Castle Hill Inn has come on board as the newest official sponsor for the 52nd Newport Bermuda Race, event organisers have announced.

With its sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay, combined with its nautical history and world-class service, the iconic property on Newport’s Ocean Drive offers luxury accommodations, fine and casual dining, on-site spa and the perfect vantage point to watch the start of the biennial 635-nautical mile race.

“Castle Hill has always been a spectacular setting for our race spectators, and I am very pleased to see them come aboard and partner with the race in 2022,” Somers Kempe, chairman of the Bermuda Race Organising Committee, said.

Castle Hill Inn’s nautical heritage is built into its very grounds. The historic Lighthouse located on-property not only serves as a beacon for ships navigating Narragansett Bay, but as the starting and finish line for many of Newport’s famous yachting races and regattas, including the Bermuda Race.

The flagpole on The Lawn at Castle Hill is a replica of the mast and rigging used on the 1905 Herreshoff NY-30 class sailing yachts, designed from archived blueprints from a 1917 vintage NY-30.

With the Castle Hill Lighthouse marking the start of the Newport Bermuda Race again this year, sailing enthusiasts, fans and onlookers will gather on The Lawn at Castle Hill on June 17 to enjoy panoramic views of the ocean and watch each class of sailboats commence the race to Bermuda.

With its proximity to Fort Adams, where registration and other race-related events will take place, Castle Hill Inn is the perfect place to stop for a cocktail, bite to eat, or relaxing spa treatment for sailors and their shore crew of friends and family in town.

“Newport is world-renowned for its unparalleled sailing and yachting opportunities, and we’re proud to be at the centre of that,” Brian Young, Managing Director of Castle Hill Inn, said. “We are very excited to be the official luxury hospitality sponsor of the 2022 Newport Bermuda Race, and look forward to hosting sailors, their families and fans this June.”

George David's Juan K-design yacht, Rambler 88, clinched line honours in an elapsed time of 50hr 31 min 51 sec the last time the Newport Bermuda Race was held in 2018.

Rambler 88 held the race record of 39:39:18 for four years before the 100-foot super-maxi, Comanche, helmed by skipper Ken Read, came along and broke it in 2016.

Comanche's record of 34:42:53 still stands.

This year marks the second attempt to stage the 52nd instalment of the historic race, having been cancelled for the first time in 80 years because of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The first time it was abandoned was in 1940 under the gathering storm clouds of the Second World War.