(Newport, RI)– The Ida Lewis Distance Race (ILDR) may be a new one for
the sailing bucket list, and a slew of event newcomers have registered
for the popular overnighter’s 11th edition, which kicks off Friday,
August 14 at noon. The annual summer favorite starts and finishes off
Fort Adams in Newport, R.I. taking its fleet of IRC, PHRF, Doublehanded
and Multihull boats on one of four courses (determined prior to the
start by the Race Committee), which range between 104 and 177 nautical
miles, tracing parts of the New England coastline and making their way
past iconic way points such as Castle Hill, Brenton Reef, Block Island,
Montauk Point and Martha’s Vineyard.“Most competitors are able to complete the race in less than 24 hours but still indulge in the offshore experience: golden sunset, steering by the light of the moon, inspiring sunrise- - you get the idea,” said Co-Chair Skip Helme, explaining that a skipper’s meeting and social will be held on Thursday, August 13, at host Ida Lewis Yacht Club, with a Sunset Awards Party bringing things to a close on Saturday, August 15. Skippers from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York dominate the entry list (37 at this time),
“I’ve heard great things about this year’s teams, so I have no doubt it is going to be a challenging race,” said Jonathan Green (Wakefield, Mass.) who will be sailing doublehanded aboard the J/111 EAGLES DARE. Green won this event’s Doublehanded Class in 2009 and went on to win IRC Overall at the 2013 OSTAR (singlehanded transatlantic race). “I’ve done a lot of races shorthanded, many of them much longer than the Ida Lewis Distance Race (he mentioned the Bermuda One-Two: singlehanded from Newport to Bermuda, then doublehanded back), but the reason we're coming back down for the Ida Lewis Distance Race is because it always attracts teams that are extremely competitive.”
Other Rhode Island boats competing are the J/111 Manitou, skippered by Greg Slamowitz (Block Island); the J/111 Odyssey, skippered Alfred Van Liew/David Brodsky (Middletown); the J/109 Vento Solare, skippered by Bill Kneller (Newport); the J/92S Spirit, skippered by E.C. Helme; the J/120 Second Hand Lions, skippered by Robert Kits van Heyningen (Portsmouth); and the J/35 Breakaway, skippered by Paul Grimes (Portsmouth).
Ripple Effect Contest- The Ripple Effect Short Video Contest, which was introduced last year for teams with youth sailors, will be expanded this year to include entries from any team that chooses to participate. The winning video will best capture the spirit of the Ida Lewis Distance Race in five minutes or less.
Race for All Ages- The Ida Lewis Yacht Club Youth and Collegiate Challenges invite the next generation of sailors to try distance racing on for size. To qualify for the Youth Challenge, more than 40% of the crew must have reached their 14th birthday but not turn 20 prior to August 15, 2014. For the Collegiate Challenge, more than 40% of the crew must not have reached the age of 26 by August 15, 2014.
Staying Green- For a second year in a row, the Ida Lewis Distance Race has been certified at the silver level for Sailors for the Sea’s Clean Regattas program. The certification system helps sailing events create and manage environmentally responsible events in an effort to educate and motivate boaters to reduce marine debris and preserve the waters upon which they sail.
Sponsors- Starting Line sponsors for the 2015 Ida Lewis Distance Race include Bluewater Technologies, the City of Newport, Helly Hansen, New England Boatworks and Newport Shipyard; Contributing Sponsors are DYT Yacht Transport, Flint Audio & Video, Gosling’s Rum, Mac Designs, Toni Mills Graphic Design, Triton Insurance, North Sails, Rig Pro Southern Spars and Stella Artois.
The Ida Lewis Distance Race is a qualifier for the New England Lighthouse Series (PHRF); the Northern and Double-Handed Ocean Racing Trophies (IRC); and the Rhode Island Offshore Challenge Trophy. For more Ida Lewis Distance Race sailing information
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