When co-Race Directors Anne Coulombe and Richard
Hinterhoeller begin planning for the Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race (MHOR) it
is the start of a two-year project.
“The evening we present the prizes in Halifax we begin
preparations for the next race in 2019,” says Coulombe who represents the
Boston Yacht Club of Marblehead. “We begin talking about what went well and
what could be improved.”
In 2003, Hinterhoeller, who is with the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht
Squadron in Halifax, was looking for a way to pay back the volunteers who’d
enabled him to enjoy the many regattas and offshore races in which he’d
participated over the years. In his words, “I was invited to be Race Director
for Route Halifax Saint-Pierre 2004 and discovered that the challenges of being
Race Director for offshore races was a perfect way for me to repay the efforts
of those prior volunteers.” Hinterhoeller
continued in that role until 2016, after which that race and RNSYS parted
company. He’s enjoyed the challenges of being co-Race Director of the MHOR
since he was asked to fulfill that role in 2007.
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Co-Race Directors Anne Coulombe and Richard Hinterhoeller
Notice of Race for MHOR is
published a year out. The Sailing Instructions are updated and published online
with one month to go. As race day gets closer the co-Race Directors lead the
effort on fleet building. The 2019 fleet of elite vessels is testament to that
effort and the work of the MHOR committee members in Marblehead and Halifax.
Coulombe likes the joint
sponsorship of the event by the BYC and RNSYS. “It Is a
real team effort,” she says. “We give them a great sendoff.” Hinterhoeller
chimes in with “and we give them a
wonderful welcome”
“Richard comes from a boat building background and, as an
engineer, he is most interested in the makeup of the fleet and the regulations
regarding safety aboard the boats. I like managing all the race pieces that go
to into this event. We really complement each other,” she continues.
Coulombe has been involved
in this race since 2005, and has been a Race Director representing the Boston
Yacht Club since 2015. In terms of giving back and enhancing the sailing
community Coulombe had been Event
Chair, Regatta Chair, and Primary Race Officer for local, regional and
international yacht races. From junior sailing through offshore, her favorite
is this race, followed closely by team racing. She has certification as US
Sailing Regional Race Officer.
In addition to MHOR,
Hinterhoeller is Race Officer for several (including occasional world
championship) regattas every year and is chair of the Sail Canada Offshore
Group, which has many contributing members of World Sailing work parties. |