Sailors look ahead to 20th Ida Lewis Distance Race
by Barby MacGowan 30 May 09:33 NZST
August 15, 2025
Rikki is among those preparing for this year's Ida Lewis Distance Race © Onne van der Wal
Set for its 20th running in 2025, the annual Ida Lewis Distance Race has solidified its reputation as a well-organized, competitively challenging overnight offshore event.
When it starts mid-morning on Friday, August 15 off Newport, R.I., the Race Committee will have decided which classes - from ORC, PHRF, and PHRF Double-Handed divisions - will sail what courses from a choice of several that vary in length between 129 and 230 nautical miles. The decisions are based on up-to-the-minute weather forecasts, the handicap range of each class, and a 24-hour time limit for completion.
"We've enjoyed the expansion of race-course options in the last couple of years," said Bruce Chafee (Boston, Mass.), who will skipper his R/P 42 Rikki in ORC. "This has made the race more interesting and more of a challenge, drawing more on the depth of each team."
The JPK 10.3 Rumble, skippered by Brad Gibbs (Providence, R.I.), is another returning in 2025 to the race that covers some of the most storied and beautiful sailing grounds in New England. "Last year was our first Ida Lewis Distance Race, and we were delighted to secure a third in our (ORC 3) class, as it was one of our maiden outings with the boat before the ORC Worlds," said Gibbs. "The lowlight was fighting the current beating around Block Island for what seemed like hours. The highlight was the building breeze during our reach back from the Buzzard's Bay Entrance Light, knowing that we were making gains, albeit cutting it close vis a vis the time limit."
This year, Rumble's crew will be a mix of two older adults and two Brown University sailors, qualifying the team to be dual scored as a Collegiate Challenge entry. (There is also a Youth Challenge, which, like the Collegiate Challenge, already has two entries.) "Our season warm-up includes the Sam Wetherill Race, Block Island Race, NYYC Annual Regatta, and the Marion to Bermuda Race. Hopefully, we will be race-ready for the 2025 Ida Lewis Distance Race!"
The Swan 42 Impetuous, which last year won its class (ORC 2) with Paul Zabetakis (Stuart, Fla.) at the helm, experienced both the veritable "thrill of victory" and the "agony of defeat." Said Zabetakis: "One moment we were in the hunt for a podium finish and at other times we were convinced that this was not to be our race. Through it all, however, my crew never wavered in their commitment to do their best. No matter how challenging the situation or how tired they were, to a person they approached every moment of the race as if we were sprinting to the finish."
Zabetakis congratulated the Ida Lewis Race Committee and Flag Officers on their foresight in creating this event and developing several challenging courses. "Such an event creates many memorable moments, but perhaps one of our best memories was arriving at the finish and being greeted by the Ida Lewis Race Committee with a bottle of Prosecco. What a wonderful sight and joyous homecoming!"
PHRF will have its own share of excitement this year, as again the healthy fleet will be divided into three ratings-determined classes (Aloha, Coronet, and Bagheera). As well, several new entries include the Mills 41 Hunter, entered by the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the Hobie 33 Captain Sluggo, skippered by Tommy Henshaw (Newport, R.I.), and the Morris 46 Navicular, skippered by Douglas Wisch (Essex, Conn.).
"The Ida Lewis Distance Race has become one of the highlights for the season every year now," said Matthew Jorgensen, skipper of the Wiggers Peterson 37 Valour in PHRF. "I really loved last year and was very happy to have bettered my performance from years past. I'm looking forward to seeing if I can keep it up and make it on the podium this time. No matter how the results shake out, I know the competition will be top-notch, and the venue cannot be beat! Nothing like dolphins and phosphorescence to make for a great race no matter how you do."
Ida Lewis Distance Race Gold Sponsors are Hogan Associates/Christie's International Real Estate, Palm Beach Motor Yachts (Yellowbrick sponsor), and Van Liew Trust Company. Silver Sponsor is Contender Sailcloth, and Bronze Sponsor is Hilb Group. Contributing Sponsors are Toni Mills Graphic Design, Gosling's Black Seal Rum, and Stella Artois.
For more information, go to www.ilyc.org/distancerace or contact Race Chair Anselm Richards,