Marblehead to Halifax Race gets underway

Marblehead, MA (July 5, 2015) – Sixty two entries crossed the Marblehead to Halifax Race start line today, heading out to the Gulf of Maine and on to race the 363 nautical mile course up the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia to Halifax.

First boats to cross the finish line are expected either Monday night or Tuesday morning, depending on the winds and weather. This is the 36th biennial edition of the race, which was first carried out in 1905. It is co-sponsored by the Boston Yacht Club and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.

Sixty-one of the boats are monohulls that vary from 35 feet to 72 feet in length. The largest is Ticonderoga of Greenwich, a classic yacht from Connecticut. The other entry is a Gunboat 62 catamaran named Zenyatta. As of this hour, Zenyatta is building a lead at the front of the fleet with the 40-footer Spookie of Norwalk, Conneticut in second place.

The boats are classed in nine different classes. The fleet is being escorted by the Royal Canadian Navy’s coastal defence vessel, HMCS Glace Bay.

Trophies will be awarded on Thursday evening at a ceremony in Halifax at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. In addition to first, second and third place finishes in each class, prizes are given for teams that do the race double-handed (only two crew members), to training schools, and even for special recognition to the boat that finishes last… the Cook’s plate is awarded to the chef on the last vessel to finish within the race time limit.

Race details – Tracker

Report by Kathy Large.