Countdown is on for the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race!

Marblehead – Spectators on shore will have an unprecedented view when an expected 95 sailing yachts cross the starting line of the 2011 Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race on July 10.

“We have reconfigured the start to bring the vessels closer to shore,” explained Peter Barnet, Vice Commodore of the Boston Yacht Club and Chairman of the event. “Instead of heading immediately out to sea they will come toward Marblehead Harbor before turning toward the open Atlantic and the 363 nautical mile course to Nova Scotia.
Barnet says the best views will be from points on Marblehead Neck, especially Chandler Hovey Park and Castle Rock. “There is nothing more spectacular than seeing these beautiful yachts, under full sail, headed toward and around a turning mark,” he exclaimed.

This will be the 34th biennial edition of the race which is world renowned in yacht racing circles. It is conducted jointly by the Boston Yacht Club in Marblehead and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron of Halifax.

Sailing yachts from all along the eastern seaboard from Annapolis, MD to Halifax, NS have signed up for the international competition. More than 20 trophies will be awarded at a ceremony in Halifax at the end of the race. They will recognize the many special accomplishments and team challenges including the fastest double handed yacht and the fastest all woman yacht in addition to class winners.

Scores of visiting boats are expected in Marblehead Harbour to watch the start. Special spectator boat sections will be marked off just South of Marblehead Bell and two other locations and Barnet is asking boaters to please keep clear of the racing yachts and clear of the restricted areas at the start and around each turning mark. The restricted areas will be marked with floating marks, red and green tetrahedrons defining the start area and red balls encircling the turning marks near the Bell and near Tinker’s Gong. Each area will be patrolled by multiple Spectator Patrol Boats displaying a Yellow Flag.

The start of the first racing class will be signalled by cannon fire at 1 pm.

The running of the 2011 Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean race (MHOR) is preceded by a long history. The race began in 1905 as an informal competition between sailors from the Boston, Eastern and New York yacht clubs. It was run sporadically until 1939 when the Boston Yacht Club and Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron formalized it as a biennial event. Since that time it has been run regularly on alternate years as one of the pre-eminent ocean races of the North Atlantic.