J/109 Wins Youth Challenge @ Ida Lewis Distance Race
(Newport, RI)- The 20th anniversary of the Ida Lewis Distance Race delivered an unforgettable offshore challenge for 35 teams that took to the starting line Friday morning (August 15) in blustery east northeasterly winds. With a demanding downwind start in 12-15 knots, crews had to precisely time their spinnaker hoists – a thrilling sight just outside of Newport Harbor – as they launched into the 24-hour endurance race.
“Hosted by the Ida Lewis Yacht Club, this year’s edition stayed true to its reputation, serving up the full spectrum of offshore sailing: strong breezes, tidal currents, and sometimes frustrating stretches of light to no wind at all,†said Event Chair Anselm Richards. “The racecourse tested both seamanship and strategy, keeping crews and tacticians on their game from start to finish.â€
The fleet featured two ORC, one Doublehanded, and three PHRF (Aloha, Bagheera, Coronet) classes. From seasoned veterans to ambitious newcomers, all teams faced the demanding conditions that have made this race a classic on the northeast sailing calendar.
All was not easy, however, on the track to victory that sent the fleet from Narragansett Bay to Rhode Island Sound and as far as Block Island Sound. Stretches of little to no wind pushed wits and determination to the edge, extending the 24-hour race to between 25 and 27 hours for some and giving 10 boats reason to retire before finishing.
An Impressive Youth/ Collegiate Turnout
Of the 35 teams competing, five were dual-scored for the Youth Challenge and six were dual-scored for the Collegiate Challenge, each having the required allotment of 40% youth or collegiate sailors, respectively, as crew. Furthermore, a total of 11 boats (roughly 31% of the fleet) included at least one or more high school sailors (22 total) in their crews, and nine boats (25% of the fleet) had collegiate sailors (20 total) aboard.
Bill Kneller’s (Newport, RI) J/109 VENTO SOLARE, third in its PHRF Coronet class, won the Arent H. Kits van Heyningen Trophy for the Youth Challenge, while William Denker’s (Hull, MA) J/99 FALCON, second in Coronet class, won the Tuthill Collegiate Trophy for the Collegiate Challenge.
“It was an outstanding showing of the next generation of sailors,†said one of the race’s Youth/ Collegiate coordinators, Adam Witham.
ORC 2 Division
In this six-boat fleet, Bob Manchester’s J/133 VAMOOSE took the bronze medal, while Ned Jobson’s J/105 SLEEPER finished in 6th place.
PHRF Coronet Division
In this fleet of eight yachts, Denker’s J/99 FALCON was second, followed by Kneller’s J/109 VENTO SOLARE in third, and Jim Phyfe’s J/44 DIGGER in 6th place.
Ida Lewis Distance Race Gold Sponsors were Hogan Associates/ Christie’s International Real Estate, Palm Beach Motor Yachts, and Van Liew Trust Company. Silver Sponsor was Contender Sailcloth, and Bronze Sponsors were the Brenton Hotel and Hilb Group. Contributing Sponsors were Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard, Stella Artois, Toni Mills Graphic Design, and Mac Designs.
For Ida Lewis Distance Race sailing information
http://www.ilyc.org/distancerace