North 360 km from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Frances last remaining hold in the Americas, the small islands of St. Pierre et Miquelon. This imaginative biennial race just completed its 4th edition.
As one of the veteran Bermuda and Marblehead-Halifax Race competitors remarked, this is a race like no other, you feel and are treated like a rock star. True, in Halifax and on the archipelagoes, the sailors undoubtedly come first. The cruising division started out a day before the IRC and PHRF spinnaker classes. The cruisers got a brilliant sunshine start and a 25+ knot ideal SW push up the coast, unlike the following classes that had trouble seeing both ends of the start-line because of fog and rain. The fleets finished in record times with a few more mishaps than just the usual seasickness.
Two boats had crew members slip over the side, and were quickly pulled back on board. A painful kidney stone made an untimely appearance and some cracked ribs had to be attended to on the island.
Most yachts chose to stay close to the rhumb line, reaching and running in steady 16+ knots. The confused seas challenged each helmsman’s skills, particularly at night. Spinnaker halyards were worn thin and a few spinnakers did not make it to the end. Fog kept its strangle hold on the boats throughout the race. The base of the Islands held a no-wind trap that most of the competitors frustratingly fell into.
No, this could not be described as an easy race. But the welcome ashore quickly made up for all that. The organizers set up a welcome Cafe right on the dock that served the best of French delicacies accompanied by local musical talent. The traditional crew parade through the town to present the Mayor with a Canadian maple tree was the best ever. Crews were in raucous form and a cannon cleared the island of its bird population. I have never heard a prize presentation described as fun but this one certainly was.
Dinner was served throughout the presentations and a cheeky drum roll accompanied the winners up to the podium. Crews spontaneously created their own model boat competition out of the table decorations and what came to hand. A new trophy for the most valuable crew member brought great cheers as crews supported their entrants. By the end of the evening the crowd was horse and crews were all mixed together telling their tall tails. Thank you, to the organizers, RHSP Assoc. of NS. & St Pierre, the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, St. Pierre, the sponsors and all that contributed. Roll on 2010!
Great “Note” by Anne Acland and I picked up on the Hoarse and Tales. I have put together a calendar with photos from this years event and would like to forward one to Anne if I can be provided with her mailing address.