Spookie first to finish in Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race

Published on July 7th, 2015

Halifax, NS (July 7, 2015; Day 3) – An American sailboat with a long list of racing wins has added another honour to its record. Spookie, a Carkeek HP 40 crossed the finish line at 18:24:33 today, becoming the first to finish the 363nm Steele Motors Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race 2015. Spookie currently leads IRC 1 and second in IRC overall.

Spookie is owned by Steve and Heidi Benjamin of Norwalk, Conn and sails out of the Seawanaka Corinthian Yacht Club. The Spookie crew built a lead early in the race and held it continuously. Racing started at Marblehead 1300 EDT on Sunday, July 5th.

Racers hit a period of very light winds in the Gulf of Maine Monday afternoon. The wind picked up at noon today (Tuesday) and boats are picking up speed. The next arrival is expected before midnight tonight. The first Canadian boat to finish is expected to be Helm’s Deep, owned by Mike Sutton of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.

There are 60 boats still on the race course. Temptress retired during the race due to electrical problems and is now in port in Maine.

The Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race is co-sponsored by the Boston Yacht Club and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. It started in 1905 and is run every second year.

Race details – Tracker

Report by Kathy Large.