Carina makes history, Summer Storm takes Gibbs Hill

By Kate Somers, RisingT

The 53rd Newport Bermuda Race officially came to a close the evening of June 29, with winners and award recipients honored at the Prize Giving Ceremony at the Pier 6 Complex on Front Street in Hamilton, Bermuda. The ceremony capped off nearly two weeks of festivities in both Rhode Island and Bermuda surrounding the storied sailing race.

This year’s Newport 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 162 boats that started in Newport, 147 crossed the finish line and docked at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) in Hamilton. Fifteen boats retired, including two that abandoned ship. All sailors arrived safely ashore.

 

Summer Storm at the finish line.   © BRF/Stephen R Cloutier

 

“I’m incredibly grateful for the 1,400-plus sailors who participated in this race, the preparation that they put in, and the seamanship and safety skills that they demonstrated,” said Race Chair Andrew Kallfelz. “I’m grateful for the over 100 volunteers both in Newport and Bermuda that made this happen, particularly the Fleet Communications Office, that managed an extraordinary number of events and the support they got from the Coast Guard and the Rescue Coordination Center here in Bermuda. I’m very thankful for all our sponsors who made this happen for us and we really look forward to starting the preparations for 2026.”

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 start was broadcast live online to over 8,000 spectators, with close to 2,000 more joining a starting line party on shore at Fort Adams.

After leaving Newport, boats reported light winds and slow sailing speeds, thanks to weather patterns moving from the north off the coast of New England. Proteus, a JV72, reported a dismasting at approximately 1:50 a.m. Saturday, June 22. All crew were safe and the boat motored back to Newport after retiring. Later Saturday, the breeze filled in, and the boats began making quick progress along the rhumb line towards Bermuda.

At 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 23, the crew of Alliance, a J/121, reported a water ingress and ultimately made the decision to abandon ship. Fellow competitors came to the boat’s assistance, and by 4:00 a.m. all of Alliance’s crew had been brought safely aboard Ceilidh to sail onward.

Following Sunday morning’s rescue, other boats reported choppy seas in and beyond the Gulf Stream. Throughout the day, anticipation built up for the arrival of the first boats in Bermuda. Roy Disney’s Pyewacket 70 was the first to cross the finish line at 1:37 a.m. Monday with a corrected time of two days, 11 hours and 17 minutes. Also finishing Monday morning were Allegra (corrected time two days, 13 hours, 31 minutes) and OC 86 (corrected time two days 12 hours, 19 minutes).

Several vessels completed the race on Monday, and the Live Results were able to project that Summer Storm 52—owned and skippered by Andy Berdon—would become the overall winner of the Gibbs Hill Division with a corrected time of two days 10 hours, 32 minutes. Navigator Chris “Lew” Lewis, who also won the 52nd Bermuda Race, attributed the win to getting off the coast of Rhode Island early and avoiding the weather that stalled other boats.

 

Carina’s owner Rives Potts (left) congratulates Navigator Devin Santa. Way to go, Dev!   © Daniel Forster

 

A unique aspect of this year’s race was the Gulf Stream, as well as boats’ strategies to get and stay in the advantageous current. This year, many sailors experienced close to a 5-knot push towards Bermuda. The trick then became exiting at the right moment.

“As much as we were all enjoying the ride, we needed to figure out when to get off the ride,” said Lewis at the Navigator’s Forum—held as a debrief on Thursday after the Race. There’s an old adage to not go east of the rhumbline, but Lewis says they hedge their bets to stay in the Gulf Stream’s meander longer at the risk of going more upwind as they got closer to Bermuda.

On Monday evening, family and friends gathered at RBYC to welcome their loved ones back ashore with Dark n’ Stormies and Rum Swizzles, a tradition of the Bermuda Race that continued through the week and highlights the joy and camaraderie of sailing.

Two top competitors in the St. David’s Lighthouse Division, Carina (corrected time two days 16 hours, 12 minutes) and Hound (two days, 16 hours, 25 minutes), arrived in Bermuda overnight Monday and into Tuesday morning. As ratings were calculated Tuesday morning, it became clear that Carina would win the division overall, due to a 30-minute penalty being added to Hound’s corrected time after having crossed the starting line early.

 

Team Carina celebrates the most winning yacht in the 118-year history of the Thrash to the Onion Patch, victorious in 1970, 2010, 2012, and 2024. © Daniel Forster

 

On Tuesday afternoon, the crew of Gunga Din, a Swedish Yachts 41, abandoned ship 80 miles off Bermuda due to water ingress. The crew of seven was taken aboard the Tartan 37 Desna unharmed and continued along the course.

Both boats with rescued crews aboard—Ceilidh and Desna—arrived to applause on the docks of the RBYC. At the awards ceremony Saturday evening, both crews were presented with special plaques recognizing their heroic efforts. The crew of Banter, which stood by to assist in the rescue of Alliance, was also recognized.

As the majority of the fleet continued to arrive on Wednesday and Thursday, 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, 54 minutes. “We had the right boat, with the right conditions, and the right team,” said skipper Frank Sobchak.

Fearless, a Jeanneau Sunfast 3300 co-skippered by Phil Hayden and Alexander Brock Kraebel, took the Double-Handed title with a corrected time of three days, four hours, 23 minutes. More than 500 virtual crew mates were also “aboard,” through Hayden’s non-profit organization Sail for Epilepsy, which works to inspire people with epilepsy and help them lead fuller lives, raise awareness about the disease, and support the search for a cure.

Seas The Day, a Bristol 35.5, was the last boat to finish early on Friday, June 28. Crewmember Ian Moraino noted strong storms encountered the night before their arrival, forcing them to heave-to for seven hours before continuing.

Along with trophies for division winners, special awards and recognitions were given to various members of this year’s fleet. Award winners include Wave Walker (William L. Glenn Family Participation Prize), OC 80 (Stephens Brothers Youth Prize), and Carina, Summer Storm, and In Theory as part of the Storm Trysail Red team (H. Irving Pratt Trophy).

The 54th Newport Bermuda Race will be held in June, 2026, marking 100 years since the Cruising Club of America became the Race’s organizing authority. ■