Looking ahead to 2023 - Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race

View Article

« Back	Post Date: Monday, May 30, 2022
Looking ahead to 2023 We are looking forward to being able to run an exemplary event once again next year and are pleased to announce that the race is scheduled to start on July 9, 2023.

We are looking forward to being able to run an exemplary event once again next year and are optimistic that we will be able to do so. The Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race committee is pleased to announce that the race is scheduled to start on July 9, 2023.

Plans for the next edition are under way and in order to improve the chances that the smaller boats can meet the time limit, significant changes have been made. Thanks to the insightful comments that we received from those who responded to our last survey, the committee has decided:

Start

The starting sequence will have the slower-rated boats start first, thereby giving them one to two hours of added time to complete the course (all boats will sail the same course). In some cases some time will be added between starts so as to reduce the chance of faster boats overtaking slower boats until they’ve cleared the triangle component after the start.

Finish

The finishing line will return to its historic location of HB at the harbour entrance. Not only does this reduce the elapsed time required to sail the course, but it reduces interference between racing boats and commercial vessels.

Brazil Rock Gate

as a Hail Mary move for boats who cannot meet the time limit at the finishing line, crossing times will be taken at Brazil Rock and these will be used to assign a finishing position. Boats who sail the course and finish will be assigned the first group of positions, and any subsequent positions will be available for assignment based upon the Brazil Rock Gate crossing times.