In June, Frank Sobchak ’92 and his team won the Finisterre Division of the historic Newport Bermuda Race, the oldest regularly scheduled ocean sailing race in the world.
The 53rd Newport Bermuda Race officially came to a close June, as winners and award recipients were honored at the Race’s Prize Giving Ceremony at the Pier 6 Complex on Front Street. The ceremony caps off nearly two weeks of festivities in both Rhode Island and Bermuda surrounding the storied sailing race.
This year’s Bermuda Race was as exciting and challenging as ever—featuring a series of fronts causing tricky conditions near the start and a characteristically choppy crossing of the Gulf Stream. Of the 162 boats that started in Newport, 147 crossed the finish line and docked at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) in Hamilton. 15 boats retired, including the two boats that abandoned ship on the course. All crew of each of the participating boats have arrived safely back on land.
For the first time in its 118 year history, the Bermuda Race started off the coast of Newport’s Fort Adams, extending the historic course by one mile. On Friday, June 21 the race’s start was broadcast live online to over 8000 spectators, with close to 2000 more joining a starting line party on shore at Fort Adams.
The majority of the fleet arrived on June 26 and June 27, overall winners were declared in the Double-Handed and Finisterre Divisions. Northeast Wind, a sloop, won Finisterre with a corrected time of two days 15 hours and 54 minutes.
“We had the right boat, with the right conditions, and the right team,” said skipper Sobchak of his crew’s win.
The 54th edition of the Newport Bermuda Race will be held in June of 2026, which will mark 100 years since the Cruising Club of America became the Race’s organizing authority.
