After next month, Newport, Rhode Island’s reputation as a premier sailing spot will be even stronger.
From May 13-21, the Ocean Race (https://www.theoceanrace.com), one of the world’s most challenging, exciting and iconic races, will drop anchor in the scenic city.
It will be no mere “see amazing ships up close” event. Rather, it’s nearly two weeks of exciting race views, hands-on learning for all, live music, food and most of all, seaside (and on the sea) fun for the entire family. Sail Newport has it all planned (https://theoceanracenewport.com).
The Ocean Race, one of sail racing’s top three events, is described by many as the toughest professional sporting event in the world.
This year is the third time The Ocean Race uses Newport as a port of call.
When they arrive in Newport, they will have been sailing fast and hard since January, completing 28,650 nautical miles of open ocean racing between Alicante, Spain to, Cabo Verde, Cape Town, and through the Southern Ocean up to Brazil.
They’ll rest and fix things up in Newport before heading off across the Atlantic to Aarhus, Denmark.
There are fun and easy-to-access ways to be a part of this event – whether you’re a seasoned sailor or just someone interested in the scene – throughout the visit.
It all centers around Fort Adams State Park at the harbor mouth of Newport.
The boats will sail into Newport around May 10, with the exact time known closer to that day. Last time the race stopped in Newport, thousands of fans lined up in the middle of the night to greet them.
Once they glide in and dock, the remarkable boats (they travel under sail at an average of 30-40 miles per hour) will be dockside for viewing. Often, crew members are on hand to answer questions and share stories.
There will be a Tall Ship at the dock as well, with chances to tour it and learn about tall ship sailing. Of course, as home to The Sailing Museum (https://thesailingmuseum.org).
On May 13, “Ocean Park Newport” opens, offering all kinds of daily fun, including an “exploration zone” in which you can learn more about this race, sailing in general, and the environment.
There will be local food trucks and vendors offering chowder, lobster rolls and other Newport staples.
There are daily chances to try your hand at sailing too. A total of 14 boats will be available – with an instructor – to take guests out and get a feel for sailing. Weekends can be busy for that (there are no reservations), weekdays less (and of course, sailing is weather dependent).
Most days have some kind of extra event, from film screenings to live music.
May 17 and 18 are great days to visit as well, with a pro/am sailing race that you can view from the shore or from one of the many boats taking folks out to cheer.
It’s the weekend of May 19-21 that things go big. That’s when you’ll find live music, great sailing-based activities, the famed “Dock Out” Ceremony to send the athletes off on their next leg, a Sailing Parade and more.
You’ll feel the energy all week long across Newport. The athletes love this stop and frequent the many restaurants and shops there. That means, should you pull up a bar stool or grab a bench seat to sip a Del’s Lemonade, you may find yourself chatting with a world class sailor.
Hotels are plentiful, but booking now is smart since the weekends are quite popular during this event. And for a day visit, there are water ferries from Newport to Fort Adams State Park, as well as a ferry from nearby Jamestown.
Parking is plentiful in Newport, and bikes are welcome, as the region has great bike paths and plenty of bike parking.
To begin your adventure now, you can track the race and get in depth insights, pick a favorite to cheer on and even get to know the athletes, since every racing boat has a media member on board – by visiting www.theoceanrace.com/en/racing/from-the-boats.
