#NSVICTORYLIST: NEWPORT BERMUDA RACE 2024

North Sails is a proud, long-time Performance Partner to the Bermuda Race. In this edition, North-powered boats took command of the leaderboard and claimed the coveted St. David’s Lighthouse trophy, among other victories.

The Newport Bermuda Race 2024 winners established dominance in the 53rd edition of this blue water classic, with North Sails clients leading the charge. Experienced sailors often say you win yacht races before the start, and as a Performance Partner to the Newport Bermuda Race, North Sails sees it as our mission to ensure all North-powered teams are race-ready for the 636 nm 'Thrash to the Onion Patch.' Judging from the 2024 race leaderboard, we confidently declare this mission accomplished. 

 North-powered boats claimed impressive victories, securing mono and multihull line honours, four divisional wins, and eight podium spots across the six divisions.

If you're from New England, you know the Newport Bermuda Race is a bucket-list regatta for local sailors. It's also a race that sits among the big six offshore distance races, like the Caribbean 600, the Fastnet Race, the Sydney-Hobart, and the Transpac. The race draws high-profile, professional teams and is a proving ground for local talent. 

 This year, and for the first time in the race's 118-year history, the Newport Bermuda Race featured a new start line just off Ft. Adams in Newport, Rhode Island. This venue provided stadium-style spectating and a live broadcast with North Sails President Ken Read. It also added an extra mile to the race course. 

Continue reading for the entire #NSVictoryList for the Newport Bermuda Race 2024. 

North Sails-powered results in the St. David's Lighthouse Division: Overall – Carina (1), Hound (2) | SDL1 – Selkie (3) | SDL 2 – Carina (1) | SDL3 – In Theory (2) | SDL4- Summer Grace (3) | SDL5 – Hound (1), Assarain IV (2), Vamoose (3) | SDL 6 – Phantom (1), Entropy (2) | SDL7 – Polaris (1), Cougar (2) | SDL8 – Siren (2)* 

The St. David's Lighthouse trophy is the hallmark of the Newport Bermuda Ocean Race, awarded to the overall winner on corrected time. This prestigious division features conventional, multi-purpose cruiser-racer monohulls, predominantly crewed by amateur sailors. The number of professional sailors allowed is strictly limited, and only amateurs can drive. With nearly 100 boats competing in each edition, it is the largest division in the race.

This year, Rives Potts's Carina not only won the St. David's Lighthouse Division but also scored ultimate bragging rights as the most-winning yacht in the history of this blue water classic. This victory marks Carina's fifth Newport Bermuda Race win, following victories in 1970, 1982, 2010, and 2012. Skipper W. Barrett Holby, Jr. praised the team's exceptional effort: "Everybody pulled their weight—we had great food, navigation, sailors, and helmsmen. Everything came together." 

Close behind Carina was the North-equipped Hound. North Sails expert Mike Toppa celebrated Hound's remarkable performance, adding another top-three finish to their storied success. This is a testament to the synergy between the crew and their high-performance sails. 

Carina has a rich history with the Bermuda Race and has competed in almost every Bermuda race since 1968. After securing a win at the 53rd edition of the race, she now holds the title of the most-winning boat in Newport Bermuda Race history. 

North Sails-powered wins in the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Division: Overall – Pyewacket 70 (2), Inception (3)* | GH1- WaveWalker (1) Rikki (2) | GH2 – Pyewacket 70 (1), Denali 3 (3) 

The Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Division is pure performance racing. Its boats are typically lightweight and high-performance, often sailed by professional crews. This is the division where you'll find big-name race teams, broken race records, and boats that are typically the first to raise a glass of Gosling's in Bermuda. 

Roy Disney's Pyewacket 70 claimed Line Honors and secured second overall in the division on corrected time.  

Renowned navigator Peter Isler was onboard Pyewacket 70 for the jaunt down to Bermuda. On night one of the race, he reported from onboard: "Well, that was a challenging departure from Newport. It is very tricky with thunderstorms on the coast erasing our nice SW'ly breeze. We've had every headsail in the inventory up at some point (except for our heavy weather jib), including the drifter."

North Sails expert Brian Janney joined skipper/owner Bill McKinley on Denali^3. A boat that's no stranger to success offshore, Denali^3 claimed line honors at the 2023 Trasnpac Race. Janney commented on the boat's versatile sail inventory used during the race: "The sails we used the most were our 3Di Helix J1.5, Helix J2.5, and 3Di Storm Jib Staysail (SJS). Having the Helix structure in the jibs helps open our usable wind ranges- meaning fewer sail changes and more focus on sailing."

It was a family affair for WaveWalker's skipper Woody Cullen. The crew included Woody's wife, Carolyn, and their three children. The Cullens were bolstered by friends and pro-sailor Annemieke Bes. The Cullens undoubtedly had the family vacation of a lifetime, but they are reportedly happy to be back on land.

North Sails-powered results in the Double-handed Division: Overall – Fearless (1), DH1 – Fearless (1), DH3 – Resolute (3) 

It was a win-win for Fearless, the Sunfast 3300 skippered by Phil Haydon and Alexander Kraebel. Not only did they win the Double-Handed Division, but their race was an effort to raise awareness for Sail for Epilepsy, a foundation started by Haydon.  

With the Sail for Epilepsy logo on display, Haydon was hopeful this event would bring more attention to epilepsy and our organization. "Our mission is to raise awareness, Haydon commented. "And to inspire others to live fuller lives."

Hayden, who had a fresh North Sails inventory commented on his sail's performance during the Bermuda Race: "I am confident that my purchase of a new mainsail and jib from North Sails this offseason were a key component to winning the double-handed class 1 and double-handed division overall of the Newport Bermuda Race. The race was quite an experience, with conditions ranging from no breeze and flogging sails to 15.5 knots boat speed in the washing machine of the Gulf Stream. With only 4 minutes 11 seconds between ourselves and the second place boat, I do not think our old sails would have brought us the win."

North Sails-powered wins throughout the Finisterre Division: Overall – Northeast Wind (1), Tramontana (2) | FIN 1 – Northeast Wind (1) | FIN 2 – Capella (2), Restive (3) | FIN 3 – Tramontana (1), Starlight (3) 

The Finisterre Division was the former Bermuda Race cruiser division. It features boats that are typically cruisers, are sailed by mostly amateurs, and allow only amateur helmsman.

Crediting having "the right boat, with the right conditions and the right team," first-time Bermuda Race participant Frank Sobchak sailed his 1967 Hinckley Sloop to victory in the cruising fleet. 

While the weather didn't cooperate for a new race record, Skipper Paul Larsen sailed into Bermuda with Multihull Line Honours and a class win for Allegra. Adrian Keller's boat is a proven champion, having won her class in the last two Rolex Fastnet Races. 

All of us at North Sails take pride in these results and in supporting our clients who work so hard to compete in this biannual regatta. We're already looking ahead to the 2026 race and wondering which #PoweredbyNorthSails project will break the race record set by Comanche and skippered by Ken Read in 2016. After all, aren't records made to be broken?! 

📸 2024 Newport Bermuda Race | BFR Stephen Cloutier | Daniel Forster