Newport Harbor's oldest sailing race is dropping its entry fee for the first time in the event's history.
The 90th Annual Flight of Newport Beach will launch at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 12, near the Balboa Pavilion, with every registered racer sailing for free. Organizers are also handing out a limited-edition 90th anniversary T-shirt, a raffle ticket, and a chance to win premium sailing gear that organizers value at thousands of dollars.
"Reaching the 90th year of this race at the exact moment our nation celebrates 250 years of independence is a remarkable milestone," said Lawrence Jones, Flight of Newport chair. "By making the entire event free — from entry to T-shirts and raffles — we are celebrating the ultimate freedom that sailing provides."
The theme, "Freedom on the Water," ties the anniversary to the United States' 250th birthday. The Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce is presenting the race and says it is promoting the event to competitive fleets across Southern California.
Three boat classes are eligible: Harbor 20, ILCA (sizes 7, 6, and 4), and RS Tera. Competitors will race a course circumnavigating the entire bay.
Prize categories lean playful: First Girl, Youngest Boy, Youngest Girl, Oldest Person, and First Married Couple, among others. Winners take home trophies and sponsor-donated gear.
A harbor tradition since 1936
The race started as the Flight of the Snowbirds, named for the small wooden boats that once packed Newport Harbor. In 1975, organizers renamed it the Flight of the Lasers after fiberglass Lasers replaced the aging Snowbirds. The name changed again in 2020 to the Flight of Newport, opening the field to Harbor 20s and RS Teras alongside the ILCA fleet.
The Commodores Club, which also produces the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, has hosted the regatta throughout its history.
How to register
Advance online registration is mandatory at FlightofNewportBeach.com. No deadline has been announced, but registration secures scoring placement, raffle tickets, and T-shirt sizing.
