Canadian winner of Marblehead to Halifax returns to race again

Will Apold - 2024 Newport to Bermuda Race © Stephen R Cloutier

With just ten weeks to go before the start of this year's Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race (MHOR) a total of 53 boats are signed up to compete in the event, co-sponsored by the Boston Yacht Club and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.

The 40th biennial race will leave Marblehead Harbor on Sunday, July 6, continuing a proud tradition that began in 1905.

"It's building into a really exciting diverse fleet, said BYC Vice Commodore and MHOR co-chair Kate Ferris Richardson, "with boats coming from all over the USA and Canada. We're planning an unforgettable regatta experience with a number of onshore activities. Combined with Independence Day celebrations in historic downtown Marblehead, we believe that this race send off will give visitors a real feel for the town's unique character".

One of the thirteen Canadian entries is veteran Marblehead to Halifax competitor, Will Apold from Mahone Bay in Nova Scotia, who first competed in the race in 1995 on LadyHawke, a C&C 37.

Apold has the distinction of being the only Canadian to ever win the race, which he did in 2011 on Valkyrie, a 78ft Swan. He recruited an all-Nova Scotian crew for Valkyrie which made for a special thrill during the race to the finish line in Halifax harbor when the vessel was clocking as high as 23.9 kts. "The spinnaker was up and everyone was on the rail. We were flying to McNab's Island in the dark, blinded to some extent by the lights of Halifax - it was pretty exciting!" he said.

This year Apold will be competing on Dragon Fire, a 33 ft J99 bought last year to compete in the Newport to Bermuda race. The idea began over a drink with his daughter Christine who had raced with him many times and said "Dad, we should do another race." As Apold is now 77 they decided on the Newport to Bermuda. "We needed a boat, so I selected the J99, a good ocean race boat designed to the Offshore Special Regulations for offshore racing safety," he said.

According to J Boat magazine the race had a huge 99-boat St David's Lighthouse division for amateur teams and there were 35 Jboats. The second division had four J crews entered and in a remarkable inaugural race on a brand new (barely five days old) J/99 Will Apold's team on Dragon Fire took the silver medal, the best placed Canadian and best placed international entry.

Apold returned to compete in the 2015 MHOR, in a Class 40 Dragon Glass/Oakcliff chartered from Oakcliff Sailing in Oyster Bay, New York. It was his first time racing as a double handed crew with Dave Flynn, a sailing friend from Anapolis and they came in middle of the pack.

While Apold has a long racing record including Caribbean races, several trans-Atlantic events and many in Europe, MHOR is one of his favourites. "I like the fact that you are racing home. That makes it quite special with family and friends waiting for us. You don't get that support when you are racing from one unfamiliar port to another" he said.

In fact this year he is taking the family with him, as four of the five crew on Dragon Fire will be Apolds. Will, his daughter Christine, his son Robb, who is coming out of retirement to do the race, and his grandson Liam.

Skippers who require moorings in either Marblehead or Halifax should check the moorage section on the website: Moorage - Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race.