Photography by Matthew Cohen
The Newport Classic Yacht Regatta Presented by IYRS took over America’s sailing capital on Labor Day Weekend for the penultimate event of the 2026 CYCS. Jens Lange summarized all the action:
The 47th Newport Classic Yacht Regatta was a great success, with more than 40 boats and 300 sailors competing on the waters of Narragansett Bay.
Despite light and occasionally shifting northerly winds, the Race Committee, led by Principal Race Officer Diana Emmanuelli, did an outstanding job selecting courses for the four “big boat” classes. Meanwhile, on a second racecourse between Goat and Rose Islands, 12 all-female crews aboard Herreshoff 12½s and Doughdishes completed seven windward-leeward races.
Saturday morning’s check-in and competitors’ briefing was held in Restoration Hall—the heart and soul of the IYRS campus—and was very well attended. This year’s regatta T-shirts, featuring beautiful original artwork created for the event, became an instant hit. The hall was filled with lively conversation over coffee and breakfast as sailors recapped previous races, greeted old friends and enjoyed the camaraderie of the classic-yacht community.
Before outlining the plans for two days of racing, Diana led a moment of silence in memory of the beloved Peter Gerard, who had been an essential part of the Newport Classic Yacht Regatta for so many years.
The beautiful 1964 Carlo Riva-designed Feadship Caravelle SERENA headed to rendezvous area Charlie, just south of the Newport Pell Bridge, where Classes 1 through 4 began the weekend’s racing. The fleet was sent north on courses of varying lengths but similar configurations. There were numerous lead changes, and the first race concluded with enough time—and enough northerly breeze—for a second race. It was a terrific start to the weekend.
Sunday morning began with the traditional Classic Yacht Parade through Newport Harbor. Led by SERENA, the fleet circled the harbor clockwise before passing Ida Lewis Yacht Club. By the time the front of the parade had completed the circuit, the final boat was just entering the harbor, creating a perfect circle of classic yachts.
The parade featured plenty of ceremonial cannon fire, cheers from spectators ashore, fantastic costumes—complete with an award for the best-dressed crew—and patriotic displays aboard both boats and sailors. Amid all the festivities, a wedding was even held aboard one of the participating vessels.
Following the parade, the fleet returned directly to Narragansett Bay. The 12½s rendezvoused just west of Goat Island, while Classes 1 through 4 traveled farther north to a starting area east of Gould Island, where the Race Committee hoped to find enough of the light northerly breeze to complete a full race. The plan worked.
Courses were selected to bring every class to a finish just outside the entrance to Newport Harbor, allowing competitors enough time to return ashore, clean up and make their way to the awards celebration on the IYRS campus.
Live music, plentiful hors d’oeuvres and open bars drew a record crowd to share stories from the weekend, celebrate classic-yacht racing, award an impressive collection of silver and make new friends. Guests also had the opportunity to step aboard the 118-year-old Fife VIOLA, which was docked at IYRS and open for everyone to explore—an especially fitting conclusion to a wonderful weekend devoted to classic yachts and the people who keep them sailing.
One Final Weekend of Racing
The CYCS is heading into its final weekend of the year with the Indian Harbor Classic Yacht Regatta, scheduled for September 18–20. Featuring beautiful early-autumn sailing on Long Island Sound, the regatta will be the final opportunity for competitors to advance in the standings for both the overall awards and the Southern New England region.
This has been an exceptional season for the CYCS. More than 180 classic yachts have sailed in over 20 individual races since June. Fifty-one CYOA members participated in this year’s series, with 19 qualifying for overall awards. An additional 40 boats qualified for awards in the Maine, Massachusetts and Southern New England regions.
Next weekend’s regatta is not the end of the season’s celebrations. The 2026 CYCS winners will be honored at the CYOA Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony on Friday, October 23, at the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol, Rhode Island. Stay tuned to the CYOA website, newsletter and social media for information about the event and how to RSVP.
View the current CYCS standings ahead of the final races at ClassicYachts.org/Results.
More about the Newport Classic Yacht Regatta Presented by IYRS
More about the Indian Harbor Classic Yacht Regatta
2026 CYCS Results and Standings
To qualify, a boat must sail in five races across three events, including at least one event outside its home district. Points are based on percentage of perfection, with a maximum of 100 points per event and 500 points overall.
Vintage Division
- Black Watch — Black Watch Alliance — 496.15 points
- Spartan — NGH Restoration — 492.86 points
- Siren — Peter Cassidy — 443.21 points
- Viola — Kostia Belkin — 427.20 points
- Firefly — Trevor W. Nelson — 406.62 points
- Gleam — Andy Tyska — 397.38 points
- Onawa — McMillen Yachts — 391.06 points
- Gentian — Ben Sperry — 354.52 points
- Polly — Peter Gallant — 320.26 points
- Spirit — Lars & Peter Forsberg — 307.08 points
- Kirawan — Jim Wetherald / Ted Huffman — 204.87 points
Classic Division
- American Eagle — Alexander C. Valcic — 323.81 points
- Juno — Scott DiBiaso — 251.09 points
- Sisyphus — Matthew Twomey — 86.89 points
Spirit of Tradition Division
- Ponyo — Paul Koch — 375.64 points
- Yonder — Doug Newhouse — 374.36 points
- Cavallino — William Kahane and Mike Toppa — 360.27 points
Contemporary Division
- Jax — Øivind Lorentzen — 466.67 points
