Black Jack 100 has claimed Line Honours and secured both class and overall corrected-time victory in the 2026 Newport Bermuda Race after an impressive offshore sprint from Newport to Bermuda, crossing the finish line off St. David’s in 1 day, 11 hours, 26 minutes and 46 seconds.

The Newport Bermuda Race, is a biennial sailing race from Newport, Rhode Island, to Hamilton, Bermuda. First held in 1906, it is the oldest organized ocean sailing race in the world.

The 100-foot maxi, led by owner Remon Vos, skipper Tristan Le Brun and co-skipper Jelmer van Beek, was the first yacht to reach Bermuda in the 54th edition of the iconic offshore classic, which attracted nearly 150 entries from across the sailing world. For much of the race, Black Jack 100 appeared on pace to challenge the decade-old monohull race record set by the 100-foot Comanche, skippered by Ken Read. However, lighter winds during the final four hours of the passage slowed the yacht’s charge, leaving the team just 48 minutes short of setting a new record.

Despite narrowly missing the record, there was no disappointment among the crew as they arrived in Bermuda under the cover of darkness. The finish was met with smiles, congratulations and a warm welcome from race organizers, who greeted the sailors in the early hours of the morning with the island’s signature Dark ‘n Stormy cocktails.

Skipper Tristan Le Brun said: “We pushed hard to have a chance at taking the record despite a challenging weather forecast and sailing on the tail of a tropical storm that generated a confused sea state. We were on target for much of the race, but ultimately the conditions weren’t quite favourable enough, and we didn’t leave much time behind on the racecourse.

“Records like this are there to be broken, especially when you come so close. But you have to deal with the conditions you’re given, and we did that very well, sailing Black Jack at its full potential. I’m proud of the team and of everything we were able to extract from the opportunity.”

“It was a fast race with predominantly downwind conditions,” said co-skipper Jelmer van Beek. “After the start, we sailed almost the entire course on starboard tack and enjoyed an average of 20 knots of breeze for most of the passage. The crew did an excellent job, constantly optimizing the sail plan and keeping the boat at full speed.”

The race began in ideal fashion in Newport, Rhode Island, where a lively atmosphere surrounded the start of the 54th “Thrash to the Onion Patch.” More than 4,000 spectators gathered along the waterfront and at Fort Adams to watch the fleet depart Narragansett Bay in a series of starts for the various divisions and classes.

For Black Jack 100, this victory marks another significant milestone. While many members of the team were competing in the Newport Bermuda Race for the first time, they quickly made their mark on one of offshore sailing’s most prestigious events.

“Many of the sailors on the team had never done this race before,” Van Beek said. “To come here for the first time and take both Line Honours and the overall win is a real highlight. Everyone is very happy with the result, and it’s another important step forward for the Black Jack team.”

Following its success in Bermuda, Black Jack 100 will now turn its attention to the Mediterranean season, with the team’s next major challenge being the Palermo-Monte Carlo Race, where it will aim to defend the Line Honours title it claimed last year.

By claiming Line Honours and the overall victory in commanding fashion, while pushing the race record deep into the final hours, Black Jack 100 delivered one of the standout performances of the 2026 Newport Bermuda Race.

Event website: bermudarace.com

by Bart Salemans