When the temperatures drop, Rhode Island’s most dedicated sailors rise to the challenge. Every Sunday from November through April, Laser Fleet 413 turns Newport Harbor into a high-energy arena for frostbiting—a winter sailing tradition built on adrenaline, teamwork, and pure sailing grit.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to sail when the air is crisp, the harbor is calm, and the competition is fierce, this is your invitation to join the action.
Frostbiting isn’t for the faint of heart—it’s for sailors who love the sport enough to brave the elements and keep racing all winter long. Fleet 413 delivers tight competition, strong camaraderie, and some of the most unforgettable sailing of the year.
To keep the fun safe and fast-paced, the fleet follows a simple “20/20 rule”:
If you’re ready to push your limits (and your boat), this is the fleet for you.
Winter sailing demands respect for the elements, so Fleet 413 has clear safety rules to keep everyone protected:
All sailors must wear life jackets at all times—no exceptions.
Wetsuits, drysuits, neoprene gloves, hats, layers—you’re responsible for showing up prepared.
Competitors assume responsibility for their own safety and must indemnify and hold harmless Sail Newport and Fleet 413.
Borrowing a fleet boat? You’re responsible for any damage and must report missing or broken parts immediately.
Fleet 413 keeps winter races efficient, competitive, and fun.
All sailors meet at Newport Yacht Club by 11:30 AM to rig boats and help with race committee duties.
Courses are sailed in the inner harbor and announced verbally before each start. (Tip: Listen carefully—failure to hear the course isn’t grounds for redress!)
Starts are typically signaled with automated systems, keeping everything clean and consistent.
No race will start within 30 minutes of sundown, ensuring safe daylight sailing.
Each Sunday counts as a standalone race day. Your weekly finish affects your place in the overall season standings, with a few throw-outs to keep the competition tight.
Racing follows the Racing Rules of Sailing, just like any other competitive regatta.
You may need to register for the season—reaching out to the organizers ahead of time is recommended.
Season dues help cover gear, boat maintenance, and race committee fuel. Boat storage at Sail Newport may involve an additional fee.
One of the best parts of Frostbite Sailing? The warm-up afterward. The fleet encourages sailors to stick around, share snacks, swap stories, and keep the community spirit alive.
Ready to jump in, get back on the water, or try frostbiting for the first time?
Fleet 413 welcomes sailors who are enthusiastic, responsible, and ready for fun.
For specific event details, refer to the latest Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions documents available on the Laser Fleet 413 website: https://www.newportlaserfleet.org/
Frostbite sailing in January requires a bit of know-how. Read how Ted Hood prepares for a day racing with Newport’s Laser Fleet 413.
“Looking at the weather Sunday morning, it seemed like we were heading for another cancelation for the third week in a row with expected temp around 24-25 deg and winds 15-20 – a daunting combination. But with Fleet 413 you can’t assume anything, so I prepared my gear accordingly, wondering how the heck I was going to keep my toes and fingers warm. Sunday was all about staying warm if you wanted to have any chance of being functional let alone competitive. I’ve found over the years from cold weather skiing and sailing that it really pays to over-dress your core as well as arms and legs to some extent which produces extra heat that wants to escape through your head, fingers and toes. Hard to do with a wetsuit, so Sunday was really a day for drysuits (preferably with built-in socks to keep feet dry) so you can layer up accordingly underneath – I know Mike Z was happy he dragged his out of the closet. I piled it on with two thin tech layers, two fleece layers and a thin vest, with thermal weight long johns and hiking pants over legs, and skull cap and balaclava doubled up above.
Heading out for pre-race my fingers numbed up pretty quickly with neoprene sailing gloves being wet so before the first race I pulled the fingers out to make a fist inside for 1-2 minutes to thaw them out – a common freeze/thaw cycle that usually works well. Just had to do it a second time after first race then I was feeling pretty toasty the rest of the day. Ice on deck made it challenging when gybing – almost slid off the deck one race, and frozen lines and tackles made it interesting in what was the coldest day of sailing I can remember the past 35 years. Big thanks to Moose, Kelly and Cushing for running the races in what turned out to be a great, fun day of sailing – since the breeze kept us moving, I reckon we were warmer than them!”
-Ted Hood
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