Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race
Encyclopedia
The Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race (MHOR) is a biennial sailing
race which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005. It runs between Marblehead, Massachusetts
and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The race began in 1905 as an informal competition among sailors from the Boston, Eastern, and New York
Yacht Clubs. The race was run sporadically until 1939, when the Boston Yacht Club (BYC) joined with the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron
(RNSYS) to formalize a biennial event. Since that time, the MHOR has run regularly on alternate years from the Newport Bermuda Race, as one of the pre-eminent ocean races of the North Atlantic.
Each race begins in the early afternoon at "Tinkers Gong", just outside Marblehead Harbor. Over 1000 spectator boats observe the 100 racing yachts at the starting line. The 360 nautical mile
(670 km) course runs slightly north of due east leaving Marblehead and sailing past Cape Ann
. By the time they reach the open waters of the Gulf of Maine
, the fleet has separated for the overnight journey. The tremendous tidal
currents in the Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy
system, as well as the ever-present changing weather conditions create a unique tactical challenge for the racing crews.
Land is sighted near Cape Sable Island
after crossing the Gulf of Maine. The fleet then races along the coast of Nova Scotia toward Halifax Harbour
.
The finish line is located offshore from the RNSYS marina at the entrance to the Northwest Arm
.
MHOR is a well-known event in North America's sailing community, usually attracting in excess of 100 boats sailing in 5 different divisions.
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
race which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005. It runs between Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,808 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach...
and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The race began in 1905 as an informal competition among sailors from the Boston, Eastern, and New York
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
Yacht Clubs. The race was run sporadically until 1939, when the Boston Yacht Club (BYC) joined with the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron
Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron
The Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron is a yacht club located on the Northwest Arm of Halifax Harbour in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Primarily a sailing club, the RNSYS also offers instructional programs and on water activities for all ages....
(RNSYS) to formalize a biennial event. Since that time, the MHOR has run regularly on alternate years from the Newport Bermuda Race, as one of the pre-eminent ocean races of the North Atlantic.
Each race begins in the early afternoon at "Tinkers Gong", just outside Marblehead Harbor. Over 1000 spectator boats observe the 100 racing yachts at the starting line. The 360 nautical mile
Nautical mile
The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...
(670 km) course runs slightly north of due east leaving Marblehead and sailing past Cape Ann
Cape Ann
Cape Ann is a rocky cape in northeastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. The cape is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Boston and forms the northern edge of Massachusetts Bay. Cape Ann includes the city of Gloucester, and the towns of Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and...
. By the time they reach the open waters of the Gulf of Maine
Gulf of Maine
The Gulf of Maine is a large gulf of the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of North America.It is delineated by Cape Cod at the eastern tip of Massachusetts in the southwest and Cape Sable at the southern tip of Nova Scotia in the northeast. It includes the entire coastlines of the U.S...
, the fleet has separated for the overnight journey. The tremendous tidal
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
currents in the Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
system, as well as the ever-present changing weather conditions create a unique tactical challenge for the racing crews.
Land is sighted near Cape Sable Island
Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia
Cape Sable Island, locally referred to as Cape Island, is a small Canadian island located at the southernmost point of the Nova Scotia peninsula. Sometimes confused with Sable Island. Historically, the Argyle, Nova Scotia region was known as Cape Sable and encompassed a much larger area than...
after crossing the Gulf of Maine. The fleet then races along the coast of Nova Scotia toward Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
.
The finish line is located offshore from the RNSYS marina at the entrance to the Northwest Arm
Northwest Arm
The Northwest Arm, originally named Sandwich River, is an inlet in eastern Canada off the Atlantic Ocean in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.-Geography:...
.
MHOR is a well-known event in North America's sailing community, usually attracting in excess of 100 boats sailing in 5 different divisions.