Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race: Temptation takes line honours in record time!

by Vicki Staveacre 9 Jul 01:45 BST From July 7, 2025

The 2025 Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race launched under blue skies and a steady southwesterly breeze—an ideal start that stood in sharp contrast to the wild weather of 2023. With 45 boats on the line and five adrenaline-filled starts, Marblehead Harbor buzzed with color, energy, and anticipation.

From classic ketches to carbon-fiber rockets, this year's fleet showcased a thrilling mix of seasoned veterans, family teams, youth sailors, and international competitors. And it didn't take long for the drama to unfold.

Line Honours & Record broken

Temptation/Oakcliff (USA 119) blazed across the finish line at 18:52 ADT on July 7, smashing the previous course record by 45 minutes and 94 seconds. With a crack crew of 19—including legends like Dawn Riley and Gary Jobson—they sailed a flawless race, leveraging sustained winds of 21-27 knots in the early stages.

"We wanted to get here first—and we achieved that goal." - Gary Jobson

"Calling the lay line from five miles out—that was the highlight." - Navigator Hugh

Top Finishers (Elapsed Time)

• 1st: Temptation/Oakcliff - 388 NM sailed, VMG 10.9 knots
• 2nd: Boudicca - Gill Race Team - just 27 minutes behind
• 3rd: Scowling Dragon - impressive distance sailed, but paid a routing price
• 4th: Dream Crusher - one of the fastest boats on course with a blistering 10.5 VMG
• 5th: Privateer - held pace into the final hours

Breakout Performances:

• Overdraft X - clocked the highest VMG of the entire fleet (15.6 knots!) on July 7, storming through the back half of the fleet overnight.
• Black Watch & Orion - mid-fleet boats posting front-runner speeds.
• Blitzen - forced to retire due to water ingress; all crew safe and motoring home.

Still Racing: 9 Boats on the Course

As of this update, nine boats are still making their final push toward Halifax, sailing through lighter winds and humid conditions. With shifting tides and variable breeze near the finish, every tactical call will count in these final miles. Among them: Sassafras, Esplanade, Legacy V, Good Friday, and Arion—whose two-person crew continues to impress in this offshore challenge.

What's Next?

Corrected time results are still shaking out, with some razor-thin deltas expected. Watch Dream Crusher, Redwood, Privateer, and the Oakcliff Farr 40 for late shifts on the leaderboard.

Follow the final finishes and get real-time updates.

Fair wind and following seas to those still racing. Congratulations to all finishers- and to every sailor who made this an unforgettable 2025 edition of the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race.

Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race tracking available here.