Ida Lewis Distance Race 2025 Preview

ByStuart Johnstone
Two sailboats racing with colorful spinnakers.


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(Newport, RI)- Thirty-six teams have officially signed up for the highly anticipated 2025 Ida Lewis Distance Race, scheduled for its 20th edition August 14-15. Showcasing one of the most diverse fleets in recent years, the roster includes 10 ORC, seven doublehanded, and 19 PHRF boats, with a strong showing from youth and collegiate sailors for respective challenge trophies in each division. Unlike traditional round-the-buoy regattas, this event stands out by challenging sailors with an overnight coastal distance course, offering a unique test of strategy, seamanship, and endurance.

“The race is structured to be a 24-hour overnight race,†said Event Chair Anselm Richards. “With a start off Jamestown on Friday at 11 am, the fleet is expected to return mostly in the mid-morning to early afternoon the following Saturday.â€

To accomplish this, Richards says, the Ida Lewis Race Course Development Team has plotted a choice of several courses between 129 and 230 nautical miles. Before the start, it will determine which class will sail what course, based on weather and handicap ranges for each class.

Ida Lewis Yacht Club offers a congenial atmosphere where competitors can mix with club members at socials and Saturday night’s final prizegiving. At the finish line, each team is greeted on the water with a bottle of Prosecco to celebrate their efforts.

The ILDR is popular with J/Teams. Here is the breakdown by division.

ORC 2 Division
In this six-boat fleet, Bob Manchester’s J/133 VAMOOSE and Ned Jobson’s J/105 SLEEPER will be looking forward to the “tour” of Rhode Island Sound.

PHRF Coronet Division
In this fleet of eight yachts, sailing are Jim Phyfe’s J/44 DIGGER, Bill Kneller’s J/109 VENTO SOLARE, and William Denker’s J/99 FALCON. Both DIGGER and VENTO SOLARE are entered as “Youth” boats, while FALCON is also entered as a “Collegiate” boat.

PHRF Bagheera Division
Sailing in this five-boat fleet is EC Helme’s J/92S SPIRIT and Paul Kekalos’s J/40 RANGER.

Ida Lewis Distance Race Gold Sponsors are Hogan Associates/Christie’s International Real Estate, Palm Beach Motor Yachts, and Van Liew Trust Company. Silver Sponsor is Contender Sailcloth, and Bronze Sponsors are the Brenton Hotel and Hilb Group. Contributing Sponsors are 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