For the J/105s, this regatta marks the beginning of the three-event Narragansett Bay Championship Tour which culminates in the West Passage Regatta in Wickford on August 7-8. Past J/105 class leaders and champions like Joerg Esdorn on KINCSEM, Damian Emery on ECLIPSE, and current J/105 NA Champion Bruce Stone on POWER PLAY will be vying for honor along with fifteen other boats.
In the twenty-three boat J/80 class, multiple North American and World Champions will be competing for the honors of winning the USA Tour, including Kerry Klingler, Jay Lutz on FIRED UP, Glenn Darden on EL TIGRE (pictured above winning at Key West), John Storck on RUMOR and class newcomer Brian Keane (J/105 NA Champ) on SAVASANA. The event also provides an opportunity for many of the top USA boats to practice for the upcoming J/80 Worlds in Newport later in October.
Not to be outdone by anyone is the powerful Newport J/24 class, with eighteen boats showing up to fight tooth and nail for all the silverware. Sprinkled amongst the fleet are several J/24 World and North American champions, including Charlie Enright on WATERLINE SYSTEMS, Tim Healey, Jens Hookanson on SALSA and Peter Levesque on MOOKIE (World Team Race Champion), to name a few veteran one-design gladiators. Take that one-design sailors! Still one of the strongest one-design classes in existence worldwide. For more Coastal Living SailNewport Regatta sailing info.
