Bermuda Race announces NYYC's Harbour Court as pre-start headquarters

8:10 PM Thu 18 Feb 2010 GMT

The Bermuda Race Organizing Committee has announced that the pre-start race headquarters for the 47th Newport Bermuda Race will be the Sailing Center at the New York Yacht Club's Newport clubhouse, Harbour Court. Crews may use the clubhouse and its facilities before the race's start on June 18, 2010.

The announcement was made by Bjorn Johnson, chairman of the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee. 'After an intensive selection process we chose the New York Yacht Club's Sailing Center as the best possible site for our Newport headquarters. The club's generous offer is only the most recent event in a long, healthy relationship between the NYYC and the Newport Bermuda Race. For years the race has been started by the club's race committee, and many NYYC members (including me) have raced to Bermuda.'

Since opening in 2008, the Sailing Center has served as headquarters for numerous regattas, including the NYYC Invitational Cup in September 2009.

NYYC Commodore David K. Elwell Jr. congratulated the Cruising Club of America and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, the race's organizers, on their ocean racing classic. 'Having raced in ten Bermuda Races myself, I understand how important the race is to sailors and also how valuable a good central operations center can be.' He called the partnership between the race and the NYYC 'a natural.' 'This is exactly the job we had in mind for the Sailing Center when we built it as a facility for all the things that sailors, race officials, and the press have to do before they head out on the water for the start.'

Built in memory of former NYYC Commodore Robert G. Stone Jr., a veteran of 24 Bermuda Races, the Sailing Center has extensive office and meeting space, as well as press facilities, showers, and ready access to parking.

See www.BermudaRace.com for more information about the Newport Bermuda Race.

by Bermuda Race Organizing Committee