High spirits at the Newport Classic Yacht Regatta presented By IYRS
by Classic Yacht Owners Association 11 Sep 05:00 PDT
September 5-6, 2026
The Newport Classic Yacht Regatta Presented by IYRS took over America's sailing capital on Labor Day Weekend for the penultimate event of the 2026 CYCS.
Jens Lange summarized all the action:
The 47th Newport Classic Yacht Regatta was a great success, with more than 40 boats and 300 sailors competing on the waters of Narragansett Bay.
Despite light and occasionally shifting northerly winds, the Race Committee, led by Principal Race Officer Diana Emmanuelli, did an outstanding job selecting courses for the four "big boat" classes. Meanwhile, on a second racecourse between Goat and Rose Islands, 12 all-female crews aboard Herreshoff 12 halfs and Doughdishes completed seven windward-leeward races.
Saturday morning's check-in and competitors' briefing was held in Restoration Hall—the heart and soul of the IYRS campus—and was very well attended. This year's regatta T-shirts, featuring beautiful original artwork created for the event, became an instant hit. The hall was filled with lively conversation over coffee and breakfast as sailors recapped previous races, greeted old friends and enjoyed the camaraderie of the classic-yacht community.
Before outlining the plans for two days of racing, Diana led a moment of silence in memory of the beloved Peter Gerard, who had been an essential part of the Newport Classic Yacht Regatta for so many years.
The beautiful 1964 Carlo Riva-designed Feadship Caravelle SERENA headed to rendezvous area Charlie, just south of the Newport Pell Bridge, where Classes 1 through 4 began the weekend's racing. The fleet was sent north on courses of varying lengths but similar configurations. There were numerous lead changes, and the first race concluded with enough time remaining—and enough northerly breeze—for a second race. It was a terrific start to the weekend.
Sunday morning began with the traditional Classic Yacht Parade through Newport Harbor. Led by SERENA, the fleet circled the harbor clockwise before passing Ida Lewis Yacht Club. By the time the front of the parade had completed the circuit, the final boat was just entering the harbor, creating a perfect circle of classic yachts.
The parade featured plenty of ceremonial cannon fire, cheers from spectators ashore, fantastic costumes—complete with an award for the best-dressed crew—and patriotic displays aboard both boats and sailors. Amid all the festivities, a wedding was even held aboard one of the participating vessels.
Following the parade, the fleet returned directly to Narragansett Bay. The 12 halfs rendezvoused just west of Goat Island, while Classes 1 through 4 traveled farther north to a starting area east of Gould Island, where the Race Committee hoped to find enough of the light northerly breeze to complete a full race. The plan worked.
Courses were selected to bring every class to a finish just outside the entrance to Newport Harbor, allowing competitors enough time to return ashore, clean up and make their way to the awards celebration on the IYRS campus.
Live music, plentiful hors d'oeuvres and open bars drew a record crowd to share stories from the weekend, celebrate classic-yacht racing, award an impressive collection of silver and make new friends. Guests also had the opportunity to step aboard the 118-year-old Fife VIOLA, which was docked at IYRS and open for everyone to explore—an especially fitting conclusion to a wonderful weekend devoted to classic yachts and the people who keep them sailing.
The CYCS is now heading into its final weekend of the year with the Indian Harbor Classic Yacht Regatta, scheduled for September 18-20. With beautiful early autumn sailing in Long Island Sound, the regatta will be the final opportunity for competitors to advance in the standings for both the overall awards and the Southern New England region.
This has been an exceptional season for the CYCS! Over 180 classic yachts sailed in more than 20 individual races since June. Fifty-one CYOA members took part in this year's series, with 19 of them qualifying for overall awards. An additional 40 boats were in the running for awards in the three regions of Maine, Massachusetts, and Southern New England.
Next weekend's regatta is not the season's end! The 2026 CYCS winners will be feted at the CYOA Annual Meeting and Award Ceremony on Friday, October 23 at the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol, RI. Stay tuned to the CYOA website, newsletter, and social media for more information on the event and how to RSVP.
You can also view the current standings of the CYCS ahead of the season's final races at classicyachts.org/results
2026 CYCS Results and Standings
To qualify, a boat must sail in 5 races across 3 events, 1 of which must be outsdie thier home district. Points are based on percentage of perfection, 100 per event so maximum is 500 points.
Vintage Division
1. Black Watch — Black Watch Alliance — 496.15 points
2. Spartan — NGH Restoration — 492.86 points
3. Siren — Peter Cassidy — 443.21 points
4. Viola — Kostia Belkin — 427.20 points
5. Firefly — Trevor W. Nelson — 406.62 points
6. Gleam — Andy Tyska — 397.38 points
7. Onawa — McMillen Yachts — 391.06 points
8. Gentian — Ben Sperry — 354.52 points
9. Polly — Peter Gallant — 320.26 points
10. Spirit — Lars & Peter Forsberg — 307.08 points
11. Kirawan — Jim Wetherald / Ted Huffman — 204.87 points
Classic Division
1. American Eagle — Alexander C. Valcic — 323.81 points
2. Juno — Scott DiBiaso — 251.09 points
3. Sisyphus — Matthew Twomey — 86.89 points
Spirit of Tradition Division
1. Ponyo — Paul Koch — 375.64 points
2. Yonder — Doug Newhouse — 374.36 points
3. Cavallino — William Kahane and Mike Toppa — 360.27 points
Contemporary Division
1. Jax — Øivind Lorentzen— 466.67 points