A pipe dream becomes reality: New Bedford youth sailors take on the Bermuda Race

New Bedford youth sailors take on the Bermuda Race © Newport Bermuda Race

Big things are happening in Massachusetts' Whaling City! The New Bedford Community Boating Center (CBC) recently registered its youth offshore sailing team for the 2026 Newport Bermuda Race.

With a crew of eight youth sailors and four adult coaches, the team hopes to break barriers while taking on the challenge of the 636-nautical-mile race aboard their Baltic 50, Crazy Horse.

"Taking on the Bermuda Race has always been the ultimate goal of our program," said Richard Feeny, CBC's education director. He noted that this is an iconic East Coast offshore regatta with a route known for challenging conditions and the rewarding sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing the race.

While the Bermuda Race might be the team's crowning achievement, it is far from their first foray into the world of offshore racing. The offshore program at the CBC has its roots in legendary sailor 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.

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. The team finished that regatta victoriously, 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."

Some of the challenges that he thinks the team might face in getting to the starting line include the stringent safety and preparation requirements of the race. At the same time, that is part of what makes the race appealing to CBC. To the organization's leadership, the race's large fleet and considerations for safety make the Bermuda Race a natural next step for the team.

Feeny and CBC take pride in working with kids from New Bedford—taking them to new places and opening up new opportunities through offshore sailing, boat building, and general seamanship.

The fleet for the 2026 Bermuda Race is growing every day! Celebrating 100 years of partnership between the Cruising Club of America and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, the upcoming regatta is set to be one of the best ever!

Don't miss out on your chance to take part in history. If you and your crew are thinking of racing, now is the time to sign up! Visit our website for information on what it takes to compete. If you are a fan of offshore racing or want to learn more about the sport of sailing, follow along on Instagram and Facebook, and sign up for our email newsletter for updates.

The 2026 Newport Bermuda Race will begin off of Fort Adams on June 19, 2026.