7:00 pm
The Marblehead to Halifax Race was the first ocean yacht race in North America. This race is known as one of the most popular and historic ocean races of Canadian yachting.
The first race was August 21st 1905. This date was set for 2 days after the New York Yacht Club’s cruise to Marblehead hoping that many yachts from the fleet would go on to race to Halifax and be hosted by the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.
The race was declared in an effort to change racing trends of the day from harbour sailing to blue water sailing and thus encouraging larger boats to participate.
The first official record of the race comes from a news item in the Boston Globe, 1905. This gives an account of an “Invitation Ocean Race Marblehead, U.S.A – Halifax, N.S.”
In 1905, 15 boats originally entered the race but only six made it to the starting line. Those first six boats were: Elmina from New York Yacht Club, Hope Leslie of Eastern Yacht Club, Corona from EYC, Agatha of EYC, Sauquoit also of EYC and Black Hawk of the Boston Yacht Club.
Elmina in 1905
34 years elapsed before the next race was held on August 19th, 1939. 1939 was considered the ‘first of the modern races’. The race was scheduled to start off Marblehead at 3pm on Sunday August 20 but was postponed due to fog until 5pm. 13 yachts started and 12 completed the race. Due to World War II, the race came to a halt until 1947.
In 1947, the MHOR was given international race ranking. 22 yachts were registered with 3 of them being Canadian.
Race start off Marblehead
The 37th running of the biennial MOHR will take place this year starting in Marblehead on July 9 with over 60 yachts registered to date. Co-hosted by the Boston Yacht Club and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. Join Jeanne Church, a MMA employee and a long time RNSYS member, who also has a vested interest in this race and has compiled over a hundred years of Race history.
For additional information:
Richard MacMichael
902-424-8897
richard.macmichael@novascotia.ca