Opening up new youth opportunities

The New Bedford Community Boating Center (CBC) in Massachusetts has organized a youth offshore sailing team for the 2026 Newport Bermuda Race. With a crew of eight youth sailors and four adult coaches, the team on their Baltic 50 Crazy Horse hopes to break barriers while taking on the challenge of the 636-nautical-mile race.

“Taking on the Bermuda Race has always been the ultimate goal of our program,” said Richard Feeny, CBC’s education director.

The CBC offshore program has its roots in Rich Wilson’s offshore coaching with FIGARO 2s. A pair of the boats were brought to New Bedford, and the program really took off following the pandemic. The center built out a three-day boot camp for junior sailing instructors and the group began to see themselves as a team.

“Offshore has become a way for me to push my limits and connect with new people of all backgrounds,” said sailor Avni Heller. “I experience challenges not just specific to racing but in learning leadership and teamwork and expanding my problem solving skills.”

Feeny says that seeing a video about the youth sailors of the Greig City Academy taking on the Fastnet Race inspired them to take a serious look at competing offshore. This past summer, the team used the Marblehead to Halifax Offshore Race as a proving ground, winning both their division and the youth sailing fleet.

“When we were on the way back from Halifax, I said to the kids that the Bermuda Race might have been a pipe dream, but now it’s on.”

Feeny considers the stringent safety and preparation requirements of the race as a natural next step for the team, and takes pride in opening up new opportunities through offshore sailing, boat building, and general seamanship.

Details: https://bermudarace.com/

Held biennially, the 54th Newport Bermuda Race in 2026 will be its 120th anniversary and also the 100th anniversary of the Cruising Club of America’s partnership with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in co-organizing the 636 nm course.