NBYA Spring Meeting

The Narragansett Bay Yachting Association marked an important milestone this spring with the return of its Spring Meeting—reviving a long-standing tradition that had been absent for several years.

The event brought together representatives from 20 clubs and more than 40 attendees, signaling renewed energy and engagement across the Bay. We'd like to thank our hosts at Barrington Yacht Club who provided an excellent atmosphere for engagement. The evening struck a balance between connection and purpose. Informal conversations over pizza and a cash bar framed a focused agenda designed to share progress, align priorities, and build momentum heading into the 2026 sailing season. As outlined in the meeting goals, the emphasis was on “sharing off-season progress,” strengthening communications, and “kick starting 2026 success” while creating space for dialogue and feedback.

NBYA Spring Meeting April 2026

A highlight of the evening was the introduction of NBYA’s new leadership team, bringing fresh energy and a clear commitment to coordination, communication, and listening—core principles guiding the organization forward.

The meeting also showcased the key initiatives shaping the upcoming season. Among them:

Communications: A renewed focus on making NBYA a central, valuable resource for sailors, clubs, and events across the Bay.

Junior Sailing: Efforts to improve cost, coordination, accessibility, and quality of racing while expanding communication and engagement.

PHRF Sailing: Enhancements to the Boat of the Year program aimed at increasing participation, awareness, and connection between events.

Women’s Sailing: A growing set of programs and initiatives designed to expand participation and strengthen the sailing community.

Please contact Barbara Petrocelli, Chair of Women's Sailing, NBYA  if you'd like to discuss how your organization might launch or expand a women's sailing program. She would be glad to discuss things your club might do around women's sailing and introduce program stakeholders to leaders who are working on this now. 
barbara.petrocelli@nbya.org

Beyond the updates, the true success of the evening was the sense of shared purpose. The meeting created a forum not just to inform, but to listen—gathering input from clubs and sailors to help shape priorities for the season ahead.

NBYA enters 2026 with a clear mandate: “Better Sailing on the Bay.”

The return of the Spring Meeting is an early and encouraging signal that the organization—and the broader sailing community—is aligned, energized, and ready to build on that vision.

With strong participation, clear priorities, and renewed collaboration, the season ahead is positioned to be one of momentum and impact.