One of sailing’s toughest and most storied regattas is the Transatlantic Race, with a history dating back to the 1860s. This year, the Transatlantic Race (TR2025) sets sail from Newport, RI to Cowes, England on June 18. The CYOA is well represented in TR2025 with member vessel Hound making the crossing.

Hound is well known up and down the East Coast and has been a longtime fixture of prestigious races such as the Queen’s Cup and Newport Bermuda Race. Owner Dan Litchfield, proud member of the CYOA, became the classic vessel’s third owner in 2020, following in the footsteps of previous owner Frank Eberhart and the boat’s commissioner, Arthur Santry Sr..

“In a broad sense, we've been preparing Hound for this race for a while,” says Litchfield. “We have done four 600-mile races (2x Newport-Bermuda, 2x Caribbean 600) and there's a lot of overlap in the TR2025 crew. Of 13 people, 11 have done 3 or more 600-mile races on Hound in the last three years.”

Part of those preparations were major upgrades, including a new keel, rigging, and rudder  between 2022 and 2023. More recently, the boat received more detailed updates and paint job while at Jamestown Boatyard over the winter.

Litchfield believes that these upgrades and changes will make this stunning classic even faster. However, he recognized the challenge that a race like TR2025 represents. “I believe we're in good shape but the smallest details can cause some of the biggest problems.  We have trained hard but there's always a worry that something you can (or can't) control becomes a major problem.”

Giving him some peace of mind is Hound’s trustworthy crew. “I love sailing and enjoy spending time with this crew - I'm so excited to do both of these for 14-21 days!” Also helpful is the boat’s history. “It gives me some solace that Art Santry Jr. recalls racing through a hurricane in the 1972 Newport-Bermuda race,” Litchfield added.

While this is Hound’s first time taking on the Transatlantic Race, it is the boat’s third time making the voyage from North America to Europe. Famously, in the early 1990s, she sailed all the way to St. Petersburg, Russia.

Litchfield believes that CYOA membership and participating in the Classic Yacht Challenge Series has been incredibly helpful in preparing for TR2025. He says the classic 12 Metres they sail against in regattas in Newport and Camden provide great competition to evaluate boat handling and set up. “We view these classics regattas as excellent competition.”

For any other CYOA members thinking about taking on an ocean crossing, Litchfield advises intense preparation and a well-seasoned crew. “You can't do this alone - it takes a great team to accomplish something like this.  I'm very lucky to have an excellent captain, Tom Stark, and have received some excellent advice from a lot of people who have done far more miles than I have!”

You can cheer on Hound in the TR2025 starting Wednesday, June 18. Follow along with their crossing on the YB app, as well as the boat’s Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube pages.

Best of luck to Dan and the entire Hound crew!