The 88-foot grand prix ocean racer Lucky has entered the 21st Ida Lewis Distance Race presented by Kiel James Patrick, adding star power to a growing fleet for one of offshore sailing’s most distinctive 24-hour challenges.
The race is set to start Friday, Aug. 14, at 11 a.m. off Fort Adams in Narragansett Bay. Organizers said 18 boats have entered so far, ranging from the smallest competitor, Tommy Henshaw’s 28-foot J/9 Cloud 9, to the largest, Bryon Ehrhart’s Juan K-designed Lucky. The early-entry deadline is July 30, and additional registrations are expected in the coming weeks.
Lucky brings a notable offshore résumé. Last year, the yacht claimed line honors in the 2,225-nautical-mile Transpac Race with a crew that included 11-time Transpac-winning navigator Stan Honey and America’s Cup skipper Brad Butterworth, and it more recently won the inaugural 1,600-nautical-mile U.S. Open Offshore race from St. Barth’s to Newport.
While those contests took roughly five days to complete, the Ida Lewis Distance Race presents a different challenge. Designed specifically to last 24 hours, the event sends competitors on race committee-selected courses of various distances. Before the start, the event’s course development team determines which course each class will sail, accounting for forecast weather and handicap ranges, producing a race that delivers a full day and night of offshore sailing before bringing the fleet back to Newport the following day.
Last year’s edition offered a demanding test from the opening gun, organizers said, with blustery east-northeasterly winds and a downwind start in 12 to 15 knots of breeze that sent crews out of Newport Harbor under colorful spinnakers in one of the most memorable starts in recent event history.
The race is hosted annually by the Ida Lewis Yacht Club, which bills it as a premier overnight offshore competition on courses through Rhode Island Sound, Buzzards Bay, Long Island Sound and beyond. In addition to presenting sponsor Kiel James Patrick, the event is supported by a roster of gold, silver, bronze and contributing sponsors.
Competitors can register and view the current scratch sheet through links on the event website. For more information, visit ilyc.org/distancerace.
