Parade of Sailors

The television station in Saint-Pierre, France 1, covered the Parade of Sailors this year.  You can view the story by clicking through to see the video on this page.

Trophy Winners - Route Halifax Saint-Pierre 2016

Guests of Halifax and Saint-Pierre Trophy:
For boats registered as sailing from clubs other than in Saint-Pierre or in the Halifax Region

Grey Ghost – Philip Parish                 

Founders' Trophy - for teams of two boats

Easy Dora	Easy Company
	Pandora

Binnacle Trophy
For boats who also raced in the Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race 2015

CAN 189

Saraphie

Armed Services Trophy
For a boat where half or more of the crew consists of members of any armed services

Grey Ghost

Philip Parish

CCA/ TAYC

Prize for boats racing with a crew of 2

Spirit

Manuel Hontoria; Tim Harris

Hal Davies Memorial Trophy (2012)
For boats who's owner is racing Route Halifax Saint-Pierre for the first time

Pandora - Peter Bromley   RNSYS

Guests of Halifax and Saint-Pierre Trophy
For boats registered as sailing from clubs other than in Saint-Pierre or in the Halifax Region

Grey Ghost

Philip Parish

Trophée SPM 1ère: For boats registered as sailing from Saint-Pierre Celebrations • 1816-2016
Halifax Trophy For boats registered as sailing from clubs in the Halifax region Easy Company Scott MacLeod

Route Halifax Saint-Pierre 2016 Fleet Finishes Ocean Race

The ten boats that finished Route Halifax Saint-Pierre 2016 are all in port in Saint-Pierre now.  The final group crossed the finish line early this morning.  The detailed results are now posted on the results page at Yachtscoring.  You can click through for a look here.

In the Ocean Class, Esprit de Corps II (Équipe ATLAS) under Skipper Georges Leblanc captured first place as well as line honours for the Race. Easy Company, an Oceanis 40 skippered by RNSYS member Scott MacLeod held on to a lead through much of the race to capture the spot as overall PHR winner.  And Grey Ghost, a Zeal 38 owned by Philip Parish of Galena, Maryland, USA is the PHR-1 class winner by just 25 minutes corrected time over the nearest competitor, Sea Smoke.

Final results and trophy winners will be announced at the prize ceremony to be held this evening (Wednesday) at the Cafe de la Route in Saint-Pierre.  Inshore racing takes place in the Allianz Grand Prix on Thursday with a prize ceremony later in the day.

Esprit de Corps II skipper Georges Leblanc at the helm.

Grey Ghost at the RNSYS prior to the race.

Easy Company crew at Skipper's Meeting.

Veteran Quebec Skipper Takes Line Honours and First in Class in RHSP 2016

Georges Leblanc, skipper of Esprit de Corps II put on a push on Tuesday morning and slipped by two other VOR 60 competitors to cross the finish line first in Route Halifax Saint-Pierre 2016. Leblanc is part of Team Atlas, a Quebec based group that uses two ocean sailing racing boats to teach leadership skills to business executives.  His experience includes numerous ocean races including Transatlantic campaigns.

Esprit de Corps III, skippered by Gilles Barbot of Montreal had been leading the race since Monday afternoon when Leblanc overtook, close to Saint-Pierre.

Easy Company, skippered by past race chair Scott MacLeod from the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron was overall leader in the PHRF classes.  Easy Company was about 75 nm from the finish line when Esprit de Corps crossed.  

Thirteen boats crossed the start line in Halifax harbour on Sunday at noon.  Three have since retired. "Saint Pierre et Miquelon" was dismasted near McNab's Island due to the failure of the vessel's port chain plate and was towed to RNSYS.  Wabi and Illusion both retired from the event on Sunday.

Inshore racing and many social events await the fleet in Saint-Pierre, which will mark France's National Day - Bastille Day on Thursday, July 14.  Saint Pierre et Miquelon is also celebrating 200 years of French rule this year, since the Islands were given to France by the Treaty of Paris in 1816.

Line Honors on the Line This Morning

As of 0600 Tuesday, Esprit de Corps III skippered by Gilles Barbot from Quebec is still leading the fleet and is expected to cross the finish line in St. Pierre sometime later this morning. Easy Company skippered by Scott MacLeod of the Royal NS Yacht Squadron is leading the PHRF racing class.

New Race Leader - 1900 Monday

As of 1900 Monday, Esprit de Corps III has taken over the lead position in the race. The Quebec boat is showing a strong increase in boat speed to approx. 10.0 kts as the fleet sets out in the Gulf for the push to St. Pierre. Celebrations*1816-2016 is in 2nd place, about 6 nm behind, still in the hunt for line honors. Grey Ghost leads PHR-1 and Easy Company is at the head of the non-spinnaker class.

Two Boats Out of Race

Two boats have already left the race. 

The Nacira 6.50 "St. Pierre et Miquelon" owned by Rodolphe Victorri of Saint-Pierre was dismasted close to McNab's Island as the fleet left the harbour. The chain plate holding the port side forestay failed. The Race Committee answered the call for help as well as an inshore rescue boat. Both Rodolphe and his daughter were unharmed. But they had to cut down what remained of the mast. They were towed back to RNSYS where they are securing the boat and assessing the damage. 

The other boat that is out of the competition is Rich Morrow's Wabi. The skipper has told the Race Director Wabi is retiring from the event..

Racers are on course to Saint-Pierre

Thirteen entries left Halifax harbour heading for Saint-Pierre in three separate classes at noon today.  PHN 1, PHR 1 and the Ocean class are now all on their way, disappearing in fog and drizzle as they left Halifax harbour.

        

Skippers' meeting provides weather and traffic details

Skippers and crew members gathered for a race meeting on Saturday at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.  The participants are from the United States, Quebec, Nova Scotia and France. The Race co-chair for RNSYS is past-commodore, George Chisholm, who kicked off the discussion.

Meteorologist Jim Abraham briefed the sailors on the weather they can expect.  He says crews
will face the worst conditions of the race on Sunday night into Monday morning when there will be rain and a North wind.  Wind speeds are forecast to be 15-20 kts.  But the sun should come out on Monday and the wind is expected to move to a more favourable position for sailing into Saint-Pierre.

Race Director Richard Hinterhoeller is working with the crews to make sure they avoid traffic in the busy commercial shipping lanes off Nova Scotia, while still finding the fastest route to Saint-Pierre.

It's Race Weekend in Halifax!

Competitors are arriving and the countdown is on to the start on Sunday.  Check-ins are underway at the Commodore's Room at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. 

An important change was made in the Notice of Race earlier this week.  The start will be at 12 Noon on Sunday (not 13:00) off the Museum of the Atlantic dock on the Halifax waterfront.

Make plans to attend RHSP 2016 social events in Halifax.

Join RNSYS members for hors d'oeuvre night on Friday at the clubhouse starting at 6 pm, sponsored by the Race Committee. Then on Saturday night, The Action Figures provide live music on the Clubhouse patio, also starting at 6 pm for the RHSP 2016 Crew Party.

July	9	Saturday	1200	RHSP Skipper's Meeting RNSYS Tent
			1600	RHSP VIP Reception (by invite only) RNSYS Tent
			1800	RHSP Crew Party featuring music by The Action Figures RNSYS Tent

NOW OPEN: Registration for RHSP 2016

Time to commit to this summer's Route Halifax Saint-Pierre! Registration is open on Yachtscoring and you can get to the right place by clicking here.   If you start planning now, gathering a crew and the logistics will be so much easier.

This race can be the keystone to a great summer adventure for all concerned. You'll be racing from Halifax on July 6th with a group of like-minded sailors.  But you can also consider adding to your adventure.  What about a short cruise along the south coast of Newfoundland or stopping in the Bras D'Or Lakes on the way back to the Maritimes.

Here is the link once again to get you to Yachtscoring for registration:  Click Here.

Past race chair Scott MacLeod is already registered to compete with his Oceanis 40 "Easy Company".