Date/Time
Date(s) - 07/12/2026
12:45 pm - 3:45 pm

Location
Balboa Yacht Club
1801 Bayside Dr
Corona del mar, CA 92625

The Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the return of one of Southern California’s most iconic and enduring maritime traditions:  the 90th Annual Flight of Newport Beach on Sunday, July 12, 2026.  This milestone regatta will bring together sailors from across the region to celebrate nearly a century of competitive racing in Newport Harbor.

Aligning with the national celebration of the United States’ 250th Semiquincentennial year, the theme for this year’s landmark event is centered around the word “Freedom”.

To honor this spirit, organizers are offering an entirely free registration for all participants.  Every registered racer will receive a complimentary, limited-edition 90th Anniversary Flight of Newport BeachT-shirt, free entry to an event raffle and a chance to win premium quality sailing gear worth thousands of dollars. 

Originally called the Flight of the Snowbirds named for the wooden boats participating in the race, the event was renamed Flight of the Lasers in 1975 after organizers decided to replace the aging, wooden crafts with more modern, fiberglass boats, known as Lasers.  The Lasers were seen in small boat races at the time including in the Olympics. In 2020 the race was again renamed, the Flight of Newport, to be more inclusive, opening entries to ILCA (formerly known as Lasers), Harbor 20 and Tera RS boats. 

The Flight of Newport will begin at 1 p.m. near the Balboa Pavilion and it will take about 90 minutes to complete the course, which circumvents the entire bay.  The first-place winner in the ILCA fleet will receive the Albert Soiland Trophy, named after the first Commodore of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club along with a new sail provided by Vela LA.  Other placing racers first to cross the finish line in these categories will also receive prizes:  ILCA fleet, the First Girl, Youngest Boy, Youngest Girl, Oldest Person and First Married Couple.