy for the fastest elapsed circumnavigation time to bring multi-hull sailing to the mainstream. Now, for the first time in the race's proud 111-year history, the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee has announced that multihulls greater than 58 feet, LOA, will be welcomed into the fleet for the 2018 Newport to Bermuda Race.
“We are very pleased after careful study and consideration of the unique and challenging characteristics of our race to welcome multihulls of 58 feet and longer,” wrote Commodore Jim Binch of the Cruising Club of America, Commodore Leatrice Oatley of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, and Race Chairman Jonathan Brewin in a press release dated 24 March, 2017.
 | | Paradox - a Nigel Irens 63' Trimaran skippered by Peter Aschenbrenner - 2015 Rolex Middle Sea Race RORC / Tim Wright |
Historically, the Newport-Bermuda Race has featured large amounts of tight reaching, and the Gulf Stream can usually be counted on to deliver some wildcards.
“We take safety very seriously,” continued Commodore Birch. “The Cruising Club of America committees have studied the issues exhaustively. Our Technical and Safety committees have been communicating with experienced owners and leading multihull designers. I am pleased with their recommendations for this historic first inclusion.”
 | | Gunboat class - St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Rachel Jaspersen |
While some owners of smaller multi-hulls were no doubt disappointed to see the 58-foot LOA requirement, it's critical to remember that the race is operating out of an abundance of caution, with the intention of making wise, seamanlike decisions, and that 2018 represents a lot of firsts for the event and for these high-performance offshore steeds. Moreover, the rules that apply to a race in 2018 may not still be applicable in 2022 or 2030, as evidenced by the forward-thinking acceptance of multi-hulls for the 51st Thrash to the Onion Patch.
As of this writing, it's estimated that the 2018 Newport Bermuda Race will see between 10-15 multihulls (possibly more) on the starting line, and the multihull division will be divided into “appropriate classes” of boats (e.g., high performance, performance cruising and cruising), making for some exciting racing between vessels of similar ilk.
 | | The newly launched all-carbon racing machine HH66 NALA will turn a few heads at this year's BVI Spring Regatta Hudson Yacht Group / Lauren Battaile |
Of the world's four most famous offshore races for Corinthian teams, the Newport Bermuda Race now joins ranks with the Transpac Race and the Fastnet Race in welcoming multihulls, with only the Sydney Hobart Race remaining a contest solely for monohulls.
It will certainly be interesting to see how well the multihulls do en route to Bermuda in 2018, and also whether the Sydney Hobart Race will remain a purely monohull-centric affair.
 | | SPINDRIFT 2 rounding the Fastnet Rock in the 2016 Fastnet Race © Rolex/ Kurt Arrigo |
Stay tuned to www.sail-world.com for more information on the Newport Bermuda Race's exciting decision to allow multihulls to compete in next year's race, as it becomes known.
May the four winds blow you safely home,
David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor
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