NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) - An around-the-world sailing race is once again making its only North American stop in Rhode Island.
The Ocean Race announced this week that the Newport stop in the spring of 2022 will be one of 10 stops during the eight-month, 38,000 nautical-mile race, which begins in Alicante, Spain, in October 2021 and finishes in Genoa, Italy in June 2022.
“This is terrific news for our state, again bringing global attention to Newport and Rhode Island as premier tourist destinations and promising to generate tens of millions of dollars in spending and economic impact,” Gov. Gina Raimondo said in a statement.
Sail Newport will organize the event.
“This is the pinnacle event of the sport of ocean racing,” Executive Director Brad Read said. “These athletes are spending 24 hours a day for weeks on end transiting oceans in storms and calms and as a community we have the privilege of welcoming them to the only stop in North America.”
The stopover generates millions of dollars for the state’s economy. An economic impact report showed that the 2015 stopover generated an estimated $47.7 million.
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