Prizes awarded in record-breaking Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race
July 25, 2017
Halifax, July 13, 2017.
Fair winds and following seas were the winning combinations that made the 2017 Steele Auto Group Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race one for the record books.
A fleet of 73 vessels competed in the 363 nautical mile ocean race, and on Thursday, a colourful ceremony at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron (RNSYS) wrapped up the race activities with the presentation of numerous historic trophies.
A long list of prizes were awarded topped by the record-breaking participation of Prospector, the Mills 68 from the Shelter Island Yacht Club in New York. 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. Prospector’s record time is 28 hours, 28 minutes and 50 seconds, breaking the previous record by more than two hours.
“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 Actea, 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 seconds 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 II, 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 equaling 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.”
The camaraderie and charming competition between Canadian and American sailors is unrivalled when it comes to the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race. Both host clubs, the Boston Yacht Club and Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron share a deep appreciation for sailors who continue to support this prestigious race.
The Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race is held every second year, co-sponsored by the Boston Yacht Club and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.
For more information:
Mikela Sani
Communications Manager, RNSYS
902-477-5653 Ext 100
