MARBLEHEAD — It's time to go down to the sea in yachts.
The biannual Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race began in the 1930s, during the Great Depression. Economic hardship didn't stop determined sailors then, and it won't stop them now. More than 100 sailing yachts of all descriptions will be launched from Marblehead tomorrow.
Some are great, sleek boats spanning 135 feet with crews of up to 20 people, and some are little more than 30 feet, getting by with two sailors, according to Boston Yacht Club vice-commodore Charlie Garrard. They include mono-hulls and catamarans.
Canadian siblings Hugh and Melanie Goodday, along with friend Jon Underwood, will be aboard dad's boat, Akubra, as part of a crew of 10. The recession has hit the Maritimes and Canada just as it's hit New England, they concede. Worse, the exchange rate for Canadian dollars has become increasingly prohibitive. The Yankee dollars buys roughly $1.20 Canadian.
That won't stop real sailors. As many as 30 boats are sporting the Maple Leaf, according to the sponsoring Boston Yacht Club's Mike Mentuck.
"For some people it's a passion," explained Melanie as she sat out the rain on Wednesday at the club. "We feel very fortunate to be able to race."
"For a lot of people," nodded Hugh, "the last thing you'd eliminate would be coming to Marblehead to race."
The trio has raced before, and visiting Marblehead is part of the fun. "Maddie's (Sail Loft) always throws a great party." Hugh laughed, "We've spent a lot of money here."
Once the cannon goes off, noted Mentuck, "They're all very serious about it. ... The drinking stops. You have to pay attention to sail well."
Just as a cannon blast starts the race, a cannon blast welcomes the first boat to cross the finish line at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. Finishers will begin to come in on Monday evening after their Sunday start, having crossed the open sea.
Time to break a record?
Garrard is hoping to see a little history made. Amazingly, given giant advances in boating technology, the best time for the race, almost precisely 331âÑ2 hours set by Bruce Eisner's Starlight Express, has stood for 20 years. Eisner did it by catching the front end of a storm.
Marbleheader Larry Rosenfeld, a software consultant, has been on winning boats twice starting in 1979. He expects a foggy voyage this year, but has few concerns. Modern equipment, including radar and transponders, help sailors "see" in the mist and darkness.
He will be aboard the Black Watch, a rebuilt 1938 vessel sailing out of Newport. "She's beautifully restored," he said. "My job is to figure out what the weather is going to be and what course we should steer." The task is complicated by the fact that weather predictions are frequently wrong.
Far fewer Marbleheaders are participating in the race this year, and the boats are smaller, said Rosenfeld, perhaps a concession to the economy. Though he's sailed around the world, he makes it clear that this race is powerfully attractive.
"They make us feel really welcomed when we get to the other side. Sometimes when it's clear, when the weather's been great, you can see the whole coast of Nova Scotia." At other times, by happy necessity, he's had to duck temporarily into the province's post-card beautiful inlets and bays.
Then, there's no substitute for victory. Any boat can win. Small boats are given extra time to compensate for their size.
"It's always a thrill to finish first," Rosenfeld said.
And sometimes the winning captain can expect to get tossed into chilly Halifax Harbor.
Want to watch?
If you're hoping to watch the start of the race, it begins at 1 p.m. tomorrow. Viewing is difficult from land; the likeliest spot is Chandler Hovey Park, but bring binoculars. The Yacht Club also has a spectators' boat, which is open to anyone, but seating is limited and must be reserved in advance. Call the yacht club for more information.
