Safety Review Reports Released Regarding 2024 Vessel Abandonments

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Newport, RI (February 18, 2025) – Following the three vessel abandonments that occurred during the 2024 Newport Bermuda Race and return voyage, the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee (BROC) partnered with US Sailing and the Cruising Club of America to conduct an in-depth safety review. The goal of this effort was to gather facts, analyze the incidents, and make recommendations that will contribute to safer offshore racing for all sailors.

After thorough interviews with rescued and rescuing crews, the BROC and US Sailing have compiled and released three detailed reports, one for each incident. These reports provide crucial insights and lessons learned, reinforcing the importance of preparedness, training, and seamanship in offshore racing.

“We want to extend our sincere gratitude to all those who dedicated their time and expertise to reviewing these incidents in detail,” said Andrew Kallfelz, Race Chair for the 2024 and 2026 Newport Bermuda Races. “The most important factor is that there was no loss of life or injury in any of these incidents. These reviews allow us to learn and apply takeaways that will not only improve our Race but also enhance safety for all offshore sailors.”

In addition to the release of these reports, BROC recently hosted a seminar as part of the 2026 Race Prep Seminar Series, where an overview of the reports was presented alongside two other key areas of review: Structural Integrity & Inspections and Communications at Sea. The full reports on these additional topics will be made available in the coming weeks.

“We highly encourage all sailors, offshore race organizers, and offshore sailing educators to take the time to read these reports,” said Dick York, Safety at Sea Chair at US Sailing. “The crews involved demonstrated that training and preparation work to preserve life and limb. Just as importantly, their experiences reinforce that fellow competitors are often the first and most critical rescue and support system in offshore sailing. These key takeaways should continue to shape best practices for safety in our sport.”

The full reports for each of the three incidents can be accessed here or links to individual reports are linked here:

About Newport Bermuda Race

Organized by the Bermuda Race Foundation, the 636-mile biennial Newport Bermuda Race is the oldest regularly scheduled ocean race, and one of very few international distance races. The Newport Bermuda Race is one of just two of the world’s regularly scheduled races held almost entirely out of sight of land, the second being the Transpac. Founded in 1906, the 54th running of the Bermuda Race is scheduled for June 2026. It is organized by the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee (“BROC”), a sub-Committee of the Bermuda Race Foundation, Inc. (a 501c3 not-for-profit organization). BROC is composed of volunteers from the Cruising Club of America and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

About US Sailing

The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), certified by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of sailing in the United States, is dedicated to leading, advancing, supporting, and ensuring integrity in sailing at every level. Founded in 1897, US Sailing, now serving over 35,000 members as well as over 1,500 yacht clubs and sailing centers, offers training and certifications for sailors, instructors, and race officials, oversees national championships, manages offshore ratings, conducts regional and national events, and spearheads initiatives to increase accessibility. US Sailing also leads the training and development of the US Sailing Team for the Olympic Games and high-performance international competitions, providing comprehensive financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing, and communications support, as well as managing the Team USA athlete selection procedures for the Olympic Games. More at www.ussailing.org.

All Photos: Daniel Forster / Bermuda Race Organizing Committee

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