The Mitchell Regattas are biannual races from Newport to Block Island started by Newport Yacht Club member and past commodore Cliff Mitchell. The first edition took place Memorial Day weekend of 1983 and was named in honor of Cliff’s grandfather Owen L. Mitchell. The following year, with the passing of Cliff’s father Earl L. Mitchell, Cliff added a fall edition of the race on Columbus Day weekend of 1984. Since Cliff’s passing in 2011 both are known simply as the Mitchell Regattas. These are relaxed events with an emphasis on fun. Racing is non-spinnaker only and uses a staggered start with starting times based on PHRF time-on-distance. One-design classes are also possible with a minimum of three boats required for a class. First, second, and third place trophies are awarded in each class, and the John E. Rebello team race recognizes the best combination of finishes among teams made up of three boats from different classes.
Besides a sailing race, this is very much a social event; cruising sailboats and powerboats are welcome! The generosity of Payne’s Dock deep dockage discount for this event more than makes up for the registration cost in just a single-night stay. Non-racers are also welcome to participate in the dockside Bloody Mary and hors d’oeuvres contests. To register, use the button below and select “Cruising Class”; for powerboats, please note this in the “Boat Model” field, e.g. “GB36 (Power)”. In either case, please simply select “I will send later” under “PHRF-NB certificate”, since it is not applicable. For sailboats wishing to race, but lacking a current PHRF-NB certificate, please select the “I will send later” option, then email Brian Clayton at the linked email to request a rating for the race at no extra cost. See the Notice of Race below for the schedule of events and feel free to arrive and depart at your own schedule, keeping in mind the dockage discount applies to only the two nights of the event.
41st Annual Columbus Day Edition
Friday, October 11 – Monday, October 14, 2024
Registration is over!
Skippers’ Meeting at 6:00pm Friday, October 11 at the Newport Yacht Club. Non-racers need not attend, but are welcome.
- Notice of Race
- Sailing Instructions (minor update October 11 to note organizer aboard Floating Point)
- Entrants List
- Scratch Sheet
- Race Results
Cliff Mitchell Trophy
For the closest (to third) fourth-place finish: Persistence
John E. Rebello Team Trophy
- Ventsweptlik (Vento Solare, Windswept, Larvik): 5 points (Winner)
- Plastic Fantastics (Persistence, Dark Star, Osprey): 10 points
- Artificial Intelligence (Aurora, Perseverance, Floating Point): 12 points
- EGYC (Dark Star, Rigadoon, SoCoWe): 13 points
Bloody Mary Contest
Winner: SoCoWe
Other Entries: Dark Star, Island Bound, Persistence, Vento Solare
Hors d’oeuvre Contest
Taste
- Take Two
- Larvik
- Rigandoon
Presentation
- Vento Solare
- Persistence
- Floating Point
Costume Contest
Winner: SoCoWe, costume “Redneck Yacht Club”
Runner Up: Dark Star, costume “Margaritaville”
Notes
On Saturday the weather was partly sunny with a strong westerly breeze that slowly shifted slightly northwest. Wind was generally 15-20 knots with higher gusts. The seas were 4-6 feet and somewhat steep past Point Judith, but the conditions at least made for a fast ride. Aboard Floating Point, it was our second-fastest time in memory (3 hours 3 minutes).
The last boat to finish, Mischief, was slowed down from their usual fast pace by accidentally trawling with the genoa they thought was on deck. In good fun, they wore paper bags over their heads to hide the shame of what they termed a “rookie mistake” as they passed by Payne’s Dock after the finish.
Sunday started out cloudy and a little breezy from the east before nearly dying altogether in the evening. The Bloody Mary, costume, and hors d’ouevres contests went well, but the awards were delayed slightly due to the time to tally results. Many boats left in early afternoon, but six of us stayed: Dark Star, Floating Point, Larvik, Mutinous Dogs, SoCoWe, and Windswept. By evening the wind diminished to almost nothing and it got warm with the sun peeking through for a beautiful sunset.
The forecast for Monday had been for a strong westerly or southwesterly of at least 15-20 knots, possibly more, and higher gusts, expected overnight into Monday morning. It never materialized and the wind filled gently from the northeast in the early morning before dying nearly completely. A gentle westerly, maybe 10 knots, eventually filled in the early afternoon. There were a few sprinkles and it was cloudy most of the day.