A memorable edition of the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race came to a conclusion on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. Flag officers from RNSYS and the Boston Yacht Club joined together with skippers and crew for a reception and prize ceremony to mark a race that will go down in the history books, thanks to the record-breaking race by the crew on Prospector. The Mills 68 from Shelter Island, NY took more than two hours off the previous course record by completing the race from Marblehead, Mass. to Halifax, N.S. in 28 hours, 28 minutes and 50 seconds.
A long list of prizes were awarded topped by the record-breaking participation of Prospector. Prospector wins first place in the IRC class and overall fleet and has been awarded the Halifax Herald and Mail Trophy, given to the monohull with the fastest elapsed time over the course.
“It was a race with terrific weather, fantastic sailing conditions, no fog and happy sailors,” beamed RNSYS Race Chairman Will Greenwood. “The 37th Biennial edition of the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race has captured the spirit of competitive offshore racing. What more could you ask for?”
The David P. Prince Trophy for the best overall corrected time in the ORR division was captured by Michael Cone and Actaea, repeating the same win from 2015. The overall winner of the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet is Bill Greenwood III and his crew on Airborne IV, a Beneteau 50. They win the Province of Nova Scotia Tray with the best overall corrected time in PHR, the largest group of race participants. Their time was 50 hours, 18 minutes and 14 sec, adding to the vessel’s growing list of race wins.
“The air of excitement at the events at the start of the race in Marblehead was born out by the thrill of the record being broken by Propector,” said BYC Vice Commodore and Race Chairman Jennie Aspinall, “But it didn’t end then. Following the tracking with such a very tight fleet was addictive! Watching the finish was equally thrilling and here in Halifax, there was a buzz of conversation about the beauty and competitiveness of the race. Watching Warrior Won beat Lucy Georgina by one minute after 47 hours of sailing only served to add to the feeling that this has been a wonderful race with great events at both ends, making for many good memories, new rivalries and friendships.”
Click here for a full list of the prizes and trophies awarded this year.
Photos by John McKoy.