The Ida Lewis Yacht Club is expecting a strong showing from young sailors when the 2026 Ida Lewis Distance Race presented by Kiel James Patrick gets underway Friday, August 14, at 11 a.m. off Rose Island in Narragansett Bay.
Three teams have entered the Youth Challenge division — defending champion J/44 Digger skippered by James Phyfe, the CBC Youth Offshore Team’s Figaro 2 Red Shift, and Bill Kneller’s J/109 Vento Solare — while two boats have entered the Collegiate Challenge, including defending champion J/99 Falcon, crewed entirely by University of Vermont sailors under 21.
“We are coming back with our crew of 100% University of Vermont college sailors, all under the age of 21,” said Falcon skipper Will Denker, who serves as UVM’s Keelboat Captain. “It’s super fun to be able to campaign a boat in Newport comprised of all young-adult sailors and still compete at the highest level against Newport veterans.”
Of the 38 boats registered so far, teams qualify for the youth or collegiate divisions by having at least 40 percent of their crew meet the respective age requirements. Registration remains open through August 10.
The annual 24-hour race covers waters through Rhode Island Sound, Buzzards Bay, Long Island Sound, and beyond. For more information, visit ilyc.org/distancerace.
