12 Metres: Eye candy by Michele Almeida from the Newport Trophy Regatta on Friday

NEWPORT, RI – The Newport Trophy Regatta, the second event in the Road to the Worlds Waypoint Series, is taking place July 20-23 in Newport. Hosted by Ida Lewis Yacht Club, the event is for 12 Metre yachts, which are collecting points in a global series leading up to the next world championship, scheduled for Newport in July 2019, and recalling the heyday of America’s Cup racing in Newport from 1958 to 1983.

Racing began Friday and continues through Sunday with eight races scheduled on Rhode Island Sound or Narragansett Bay. Competing yachts will be divided into Grand Prix, Modern and Traditional classes. Sailing are NEW ZEALAND (KZ-3) and LAURA (KZ-5) in Grand Prix; FREEDOM (US-30), DEFENDER (US- 33), CHALLENGE 12 (KA-10), INTREPID (US-22) and COURAGEOUS (US-26) in Modern; and COLUMBIA (US-16), WEATHERLY (US-17) and AMERICAN EAGLE (US-21) in Traditional.

Photos below are from Friday's first day of racing and are courtesy of Michele Almeida / MISTE Photography.