Dear Jesters, past, present and future,
This newsletter is important for anyone thinking of entering the 2026 Jester Challenge to Newport Rhode Island.
Jester Challenge 2026
When you arrive by boat in the US, unlike arriving as a tourist on a commercial carrier, you must hold a visitor visa. The process of applying for a visa includes an interview in person at the US Embassy, which is usually a formality but cannot be avoided. Skippers who have applied for a visa recently have found that the time to obtain the interview is currently 8 months. (The same was the case in 2022). We would encourage anyone thinking of sailing in 2026 to apply BEFORE the autumn of 2025 – if you don’t sail in 2026 they last 10 years, so 2 future Jester Challenges!
As usual we are assured of a warm welcome to the USA by Norm Bailey and the NYC.
Other news
This year’s Jester Baltimore Challenge attracted considerable interest, with over 70 skippers registering as potential challengers. In the event 35 skippers made it to the start, a mixture of old hands and new faces; the days before the start saw the usual convivial socials and mutual help with final preparations. As has happened previously on this event, the weather posed problems for the challengers in the form of a high pressure that drifted north during the week. All the challengers are now safely in harbour and 19 successfully reached Baltimore. The website has further details, and also an account by Will Robinson of his passage.
Skippers from the 2024 Jester Azores Challenge are planning a dinner and discussion on 21 Feb 2026 in Letchworth Garden City. They describe it as a “Green Tie Dinner”, meaning that priority will be given to finishers of either Jester Azores Challenge or Jester Challenge to Newport. The discussion, however, may have interest to others, in particular those thinking of entering the 2026 event. For more details please contact David McDowall david.mcdowall@hotmail.co.uk.
There is still plenty of time for sailing this season, fair winds wherever you are headed, and we hope to see you next year.
The Jester Helm
Jester Challenge 