It’s a boat race that began during the Depression era, a gathering of sailing enthusiasts who brought camaraderie and competition to the newly built Newport Harbor in the mid-1930s.
The Flight of Newport, put on by the Commodores Club, will get underway on Sunday, July 13. One of the region’s longest-running boat races, it will mark 89 years.
“It’s a race for all levels, it’s a community event that has been going on for 89 years,” said Lawrence Jones, chair of the 2025 race. “It’s something that is really a community event that Newport Beach should be proud of.
“There’s not many races out there that can say they’ve been in existence for 89 years,” he added.
The race, held in conjunction with the Balboa Yacht Club, was once known as the “Flight of the Snowbirds,” named for the wooden boats that would race the event in the early years.
In 1975, it was renamed the “Flight of the Lasers,” after the fiberglass boats, known as lasers, that replaced the wooden ones.
In 2020, the race was once again renamed the “Flight of Newport” to be more inclusive by opening entries to different kinds of vessels, including Harbor 20 and Tera RS boats.
The race starts at 1 p.m. near the Balboa Pavilion, with racers typically taking about 90 minutes to finish the course, which runs throughout the entire bay.
The first-place winner in the ILCA fleet will receive the Albert Soiland Trophy, named after the first commodore of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, along with a new sail provided by Vela LA.
The Albert Soiland Trophy is engraved with the names of past winners and has frequently been awarded to sailors who have gone on to participate in bigger races, including the America’s Cup.
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There is typically anywhere from 60 to 100 boats that register.
The forecast looks ideal for a day on the bay, Jones said. “We’re hoping for good wind and sunny weather.”
For more information, visit newportbeach.com
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