--- title: An Open Letter from Ida Lewis Commodore Bill O'Hanley on the Youth Challenge of the ILDR description: Encourage young sailors to join the 2026 Ida Lewis Distance Race, fostering teamwork and a passion for offshore keelboat sailing through Youth Challenge and Collegiate classes. image: https://nbya.org/hubfs/Copy%20of%20NBYA.org%20Featured%20Image%201200x630%20(35).png --- [Skip to content](https://nbya.org/news/ida-distance-race#main-content) [![Narragansett Bay Yachting Association](https://nbya.org/hubfs/2025-10-21_Burgee_and_NBYA.svg)Homepage](https://nbya.org) - [JUNIOR SAILING](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing) - [Register on Clubspot](https://narragansettbayyachtingassociation.theclubspot.com/) - [Junior Mission](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#junior-mission) - [Junior News](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#junior-news) - [Junior Calendar](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#junior-calendar) - [Volunteer](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#junior-volunteer) - [FAQs](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#junior-faqs) - [Zero Tolerance Policy](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#junior-zero-tolerance-policy) - [Scholarships & Grants](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#scholarships-and-grants) - [Sammis Scholarship](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#scholarships-and-grants) - [CJ Buckley Scholarship](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#junior-CJ-Buckley-Scholarship) - [RACING & CRUISING](https://nbya.org/racing-cruising) - [Boat of the Year](https://nbya.org/boty) - [Bay Challenge](https://nbya.org/challenge) - [Women's Sailing](https://nbya.org/womens-sailing) - [Model Boat Racing](https://nbya.org/model-boat-racing) - [NEWS](https://nbya.org/news) - [Share Your Stories](https://nbya.org/share-stories) - [ABOUT](https://nbya.org/about) - [Member Organizations](https://nbya.org/member-organizations) - [History](https://nbya.org/history) - [Official Documents](https://nbya.org/official-documents) - JOIN - [Junior Membership](https://narragansettbayyachtingassociation.theclubspot.com/join) - [Adult Membership](https://payments-na1.hubspot.com/payments/p49gQGtzMMbyJw?referrer=PAYMENT_LINK) [CALENDAR](https://nbya.org/calendar) - [JUNIOR SAILING](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing) - [Register on Clubspot](https://narragansettbayyachtingassociation.theclubspot.com/) - [Junior Mission](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#junior-mission) - [Junior News](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#junior-news) - [Junior Calendar](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#junior-calendar) - [Volunteer](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#junior-volunteer) - [FAQs](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#junior-faqs) - [Zero Tolerance Policy](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#junior-zero-tolerance-policy) - [Scholarships & Grants](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#scholarships-and-grants) - [Sammis Scholarship](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#scholarships-and-grants) - [CJ Buckley Scholarship](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing#junior-CJ-Buckley-Scholarship) - [RACING & CRUISING](https://nbya.org/racing-cruising) - [Boat of the Year](https://nbya.org/boty) - [Bay Challenge](https://nbya.org/challenge) - [Women's Sailing](https://nbya.org/womens-sailing) - [Model Boat Racing](https://nbya.org/model-boat-racing) - [NEWS](https://nbya.org/news) - [Share Your Stories](https://nbya.org/share-stories) - [ABOUT](https://nbya.org/about) - [Member Organizations](https://nbya.org/member-organizations) - [History](https://nbya.org/history) - [Official Documents](https://nbya.org/official-documents) - JOIN - [Junior Membership](https://narragansettbayyachtingassociation.theclubspot.com/join) - [Adult Membership](https://payments-na1.hubspot.com/payments/p49gQGtzMMbyJw?referrer=PAYMENT_LINK) [CALENDAR](https://nbya.org/calendar) ![](https://nbya.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Copy%20of%20NBYA.org%20Featured%20Image%201200x630%20(35).png?width=3750&height=1969&name=Copy%20of%20NBYA.org%20Featured%20Image%201200x630%20(35).png) Junior PHRF # An Open Letter from Ida Lewis Commodore Bill O'Hanley on the Youth Challenge of the ILDR ![NBYA](https://nbya.org/hs-fs/hubfs/2026-01-03_NBYA_300x300.png?width=48&height=48&name=2026-01-03_NBYA_300x300.png) NBYA June 18, 2026 *Photo: Stephen R. Cloutier* [Click to Read Commodore O'Hanley's Letter](https://nbya.org/hubfs/Distance%20Race%202026.pdf)     ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fnbya.org%2Fnews%2Fida-distance-race](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fnbya.org%2Fnews%2Fida-distance-race) ## Keep reading ### [![](https://nbya.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Copy%20of%20NBYA.org%20Featured%20Image%201200x630%20(35)-1.png?width=3750&height=1969&name=Copy%20of%20NBYA.org%20Featured%20Image%201200x630%20(35)-1.png) Junior PHRF Results J/Teams Ready for Youth, Collegiate and Offshore Action at Ida Lewis Distance Race](https://nbya.org/news/j/teams-ready-for-youth-collegiate-and-offshore-action-at-ida-lewis-distance-race) ### [![](https://nbya.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Copy%20of%20NBYA.org%20Featured%20Image%201200x630%20(74).png?width=1200&height=630&name=Copy%20of%20NBYA.org%20Featured%20Image%201200x630%20(74).png) Junior Junior Results featured 2026 ILCA Season Results](https://nbya.org/news/2026-ilca-season-results) - [Home](https://nbya.org) - [Junior Sailing](https://nbya.org/junior-sailing) - [Racing & Cruising](https://nbya.org/racing-cruising) - [News](https://nbya.org/news) - [About](https://nbya.org/about) - [Calendar](https://nbya.org/calendar) --- [![Narragansett Bay Yachting Association (NBYA)](https://nbya.org/hs-fs/hubfs/2025-10-21_Burgee_and_NBYA_white.png?width=300&height=92&name=2025-10-21_Burgee_and_NBYA_white.png "Narragansett Bay Yachting Association (NBYA)")](https://nbya.org) ###### Narragansett Bay Yachting Association (NBYA) works to support and grow sailing in Greater Rhode Island. 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