More than 200 competitors and supporters attended the two-day Newport Classic Yacht Regatta this past Labor Day weekend on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.
The event, chaired by IYRS Alumni Jens Lange, was organized by the Ida Lewis Yacht Club and IYRS School of Technology & Trades, and is part of the Classic Yacht Owners Association Classic Yacht Challenge Series (CYCS).
Racing kicked off on Saturday and culminated on Sunday with a classic yacht parade and awards ceremony cocktail party with music by the Honky Tonk Knights in historic Restoration Hall at the IYRS waterfront campus.
This year’s event featured 31 classic yachts, including a newly introduced race circle for Herreshoff 12 ½’s.
“I’m so appreciative of your efforts to work with me and Elizabeth Kahane to set up the new Herreshoff 12 ½ class for the regatta,” said Cleo Gewirz, owner and skipper of the Herreshoff 12 ½ Widgeon. “Everyone in our group thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and is looking forward to racing again.”
A celebration of craft, competition and camaraderie, the Newport Classic Yacht Regatta not only showcased the skill of the sailors, but also the dedication of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club and IYRS team, making the event memorable for all participants.
Award Winners
PARADE AWARDS
Most Patriotic: ZEMPHIRA
Best Costumes: SUMATRA / Barbara Kranichfeld
Best Power Boat: BEAU’S BOAT / Joanne O’Dwyer
Best Sailboat: GAMECOCK / Peter McClennen
DESIGNER AWARDS
To the yachts, according to the race organizers, which were most successful among those from their respective designers.
Herreshoff: NEITH / Van Brown
Sparkman & Stephens and the winner of the Mitch Gibbons Neff Cup:
DORADE / Matt Brooks
PERPETUAL AWARDS
Atlantic Trophy
Presented to the Classic yacht with the best overall total speed:
ONAWA / Chris Culver
Sappho Trophy
Presented to the Classic yacht with the best overall total corrected speed:
DORADE / Matt Brooks
Leiter Cup
Presented to the Classic gaff rigged, non-spinnaker yacht with the best overall total corrected speed:
SPIRIT / Lars Forsberg
Candy Cup
To the 12 Meter with the best record in the fleet, and winner of the Candy Cup, in honor of Candy Isdale:
ONAWA / Chris Culver
Tom Benson Restoration Award:
To the best restored yacht; based on degree of originality and quality of restoration done within the past two years:
CHESTNUT / Elizabeth Kahane
Clingstone Cannon
To the yacht or individual with the best Corinthian spirit, in honor of Joe Dockery:
Elizabeth Kahane
DIVISION AWARDS
Classics Division
1st Place: LILITH / James Emery
2nd Place: ABIGAIL / Jesse Terry
3rd Place: BRIGADOON / Richard Jaffe and Robert Morton
Vintage Division
1st Place: DORADE / Matt Brooks
2nd Place: NEITH / Van Brown
3rd Place: ONAWA / Chris Culver
Modern Classics Division
1st Place: BLACKWING / Eric Hall
2nd Place: INTREPID / Jack Curtin
3rd Place: CORNELIA / Steve Glascock
Spirit of Tradition Division
1st Place and winner of the Joel White Memorial Award, to the Spirit of Tradition yacht with the best overall total corrected speed: HOUND / Dan Litchfield
2nd Place: PONYO / Paul Koch
3rd Place: ZEMPHIRA
CLASS AWARDS
Class 1
1st Place: ONAWA / Chris Culver
2nd Place: HOUND / Dan Litchfield
3rd Place: INTREPID / Jack Curtin
Class 2
1st Place: DORADE / Matt Brooks
2nd Place: NEITH / Van Brown
3rd Place: KIRAWAN / Daniel Levangie
Class 3
1st Place: GAMECOCK / Peter McClennen
2nd Place: BLACKWING / Eric Hall
3rd Place: RUWEIDA / Jeff Gentzen
Class 4
1st Place: OSPREY / Sheldon Whitehouse
2nd Place: FIREFLY / Trevor Nelson
3rd Place: PONYO / Paul Koch
Herreshoff 12 ½ Class:
1st Place: WIDGEON / Cleo Gewirz
2nd Place: BONITA / Meg Steiner
3rd Place: CHESTNUT / Elizabeth Kahane
The Newport Classic Yacht Regatta helps to support the student experience including scholarship, student support services, technology, and other costs that contribute to exceptional outcomes for students. The school has four full-time programs: Boatbuilding & Restoration, Composites Technology, Digital Modeling & Fabrication, and Marine Systems.
This past year, the school’s Boatbuilding & Restoration program first year students launched five restored Beetle Cat sailboats, bringing IYRS’s total of restored Beetle Cats to 170 restored since 1996.
Nearly 80 percent of IYRS students receive financial assistance. Those interested in providing a student with assistance toward their career goals can do so at iyrs.edu/give.
To view additional photos from the event, visit https://www.iyrs.edu/events/cyr.
