Newport RI, December 28, 2015: Registration for the 2016 Newport Bermuda Race opens on January 12, 2016 through the race website, BermudaRace.com.
“We are certainly excited to open entries for the 50th Bermuda Race,” said race chairman A.J. Evans. The fleet, which is limited to 200 entries, will include a wide range of boats from Super Maxi yachts, grand prix racers, and double-handers to the majority of our fleet… racer-cruisers and cruising boats sailed by mostly amateur crews.”
“This granddaddy of ocean racing,” he continued, “was first sailed from Brooklyn NY in 1906 and started racing out of Newport in 1936. Because The Cruising Club of America [CCA] became organizing partners with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club [RBYC] in 1926, this race celebrates three anniversaries— 110 years since the first race, 90 years of CCA-RBYC partnership and 80 years since the first Newport to Bermuda Race.”
Evans added, “We encourage everybody to apply for an entry invitation as soon as possible to be sure to make the fleet.”
To help captains through the entry process, which includes boat inspection, the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee has posted the Guide to Entry on the race website. First-time captains are invited to request advice and assistance from an experienced Race Ambassador.
An amended Notice of Race and a copy of amendment #1 are now posted on the race website's Official Notice Board. This first amendment includes minor rewording, a more significant change to RRS 41(c), which concerns the use of outside information during the race, and rules on the use of whisker poles.
A list of Frequently Asked Questions is maintained on the race website to help explain rules and procedures. Here are two of the most recent updates:
• Personal AIS beacons are not required for each lifejacket in the 2016 edition of this race.
• Satellite systems that require a separate smartphone to make or receive telephone calls do not satisfy the satellite phone requirement found at paragraph 3.11.3 of the race's Safety Requirements.
The Cruising Club of America Bermuda Race Safety-at-Sea Seminar will be held March 19-20 in Newport. For more information about the seminar and to register, contact Safety-at-Sea.
by Talbot Wilson
