The Annual Newport Regatta hosts eleven classes of one-designs over three days of racing
by Sail Newport 14 Jul 10:48 PDT
July 10-12, 2026
A summer weekend in Newport typically brings plenty of dependable southerly breeze for sailors in the Newport Regatta®.
Sail Newport has managed the annual regatta for 42 years, but this past weekend was definitely an anomaly for sailors in Newport with very light winds, mostly in the single digits. However, the race committee persevered and completed three days of racing for the fleets.
On three circles of racing, the Sail Newport race committee leveraged the available breeze and successfully completed between four and eight races for the eleven classes of one-design sailboats in this year's Newport Regatta® presented by Hammetts Hotel. Sailors traveled from Canada and 18 U.S. States to participate in the regatta.
For several classes, the Newport Regatta® served as class championships, including the Etchells North American Championship and the Melges 24 East Coast Championship. Also, the Snipe class sailed for their Atlantic Coast Championship, and the Shields Class named their New England Championship winner.
Dr. Robin Wallace Performance Trophy awarded to Etchells sailor
One of the two special awards presented at the Newport Regatta® each year is the Dr. Robin Wallace Performance Trophy. The award is named after one of Sail Newport's founders, former president, and a leader in developing Newport as a thriving regatta venue.
The Wallace Trophy was awarded to Jim Cunningham (Miami, FL), helmsman of "Lifted," who sailed with his crew, including Steve Hunt (San Diego, CA), Erik Shampain (San Diego, CA), and Newporter Serena Vilage.
The team has been sailing together for six years; that longevity, he says, is "our secret sauce."
Cunningham says "Lifted's" winning formula relies on good starts. "We practice starts in between races," he says.
"Our downwinds were particularly successful, too," he adds. "Erik (Shampain) and I work on speed all of the time, and everyone focused on their job: speed, boat handling, and tactics. We just kept grinding forward," he says.
Team "Lifted" had an impressive five first-place finishes, a second, and dropped a three as their worst score, finishing with seven points overall. The "Lifted" team also took home the Etchells North American Championship trophy from the Newport Regatta®.
Elizabeth Kahane Wins Sally Helme Award
In 2025, Sally Helme's family and Sail Newport created an award to honor the former Sailing World publisher and marine industry pioneer for the top female skipper of the Newport Regatta®.
The award was presented to Elizabeth Kahane (Newport, RI), who finished in first place in the Herreshoff 12 1/2 class. She had fellow Newport sailors Libby and Alie Toppa onboard "Chestnut." The team had all single-digit finishes of 2-2-1-1 with a final score of six. That stellar racing put skipper Kahane in first-place earning her the fleet trophy and the Helme award.
"On Saturday, we took a first, but 'Weatherly' upped everyone's game and we just focused on what was ahead of us," she says.
On Sunday, "It was all about the current. Alie (Toppa) on my team called it right not to tack. We played it well and finished the day," she adds.
The classic Herreshoff 12 1/2 class joined the Newport Regatta® for the first time. Kahane is energetically leading a group of sailors to develop the local fleet for more racing opportunities.
"We have everyone from college students up to sailors in their 80s," she adds.
First Day of Racing for Etchells, Melges 24 and A Cats
On Friday, July 10, several classes started their three-day race series at Halfway Rock in five to seven knots. Three races were posted on the scoreboard for A Cats and Etchells. Although the first race was abandoned due to collapsing breeze, the Melges 24 completed two races that afternoon.
Eight more fleets joined racing for Saturday and Sunday
Conditions varied across the three race circles, with locations changing to chase the wind. The race committee had a choice of areas offshore of Brenton Cove, between Rose and Goat Islands, Potter's Cove, and the area near Halfway Rock.
On Saturday, the classes split across three separate areas on the Bay. IC37, Melges 24 and Etchells on Circle One selected an ocean course off Brenton Point. Herreshoff 12 1/2, Snipes and S Class boats raced on Circle Two between Rose and Goat Islands. Circle Three was the furthest north circle that day, with F18, A Class, 505, VX One and Shields racing at Potter's Cove near Jamestown.
Three successful days of racing in spite of challenging conditions
Saturday delivered the best sailing conditions of the regatta for all classes. Around noon, the breeze arrived at six to seven knots and built to 10 knots in some areas, allowing many classes to complete four races. Sailors on Circle Two experienced the longest delay, running into the early afternoon, but they were rewarded with ideal conditions and completed three races.
Sunday's light conditions wraps the Newport Regatta® early
On the last day of the regatta, all classes posted one more race in very light conditions. Circle Two started at the scheduled time, but the fleets had to wait a little longer for the breeze to stabilize and the courses to be adjusted.
The race committee moved Circle One inside the Bay and first chose the Halfway Rock area, but with no wind, they moved the IC 37, Shields, and Etchells farther north to an area southwest of Prudence. They found wind and were able to leverage five knots to complete one more race for all three fleets.
The Herreshoff 12 1/2, Snipes, and S Class in Circle Two started on time in a meager four to six-knot northerly, which then decreased to three knots. Still, the fleet finished the race, bringing their series total to four for the regatta.
In Potters Cove, just as the first race was about to start on Circle Three, the wind dropped out completely. Once the course was shifted northeast, five knots arrived, barely sailable conditions to start in, but the race was shortened at the gate for the 505 and Shields classes.
Sailors enjoy Sail Newport hospitality
Sailors not only enjoy three days of racing, but Sail Newport also hosts socials each day once races are finished on the water. On Saturday, July 11, Sail Newport brought in the local iconic reggae/rock band "The Ravers" and a festive Caribbean BBQ. On Sunday, an awards ceremony and reception was held for the eleven classes of one-design sailors.
It takes an entire harbor community to run the Annual Newport Regatta
An enormous volunteer community is needed to operate a major event like the Newport Regatta®. The regatta needs 50-60 on-the-water volunteers and dozens of volunteers to run the shoreside registration, receptions, and sailing center operations.
Next year will mark the 43rd Annual Newport Regatta®, to be held July 9-11, 2026.
Final Results