The Ocean Race is Returning to Newport!

Our friends at Sail Newport and The Ocean Race have announced that for the third consecutive edition of the competition, The Ocean Race (formerly the Volvo Ocean Race) will make its only North American stopover in Newport, Rhode Island in the spring of 2022. The Newport stopover will be one of ten during the eight-month, 38,000-nautical mile race around the world, which starts in Alicante, Spain in October 2021 and finishes in Genoa, Italy in June 2022.

“This is terrific news for our state, again bringing global attention to Newport and Rhode Island as premier tourist destinations and promising to generate tens of millions of dollars in spending and economic impact,” said Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo. “I am grateful that The Ocean Race recognizes the value of coming back to the Ocean State and equally grateful to our partner and the official event host, Sail Newport, which has worked hard to ensure this successful event returns.”

For the first time, Newport will be hosting two fleets, the IMOCA 60s, foiling boats which push the limits of technology, as well as the one-design VO65 class, which produced the closest Volvo Ocean Race in history in the 2017-18 edition. 

“This is the pinnacle event of the sport of ocean racing,” said Brad Read, Executive Director of Sail Newport. “These athletes are spending 24 hours a day for weeks on end transiting oceans in storms and calms, and as a community we have the privilege of welcoming them to the only stop in North America. Our entire community will greet them as we have greeted seafarers for generations. We will welcome them and celebrate the human victory overcoming monumental challenge.”

“Newport remains an iconic venue for generations of sailors,” said Richard Brisius, Race Chairman of The Ocean Race. “It is a town built around the water, and people here hold the race close in their hearts, which makes it a stopover to look forward to for all of our sailors and stakeholders. “When you walk through Fort Adams State Park and down the streets of Newport, you feel enthusiasm and passion for The Ocean Race, and that’s something we take pride in and want to return by bringing a great event here again in 2022.”

“Fort Adams State Park is the ideal venue to host sailors and fans from around the world and highlight Rhode Island’s extraordinary combination of history, natural beauty, wind, and world-class public parks,” said Janet Coit,  Director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

According to Read, previous stopovers had a wide-ranging economic and tourism impact on the community. Organizers released a detailed economic impact report that showed that the 2015 stopover generated an estimated $47.7 million to the Ocean State’s economy. Both events were huge draws for visitors, with over 137,000 people in the Newport Race Village in 2015 and over 100,000 visitors in 2018. 

“The Ocean Race is one of the three pillar events in the sport of sailing, alongside the Olympic Games and the America’s Cup, and as such, it provides inspiration and motivation to sailors and sailing fans of all ages,” Brisius added. “But beyond that, The Ocean Race, along with Newport-based partners like 11th Hour Racing, demonstrates that sport can have an impact beyond the playing field. With a comprehensive and innovative sustainability program, together, we are leading the way in making a positive difference in our community.”

The 2015 stopover in Newport marked the birth of the sustainability program for The Ocean Race, an initiative that subsequently expanded to all stopovers in the 2017-18 edition.

“The 2015 and 2018 race stopovers exemplified how to make large-scale, public events sustainable and also educated visitors about ocean health and the need to reduce the plastic pollution that fouls our seas,” Coit added. “The Department of Environmental Management looks forward to our partnership with The Ocean Race, Sail Newport, and all stakeholders in continuing to model green practices and confront environmental problems at the local, state, and global levels.”

During the 2018 stopover, for example, at the Newport Ocean Summit, Rhode Island became the first state to sign the UN Environment Clean Seas Pledge, leading to a Governor’s task force on plastic pollution and a forthcoming statewide ban on plastic bags.

Also, 14.8 tons of greenhouse gas emissions were avoided through the use of a biodiesel fuel blend for generators. At the same time, an alternative transportation campaign inspired 7,561 visitors to use bikes and water taxis instead of cars to visit the Race Village. 

Charlie Enright, a Bristol, Rhode Island native who grew up sailing on Narragansett Bay, has led teams in the past two editions of the event and has his sights set on taking on the challenge of a third race in the new, foiling IMOCA 60 class, with the support of 11th Hour Racing. He takes pride in seeing an event of international stature come to his hometown.

“The Ocean Race is a worldwide sporting event, and to host a stopover in Rhode Island is no small undertaking,” Enright said. “I’d say it takes a village, but it certainly takes more than that.”

“A successful event takes an active State Government that provides the infrastructure to host something like this,” Enright continued. “It means the City of Newport expanding its tourism season into late spring and the organization of Sail Newport – a small non-profit on Narragansett Bay – taking on the world. It’s humbling, and for me it’s a big point of passion and pride. It’s great to be sailing in and out of Newport, seeing all the spectators, and really having a home-field advantage in an event as international as this is a very special thing.”

“At Sail Newport, we have seen the desire of the Rhode Island community to pitch in and help,” Read added. “The most emotional part of this race is watching our community embrace the race, the sailors and the excitement of the Race Village. That’s what keeps us coming back to host this international race.”

For more information, visit theoceanrace.com.