Breezy start to Chester Race Week

Chester, Nova Scotia (August 10, 2016) – Heavy seas and strong winds of 17-24 knots made for a choppy start for Chester Race Week 2016, creating challenging conditions for the 119 boats ready to get out on the water. Hosted by the Chester Yacht Club in the South-Shore Nova Scotia town of Chester in mid August each year, Chester Race Week is Canada’s largest annual keel boat regatta and plays host to boats from up and down the Eastern Seaboard.

With the ‘No Spinnaker’ flag raised in the middle of the second International One Design race, several masts broke, spinnakers were shredded, and some boats retired early, making the wind a major player throughout the day.

“We were slow to start, but we eventually managed to get two good races in the Bluenose class,” says Oliver Bone, Bluenose One Design race officer. “There was lots of excitement throughout, including some masts breaking.”

“It was great to do some breezy sailing,” says Ted Murphy, who recently returned from the North American International One Design championships in Northeast Harbor, Maine. “It really shows who knows what they’re doing, when you have these kind of conditions.” Murphy’s boat Restless came first today in the International One Design class.

Event Website – Results

Report by Event Media