The summer sailing season kicked off early this year with the Sail Newport Youth Challenge hosted the second weekend in May, a full month earlier than usual. This season opener hosting a fleet of around 90 Optimists, plus a handful of 420s and Lasers, was scheduled as part of the Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover which opened with various youth activities and closed with the Atlantic Leg start for the VOR Teams.
While the first week in May saw unseasonably warm temperatures reaching 80°F, the day of the Youth Challenge was overcast, foggy, and rather chilled. Luckily postponement only lasted about an hour as the gentle Northerly gave way for a South Easterly bringing in cool ocean air from the Atlantic. With a rather consistent 4-6 knots of breeze several races got underway for all the junior classes.
It was a day of friendly competition as sailors from up and down the East Coast joined in for their first regatta of the season and made a visit to the Volvo Ocean Race Village for VOR festivities!
To see the full regatta gallery, go to www.catebrownphoto.com
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