Winners confirmed for Annapolis to Newport Race

The 2025 Annapolis to Newport Race got underway with starts on Friday and Saturday, June 6 and 7, for the 475-nautical mile passage connecting these two iconic sailing towns. Here’s a summary report for the 40th biennial edition:

William Gunther is a veteran offshore sailor, but had never done the Annapolis to Newport Race. The Essex, Connecticut resident decided to check that iconic event off the bucket list and did so in serious style.

Gunther skippered the Alden Skye 50-footer Blue Skies (above) to a convincing victory in ORC Performance Cruiser 1 class, assisted by John Brooks as the other watch captain, posting a corrected time of 4 days, 5 hours, 54 minutes, and 59 seconds.

That was more than four hours better than class runner-up Legacy, a Beneteau First 40 skippered by Nick Carter of Lewes, Delaware.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the result. To win our class in our first time doing this great race is very exciting,” said Gunther, who was encouraged to enter Annapolis to Newport by legendary sailmaker Butch Ulmer. “I was talking to Butch and he suggested it would be a good race for this boat and boy was he right.” – Full report