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2009 Annapolis to Newport Race

ewport, RI, February 10, 2009 -- The 2009 Annapolis to Newport Race will start June 5th, the 62nd anniversary of the race. The race has had four hosts since its start in 1947: New York Yacht Club, Annapolis Yacht Club, Ida Lewis Yacht Club and the Naval Academy Sailing Squadron. The first five races were run from Newport to Annapolis. In 1957 the route was reversed, and the popularity of the race blossomed. The race has been run from Annapolis to Newport in alternate years ever since. The NYYC and AYC shared the primary responsibility for running the race up until the mid-eighties when NYYC handed over primary responsibility to AYC. Recognizing the history and importance of the race, this year the NYYC reaffirms its commitment to the race and rejoins AYC as co-organizing authority. The Notice of Race is now available on the website: Click Here. The 2009 Annapolis to Newport Race offers racing in IRC, PHRF and Double-Handed divisions. There will be prizes for one-design classes with five or more entries. In 2007 there were entrants representing more than 20 yacht clubs from Florida to New England. About half of the fleet competed for the Mayor of Annapolis Trophy, racing in teams representing their yacht clubs. The entry fee for the Annapolis to Newport Race is unchanged from 2007, and the NYYC is offering a discount to Annapolis to Newport competitors who wish to enter its 155th Annual Regatta presented by Rolex June 12-14 in Newport.

The race start date allows boats to sail the Annapolis to Newport Race and be in Newport in time for the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta June 12-14 and Storm Trysail Block Island Race Week June 21-26.  New York Yacht Club is offering a discount on their Annual Regatta entry fee to Annapolis to Newport competitors.

We will again offer both IRC and PHRF divisions.  There will be a double handed division racing under IRC and we will offer separate prizes for any one design class with 5 or more entries.

And don’t forget the City of Annapolis Yacht Club Challenge.  The Cruising Club of America beat eight other teams to win this trophy in 2007.  Form a team of 3 boats from your club and join the competition.

The Annapolis to Newport Race is a qualifier for the US-IRC Gulf Stream Series.  This series has qualifying events ranging from the Caribbean to New England.  To qualify for the Gulf Stream series you must have an endorsed IRC rating and you must sail at least one of the four long distance races, the Annapolis to Newport Race, the Pineapple Cup Montego Bay Race, the Fort Lauderdale to Charleston Race or the Marblehead to Halifax Race.  For more information go to http://www.us-irc.org/

The Annapolis to Newport Race is a qualifier for three series trophies that are offered by Stamford Yacht Club.  Boats racing in the IRC Division are eligible to compete for the Northern Ocean Racing Trophy.  Boats in the PHRF Division are eligible to compete for the New England Lighthouse Trophy and boats in the IRC Double-Handed Division are eligible to compete for the Double-Handed Ocean Racing Trophy.  For more information go to www.stamfordyc.com

A reminder for those planning on sailing the race – Offshore Special Regulations for Category 2 Races will be in effect.  There is a link to the Category 2 extract of the regulations, including the US SAILING Prescriptions on the race website – www.annapolisyc.org/annapolis-newport.  Those who enter the race will be mailed a copy of the US SAILING Offshore Regulations booklet.  One of the elements in the regulations requires that 30% of the crew must have attended a certified Safety at Sea Seminar in the 5 years preceding the race.  A schedule of such seminars is available from US SAILING www.ussailing.org/safety/Seminars/.  There will be a seminar at the US Naval Academy on 28-29 March and at MIT in Cambridge, MA on 28 March.

About the Annapolis to Newport Race
The Annapolis to Newport Race is one of the most historic and well-known of the U.S. East Coast blue water races. First run 62 years ago from Newport to Annapolis, it links two seaports dating from our nation's birth. The race provides challenging diversity over different bodies of water, as well as convenient ports of refuge along the entire course. As a result, the race is a favorite for first-time offshore competitors, as well as experienced blue water racers. The record time for the race is held by Carrera, Joseph Dockery's Farr 60 skippered by Chris Larson, which set a new course record in 2001 of 42 hours, 58 minutes, 12 seconds. The Annapolis Yacht Club and the New York Yacht Club are the Organizing Authority for the race, with assistance from the Naval Academy Sailing Squadron and Ida Lewis Yacht Club. More information about the 2009 running of the Annapolis to Newport Race, including general information, online sign-up, the race documents and history are available at: Click Here. Media seeking further information should contact Chip Thayer at (410) 271-5359 or CThayer@annapolisyc.org or Michael Levitt communications@nyyc.org.

Interested in using IRC?

Owners and Organizing Authorities wishing to adopt IRC for their events should contact US-IRC Executive Director Luiz E. Kahl for help with the process luiz@us-irc.org.

The US SAILING Offshore office administers the IRC rule in the US. Yacht owners should contact Eric Baittinger at irc@ussailing.org for help with certificate application or with rating questions.

For all US-IRC latest news, events and seminars check out the US-IRC web site at www.us-irc.org and go racing with us.