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".

Route Halifax Saint-Pierre 2016 Notice of Race Now Posted!

Race Director Richard Hinterhoeller has now posted the Notice of Race for the 2016 edition of Route Halifax Saint-Pierre.  Click here to get the PDF document.

The 360 nautical mile race will start in Halifax harbour at 1300 on Sunday, July 10th.  The time limit to finish the race is 0900 on Thursday, July 14th.  Prize giving ceremonies will take place later that day in Saint-Pierre.

RNSYS Race chair George Chisholm and vice-chair James Luther have started planning meetings in Halifax. RHSP 2016 is a joint project of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron and the Yacht Club de Saint-Pierre.

Time to celebrate!

The ocean race is over now but the fun is just beginning. First of all, celebrations were in order for many crews as they arrived in Saint-Pierre. After all, finishing a 353 nm mile ocean race, no matter what your final place in the fleet, is an achievement.
The Volvo 60, Spirit of Adventure, wins line honours for crossing to Saint-Pierre the fastest of any boat in the fleet - 37:52:31.

The rest of the results are all calculated by using handicap systems.
Ciao Baby!, an Archambault 31 owned and skippered by race originator Philippe Paturel of Saint-Pierre comes out top in the IRC class.  While there were just two competitors in the non-spinnaker class this year, the winner is worth mentioning.  It's Race Chair Scott MacLeod with his Oceanis 40 Easy Company.

A Mini - a Nacira 6.50, Shanawdithit owned and skippered by Rodolphe Victorri also of Saint-Pierre is the overall PHRF and the PHR-1 class winner, as well as top double-handed crew.  Victorri sailed the distance in 44 hours and 7 minutes.
And Sea Smoke, the Bavaria 38 from the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron owned and skippered by Mike Evans takes the PHR-2 class honours.

Line honours to Spirit of Adventure!

The big Volvo 60 Spirit of Adventure crossed the finish line in St. Pierre overnight with an elapsed time of 37:52:31.  And then Sirius made it through the fog to arrive after 39:14:17 hours of sailing, the first double-handed crew to arrive.  Chantal Briand in Saint-Pierre sent us these pictures from the welcome:

Spirit of Adventure crew celebrates

Skipper Derek Hatfield at the helm

Stephane Bry and crew celebrate the finish

Sirius arrives in Saint-Pierre in the fog