J/Boats 50th Anniversary Regatta, July 16–18, 2027, Newport, RI

Fri16
Sat17
Sun18
July
2027

Fifty years of J/Boats calls for one big party. Two days of great sailing on Narragansett Bay, two nights of celebrating at Sail Newport, and every J sailor invited. Bring your boat, your crew and your best stories!

Presented by J/Boats Hosted by Sail Newport
Register now See the schedule Plan your trip
Vintage photo of friends lifting J/24 hull #1 out of the Johnstone garage
From the archives: all hands on deck as J/24 hull #1 is lifted out of the Johnstone family garage in 1976.

The weekend · July 16–18

Two days. Two parties. One big birthday.

Kick off Friday with the Legends Regatta sailed on J/7s and a welcome cocktail party, race on the bay Saturday and party under the stars that night, then take a lap around Conanicut on Sunday before the trophies come out.

Friday · July 16

Welcome aboard

  • Legends Invitational Regatta. Come watch J/Boats legends go head-to-head in J/7s
  • Check in and grab your welcome packet
  • Welcome cocktail party. Reunions, cold drinks and old friends
Saturday · July 17

Tour of the Bay

  • Last-minute check-in and packet pickup
  • Skippers' welcome briefing
  • First warning signal. Buoy racing all over Narragansett Bay
  • The 50th Anniversary party. The big one
Sunday · July 18

Ragtime Race Around the Island

  • First warning signal for the Ragtime Race Around the Island
  • Awards, toasts and closing party

Every party happens at Sail Newport, 72 Fort Adams Drive.

Entry fee
$TBD

Per boat, with a welcome packet and wristbands for Saturday's party. Need more? Extra wristbands online or at the door.

Registration
Register Here!

Sign up online on Clubspot and sign your waivers.

Sailing Instructions
July 1

Posted online by 1700 on Thursday, July 1, 2027. Homework for the delivery.

Who can race

Bring your J

The regatta is open to any and all J/Boats - brand new or fifty years young.

One-Design
6 or more entries

Rally your fleet! Any J class with six or more boats gets its own start, sailed under class rules and scored boat-for-boat.

PHRF Spinnaker
Handicap racing

Tour-of-the-bay (navigator) style races around Narragansett Bay

Pursuit Cruise
Cruisers welcome

Bring the cruising J and leave the kite in the bag. A relaxed pursuit start sends smaller boats off first, so the whole fleet comes together at the finish. Pack the cooler, invite the family and enjoy the ride.

A big J/24 one-design fleet charging off the starting line Aerial view of a J/Boat sailing fast under main and gennaker, crew in the cockpit The cruising J/Boat J Hawk sailing under main and genoa with family aboard and an American flag on the stern

Trophies for the series winner in every class, plus separate awards for the Ragtime Race Around the Island. No Narragansett Bay PHRF rating? No problem. we will assign one for the event!

Every J, 1977–2027 · 57 designs · current models in blue

  • J/7
  • J/9
  • J/22
  • J/24
  • J/27
  • J/28
  • J/29 MH
  • J/29 FR
  • J/30
  • J/32
  • J/33
  • J/34
  • J/34c
  • J/35
  • J/35c
  • J/36 Classic
  • J/36
  • J/37
  • J/37c
  • J/39
  • J/40 Classic
  • J/40
  • J/41
  • J/41 FR
  • J/42
  • J/44
  • J/45
  • J/46
  • J/47
  • J/65
  • J/70
  • J/80
  • J/88
  • J/90
  • J/92
  • J/92S
  • J/95
  • J/97E
  • J/99
  • J/100
  • J/105
  • J/108
  • J/109
  • J/110
  • J/111
  • J/11S
  • J/112E
  • J/120
  • J/121
  • J/122
  • J/122E
  • J/124
  • J/125
  • J/130
  • J/133
  • J/145
  • J/160

Party headquarters

Sail Newport

Sail Newport is Rhode Island's public sailing center, a nonprofit founded in 1983 to make sailing affordable for everyone. From Fort Adams State Park it runs lessons, rentals and youth programs, and has hosted everything from weeknight racing to world championships, Olympic Trials and the Ocean Race. This July it's party headquarters for the J/Boats 50th.

Aerial view of Sail Newport at Fort Adams State Park, with Newport Harbor full of moored boats and the city beyond

72 Fort Adams Drive, Newport, RI 02840
Tel. (401) 846-1983

Primary contact · J/BoatsKendra Muenterkendra@jboats.com
RegistrationHannah Lasorsahannah.lasorsa@sailnewport.org
Regatta coordinatorTommy Henshawregattas@sailnewport.org
Dockage & storageNick Maupriveznick.mauprivez@sailnewport.org

Make a weekend of it

Where to stay & what to do

Newport in July is the place to be, which means everyone else wants to be there too. Book early.

Docks

Sail Newport

Overnight dockage at Sail Newport is available July 16–18, but space is limited, so reserve ahead.

Trailering in? 2-ton and 3-ton cranes are available at Sail Newport for launching and hauling.

Nick Mauprivez
nick.mauprivez@sailnewport.org

Moorings

Newport Harbor

Transient moorings are first come, first served. Hail the Newport Harbormaster on VHF 16 or Oldport Marine on VHF 68 to check availability.

Rooms

Hotels & rentals

Downtown Newport is packed with hotels and inns, all a short drive from Fort Adams. They fill up fast in July, so grab yours now.

For the shore crew

Rather stay dry? Newport has plenty to keep you busy while the boats are out.

  • Next door

    Fort Adams

    The 19th-century fort sits right beside Sail Newport. Take a tour, then cheer the fleet home from the seawall.

  • Downtown

    The Sailing Museum

    Home of the National Sailing Hall of Fame, with hands-on exhibits about racing, boats and the people who sail them. On Thames Street.

  • On foot

    Cliff Walk

    A shoreline path with the Atlantic on one side and Gilded Age mansions on the other.

  • Gilded Age

    The Newport Mansions

    Tour The Breakers, Marble House and other summer "cottages" of America's richest families.

  • Scenic drive

    Ocean Drive & Brenton Point

    A winding coastal loop with kites, picnics and some of the best sunsets in town.

  • Waterfront

    Bowen's & Bannister's Wharfs

    Shops, raw bars and harborside patios. The perfect spot for a post-race painkiller.