Competitors prepare for 2013 Marblehead to Halifax under sunny skies
by Fletcher Boland on 7 Jul 2013
Pandora enters the harbor - Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race Fletcher Boland
Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race racers are pouring into Marblehead harbor in advance of the start Sunday, July seventh, beginning at one p.m. Conditions at the moment look light for the start, but there is the chance of a front squeezing down from the north onto the course to bring more substantial breeze. It has been in the 90’s for the last few days as competitors enjoyed the fourth of July festivities and fireworks.
Live coverage from the start is planned weather conditions permitting. As not to interfere with any racing, live coverage may not be available for all class starts. Our team will be on site at the start and finish bringing you updates as much as possible.
Updates will be available on the Marblehead to Halifax Race website in addition to Twitter andFacebook. The Yellowbrick race tracker can also be used to follow the yachts progress online.
The racing fleet will include Ticonderoga, the classic 85-foot L. Francis Herreshoff designed ketch; Summerwind, an 85-foot schooner skippered by Jim Grundy, who set a new record at Halifax two years ago; Rambler, the 90-footer that was first to finish in 2009; and Kiwi Spirit, a 63-foot Farr-designed round-the-world racer based in Dover, U.K. The IRC-1 fleet also includes high performance boats Donnybrook at 80’, and 50 footers Privateer, Snow Lion and Temptation.
Several boats and crews in the race this year are capable of breaking the record set in 2011, but it’s all very dependent on the weather, with the record of 30 hours, 46 minutes and 52 seconds set by Grundy in his Bella PITA in the last Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race.
