BROC Reviews Newport Race Safety Incidents

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The Bermuda Race Organizing Committee [BROC], in collaboration with the Cruising Club of America and US Sailing, is “actively reviewing the safety incidents that occurred during the 2024 Newport Bermuda Race and return passages.”

A spokesperson said, “Since the race concluded in June, our teams have been diligently collecting information and assessing the events to understand the circumstances and implications, which includes but is not limited to the multiple boat sinkings that resulted in no loss of life or injury.”

Andrew Kallfelz, Race Chair, expressed his gratitude to all participants who responded to the recent survey, which included crucial safety questions regarding their experiences. “Our interest is in finding the facts of all safety incidents that occurred during the race so lessons can be learned for the sport and safety in the future,” said Kallfelz.

The spokesperson said, “BROC, the CCA, and US Sailing are leveraging their combined expertise to ensure a thorough and objective review, with the hope that the findings and lessons learned will guide safety measures and protocols in future races.”

“What we do know now is that safety-at-sea training was vital to the successful outcome for the rescue of all sailors,” said Kallfelz. “While offshore sailing, especially in the Gulf Stream, is inherently unpredictable, we can and should manage the things that are within our control. That includes building a culture of safety, our safety preparation and onboard behaviors.”

The spokesperson said, “BROC will continue to collect incident data and encourage anyone who participated in the 2024 Newport Bermuda Race to contribute their experiences [Feedback Form]. All input is invaluable in helping us achieve a comprehensive understanding of all incidents to help shape the safety preparation for future races.”