An innovative and exciting new format

Your region has several marinas, and plenty of boats, but getting everybody to the same start line is a challenge. Time is short and convenience is king. So rather than accept meager participation, the clubs surrounding Narragansett Bay have launched a solution.

The inaugural Narragansett Bay Yachting Association ‘Round the Bay Regatta – with an innovative and exciting new format – will debut Saturday, July 24. This is the first regatta that starts and finishes in every Narragansett Bay sailor’s back yard! No need to travel hours to get to and from the starting area for a race.

There will be four different starting areas in this Rhode Island venue, all within 20 minutes of somebody’s home port, with the race beginning simultaneously near East Greenwich, Barrington/Bristol, Wickford, and Newport.

All boats will sail the same 32-mile figure-eight course that includes Conanicut and Prudence Islands, with each boat finishing where they started after sailing through the other three starting areas. As an alternative, an entrant can choose from the two 18-mile courses – one around Conanicut Island and one around Prudence Island.

Awards will be given to boats from each starting area, plus overall awards for each course. With the easing of COVID restrictions, all of the host yacht clubs are also hoping to hold post-regatta parties. When was the last time we heard that?

For a more detailed map of the course, including the two shorter alternative courses, see the Notice of Race at https://nbya.org/round-the-bay/