Insight on Marblehead local knowledge

The finale of the 2023 Sailing World Regatta Series in the USA is July 27-30 in Marblehead, MA. While summer sailing in New England may be hard to beat, the four race courses for this event may beat you up without some local knowledge. Quantum expert Carter White offers some tips to remember:

I have raced in and around Marblehead since the late 1980s and witnessed almost every condition, from a drifter to a hurricane. Through it all, I’ve seen that each circle brings its challenges, trends, and conditions, which I will try to break down here.

Outside Course (aka Outside Line)
The outside course is the area furthest offshore and most to the right of the harbor when looking away from land. The course is normally centered 3.25 NM at 175° (magnetic) from Marblehead Bell RG “FR” but can often be closer to shore. Typical conditions for this course would be no wind in the morning and a sea breeze filling in during the afternoon, around 1pm or so. If this is the case and there haven’t been any significant storms immediately ahead of the sailing day, you should have relatively flat water with possible one-foot easy rollers. – Full report

Race details – Entry list – Photos

2023 Schedule
St. Petersburg, February 17-19
San Diego, March 17-19
Annapolis, May 5-7
Chicago, June 9-11
Marblehead, July 27-30
Caribbean, October 21-28

Details: www.sailingworld.com/regatta-series