2008 SUCCESSFUL !!!

The 2008 Edition of Route Halifax Saint Pierre was a great success. Planning is now underway for the 2010 Edition. Your new committee will be following up with periodic newsletters, along with a questionnaire addressed to all participants. As chairman of the 2008 edition, I would appreciate you taking the time from your busy schedule to help us plan the 2010 event.

In a recap, our white sail fleet had a great sunny start with wind. Our spinnaker fleets, starting the next day, weren’t quite so lucky with the sun. However all fleets had lots of wind for the duration of the race, breaking all previous records.

The Bluenose 11 was a huge bonus this year for both participants of the race and residents of Saint Pierre. The Bluenose is such a majestic site in any harbour, she and her crew are a real credit to the Province of Nova Scotia and represent our province in a very positive and professional manner. Thanks to Capt. Wayne Walters and Capt. Phil Watson for making her visit a reality.

As Chairman of this year’s race management committee, I would like to thank all the owners and their crews for participating, all the volunteers in both Halifax and Saint Pierre for making it all happen and to our sponsors for their financial help and support which is critical.

Participants + Volunteers + Sponsors = 100% Successful Event

RULES

Competitors are expected to follow the true Corinthian spirit of our sport and avoid indiscretions. However, should an indiscretion occur:

The race will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing. No national authority prescriptions will apply.

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

All further sailing instructions will be verbal and ad-libbed at the captainís meeting, which will occur at some time.

If further guidance is needed, the rules for the Grand Prix <<AGF>> de Saint-Pierre, which will be distributed tomorrow after protest time for this race, will apply.

RACING AREA

Somewhere in the Northwest Atlantic

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

Competitors participate in this event entirely at their own risk. See RRS 4, Decision to Race. The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during or after the event. Participation in this event shall be considered agreement to these terms.

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!