Please select your home edition
Edition
Vetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 LEADERBOARD

Hungry for overnighters, sailors target Ida Lewis Distance Race in August

by Barby MacGowan 14 May 2024 04:06 AEST August 16-17, 2024
Eric Irwin's (Newport, R.I.) J/122 Alliance will return for its third Ida Lewis Distance Race © Stephen Cloutier

With Memorial Day Weekend just around the corner, sailors are prepping for a busy race season on Narragansett Bay.

And while the Ida Lewis Distance Race, scheduled for August 16-17 and presented by Bluenose Yacht Sales, might be the last sailing competition in some summer lineups, it certainly isn't the least notable. For 19 editions it has consistently proven itself as a rigorous yet gratifying overnight contest that necessitates practiced teamwork for the best results.

"Last year's race was particularly memorable given the stronger winds and was a test of offshore readiness for every team," said Eric Irwin (Newport, R.I.) whose team aboard the J/122 Alliance will count this as its third Ida Lewis Distance Race. "Since the New York Yacht Club is hosting the ORC Worlds (which includes two distance races) at the end of September, this year's Ida Lewis race provides a great work-up for the crew to include the navigation and strategy challenges that occur in the vicinity of Rhode Island Sound."

The Ida Lewis Race Committee will select individual courses between 129 and 230 nautical miles for ORC, PHRF and PHRF Doublehanded Classes based on the weather and sea state forecasts and the handicap range of each class. After starting in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay (off Jamestown on Friday, August 16 at 1100), the teams must navigate around government and other marks located in and around Narragansett Bay, Buzzards Bay, Vineyard Sound, Rhode Island Sound, Long Island Sound and the waters south of western Long Island before returning to a finish off Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Newport.

"For the 2023 race, we added a second ORC class and a third in PHRF, resulting in tightening the bands and thus providing stiffer competition," said Event Chair Anselm Richards. "We'll do that all again and, also like last time, add more new courses. Some will have extra reaching legs, so that we have plenty of options for insuring as best we can that each class gets a 24-hour race."

Both veteran and newcomers embraced the 2023 efforts to fine-tune the Ida Lewis Distance Race. "It was a great introduction to longer overnight races, and I can't say enough about the format!" said Matthew Jörgensen (East Lyme, Conn.), owner of the Wiggers Peterson 37 Valour. "My crew learned a lot, and for sure we are making this one of the major targets for our 2024 season."

Back for its second Ida Lewis Distance Race, Jim Coggeshall's (Dartmouth, Mass.) J/121 team aboard Ceilidh will use the event for some follow-up fun to this year's Newport to Bermuda Race in late June. But first, the team will compete in the New Bedford Yacht Club's annual 110-mile Whaler's Race in early June. "The Whaler's race is a great tune-up for the Ida Lewis Race as both Block Island and the Buzzards Bay Tower are turning marks," said Coggeshall. "The Ida Lewis Distance Race is a great opportunity to get crews out to practice on an overnight race. We invite any Narragansett Bay boats to join us."

The event is open to boats no smaller than 28 feet and makes a provision for One-Design classes to be added if six or more boats of one kind register.

Presenting Sponsor Bluenose Yacht Sales has created a special charter package for its Sun Fast 3300 to encourage new entries, especially in the event's Doublehanded Class.

Visit here to learn more about SF3300 Race Charters or contact Jonathan Banks at (401) 855-0416, .

Ida Lewis Distance Race Gold Sponsor is Contender Sailcloth. Silver Sponsors are Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard and Hogan Associates/Christie's International Real Estate. Bronze Sponsors are Langan Design Partners, Newport Construction Services, Inc. and Gold's Wine and Spirits. Contributing Sponsors are Toni Mills Graphic Design, Mac Designs, Gosling's Black Seal Rum, and Stella Artois.

For the Notice of Race and more information, visit ilyc.org/distancerace or contact Race Chair Anselm Richards, . Follow on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Related Articles

SailGP's return to Auckland for Season 6 confirmed
ITM is the NZ's Grand Prix's Title Partner, marking a fourth year supporting Black Foils. After a record breaking debut, the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix Auckland has been confirmed to be returning in 2026 and is set to be bigger than ever. Posted on 26 Jun
Rolex SailGP Championship 2026 dates confirmed
Including a return to fan-favorite destination, Auckland SailGP has released further details of forthcoming 2026 Season, including the return of fan-favorite locations, multi-year hosting agreements secured across all regions, and an evolved regional structure to raise the stakes for athletes and fans alike. Posted on 26 Jun
BOISW - New Committee announced for 2026
New Committee working hard behind the scenes to rework the 2026 Bay of Islands Sailing Week . A newly appointed committee is already working hard behind the scenes to rework the 2026 Bay of Islands Sailing Week event while honouring the traditions that have made it so special to the sailing community. Posted on 26 Jun
Pip Hare Announced as Patron of WORLDSTAR 2026
A meaningful return to her roots with the Royal Western Yacht Club of England The Royal Western Yacht Club (RWYC) is absolutely delighted to welcome solo ocean racing legend Pip Hare as the Patron of WORLDSTAR 2026—our flagship round-the-world sailing event. This is more than a title; it's a homecoming. Posted on 26 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 7
British mixed dominance in dinghy and catamaran After the second day of the Sailing Grand Slam in the Olympic mixed classes, Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris are leading the 470 class even more dominantly than John Gimson and Anna Burnet in the Nacra 17 on Thursday (June 26). Posted on 26 Jun
29th Superyacht Cup Palma day 1
Cervo and Open Season take opening day honours The Superyacht Cup Palma 2025 swung into action today, with captains and crews across the varied and inspiring fleet seizing the opportunity to take the measure of the competition out on the racecourse. Posted on 26 Jun
J/70 Mixed-Plus Worlds at Lake Garda Day 1
Yupi leads after a perfect opening day in Torbole Lake Garda delivered its finest conditions for the opening day of the first-ever J/70 Mixed-Plus World Championship: three races completed in a steady, warm Ora breeze peaking at 20 knots. Posted on 26 Jun
Tschüss 2 - Transatlantic Titans
Line Honours for Christian Zugel's Volvo 70 in the Transatlantic Race 2025 Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 (USA), owned by Christian Zugel and co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, has taken Line Honours in the West to East Transatlantic Race 2025 in an elapsed time of 07 Day 15 Hrs 29 Mins and 10 Secs. Posted on 26 Jun
Craig Wood Makes History
The first triple amputee to sail solo non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific Craig is the first triple amputee to sail solo non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific, completing the 7506nm journey from Mexico to Japan in 90 days. Posted on 26 Jun
NTG Global Graduate Program
Shape your career and propel yourself into the world of innovation North Technology Group, a global leader in advanced composite technology, is offering an exciting and dynamic graduate program that will shape your career and propel you into the world of innovation. Posted on 26 Jun
B&G Zeus SR AUSSelden 2020 - FOOTERX-Yachts X4.0