Boston Yacht Club announces the Mentuck Memorial Ocean Race

The 2021 Michael A. Mentuck Memorial Ocean Race will deliver 253 nautical miles of offshore racing that will unfurl south of the Canadian border © Mentuck Memorial Race

Early entries for the first annual Michael A. Mentuck Memorial Ocean Race organized by the Boston Yacht Club indicate an impressive lineup of boats from up and down the East Coast. The race starts Thursday, July 8th off Children's Island in Marblehead, MA.

"It's a nice mix of local and out-of-town boats", commented Karen Tenenbaum, Boston YC Race Director.

"One of the first to sign up was Jud Smith, two-time Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, perhaps better known for his one-design victories- like becoming the 2018 J/70 World Champion that took place in his hometown of Marblehead, MA.

Round the world yacht racer Rich Wilson has endorsed the event. "I am excited to hear about the introduction of a substantive new offshore sailing race," he said. "It will provide additional opportunities for young people to learn fundamental offshore seamanship." Wilson is a veteran of two Vendee Globe solo non-stop round the world races. He lives in Marblehead and is an honorary member of the Boston YC.

The race will be run this year instead of the traditional Marblehead to Halifax Race which was canceled due to Covid-19 restrictions in the U.S. and Canada. It is being named for Michael A. Mentuck, a past Commodore of the Boston Yacht Club and honorary member of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. The plan is to run the regatta every other year opposite the Marblehead to Halifax Race.

The course is 253 miles and simply runs up the coastline from Marblehead, MA to Matinicus Rock, ME, and return. With a fleet of twenty boats signed up already, registration continues. So far, three J/Crews have signed up, including Jeff Eberle's J/130 Cilista, John Plominski's J/40 Artemisia, and Fred Biebesheimer & Ed Wolfe's J/34C Acadia.

More Michael A. Mentuck Memorial Ocean Race sailing information here...