Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo M75

2025 Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race Start

by Vicki Staveacre 6 Jul 14:49 PDT July 6, 2025
2025 Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race © Lexi Pline Photography

The 2025 Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race got under way yesterday with perfect sailing conditions and a steady south-westerly breeze- a welcome contrast to the wet and wild weather of 2023.

With 45 boats on the line and five starts throughout the day, the harbor was alive with energy, excitement, and the vibrant colors of spinnakers unfurling as boats turned toward Halifax. From seasoned offshore veterans to family crews and youth teams, this years fleet represents a beautiful mix of experience, spirit, and competition.

Watch the start video:

Highlights from the starting line:

  • The first start featured our cruising classes (PHRF Cruising and Cruising Spinnaker)- a beautiful mix of classic and modern yachts. Notables include Legacy 5, an Alden 54 ketch; Stormy Weather, a Swan 44; and Arian, a double- handed Bermuda 40 bravely taking on the 361-mile course with just two crew aboard.

  • The PHRF Racing class was second off the line, led by veteran racer William Greenwood aboard Airborne 4. Good Friday, a C&C 32, is this year's smallest boat- proof that big races aren't just for big boats.

  • The ORR4 and ORR3 fleets brought tight competition, with neck- and- neck starts and even a bit of drama. Extra Mile got squeezed out at the line by Blitzen, but quickly regrouped- there's still plenty of race to recover. Zigzag, Orion, and Rampage are just a few of the speedsters to watch in this division.

  • The ORR2 class brought high performance and high spirit. Highlights include Crazy Horse, a youth offshore team out of New Bedford, and the always competitive Oakcliff Blue and Overdraft. With multiple Class 40s in the mix, this fleet will be flying if the breeze holds.

  • The final start of the day- ORR1- delivered fireworks. Massive boats like Temptation (JV66 with 20 crew, including Dawn Riley and Gary Jobson), Wahoo (US Naval Academy's entry), and Redwood (Oakcliff's Ker 50) Showed just how tight and tactical offshore starts can be. With just inches between hulls, the battle for clean air was real.

As boats rounded the second mark off Marblehead Neck and hoisted their kites, the race officially transitioned from inshore action to offshore challenge. The fleet is now making its way east toward Nova Scotia, reaching in 15-20 knots of breeze- a fast, fun ride for most.

Track the fleet here

What's ahead:

The wind is forecasted to hold for the first 48 hours, making for quick early miles. But by midweek, a developing low could slow the back of the fleet with light and shifty conditions near Cape Sable. Tides and tactics will matter as boats approach the finish.

We're tracking every boat on the course and will be back with updates as the race unfolds. In the meantime, you can follow along here.

Related Articles

Ted Gersen joins Palm Beach Motor Yachts
Expanding Newport, Rhode Island presence with Industry Sales Veteran Continuing its expansion and focus on customer experience, Palm Beach Motor Yachts is excited to announce that yacht sales professional Ted Gersen has joined the company's Newport, Rhode Island team. Posted on 29 Jul
Antares 12 Coupe: a cruiser for all seasons
Asserting its position as a versatile family cruiser Faithful to the Antares line, the Antares 12 Coupe asserts its position as a versatile family cruiser, designed to accompany you on long passages, across all latitudes. Posted on 29 Jul
Airship | Funter Bay to Flynn Cove
Lots of fishing boats out today, as well as a few Dall's porpoises who surfed our bow for a bit We leisured late this morning in Funter Bay and didn't leave until after 11am. Another gorgeous, sunny day! We watched the F1 race and then pulled our anchor and headed out into the mostly glassy Icy Strait toward Flynn Cove. Posted on 29 Jul
Airship | Juneau to Funter Bay
We'll be buddy boating a bit over the next week or more with Dave on Turnagain We'll be buddy boating a bit over the next week or more with Dave on Turnagain, now joined by his brother Kyle. Posted on 28 Jul
Debut of the Picnic Boat 39
A new icon joins the fleet We invented the Picnic Boat. And we've never stopped perfecting it. The new Hinckley Picnic Boat 39 is a masterpiece of timeless design and modern ingenuity. Posted on 27 Jul
Prestige F4.3 - a new model for Cannes
A unique entry into the world of high-end yachting Experience the elegance and refinement of the new generation of the F-Line aboard the PRESTIGE F4.3. The quality of materials, fit and finish, interior and exterior design, functionality. Posted on 25 Jul
Four Winns debuts TH33 and TH38 power catamarans
Engineered to transform boating experiences into refined escapes Engineered to transform boating experiences into refined escapes, the new Four Winns TH33 and TH38 set a new standard for power catamarans of its size as the latest addition to its TH (Twin Hull) Series, launched in 2023. Posted on 24 Jul
Helping boaters steer clear of common mistakes
Veteran Sea Tow® captains share their tips Boating season is already in full throttle, and Sea Tow®, recognized throughout the marine industry as Your Road Service at Sea®, is proud to offer boating tips to avoid some of the most common mistakes seen on the water. Posted on 24 Jul
Airship | Ford's Terror to Wood Spit
We slept in again this morning at Ford's Terror We slept in again this morning at Ford's Terror, and then Taylor made a super yum breakfast taco bar...scrambled eggs, hash browns, Jerry's double-smoked bacon, tomatillo cream sauce, etc.... Posted on 24 Jul
Harris Boats unveils new Sunliner & Sunliner Sport
A bold evolution in Pontoon design Harris Boats, a leader in luxury pontoon craftsmanship and a Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) brand, has announced the launch of the completely redesigned Sunliner and the debut of the dynamic Sunliner Sport. Posted on 23 Jul
Palm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo M50