The Boston Globe ran an article titled “Invitation Ocean Race Marblehead, U.S.A – Halifax, N.S.”[4][5] The regatta committee of the Eastern yacht club announces that the club is arranging for an ocean race from Marblehead to Halifax, to be sailed in August.This is the first international ocean race to be sailed between a port In the United States and one in the provinces, and much good to yachting may be expected from it.The promotion of such a race is in keeping with a policy adopted by the club last year, to actively encourage sailing on deep water.A consideration bearing on the selection of Halifax as the termination of the course, was a desire to establish more neighborly relations with our cousins across the gulf of Maine.The start on the morning of Aug 21 is timed to find most of the large vessels of the New York yacht club, that will have made the cruise of that club, still at Marblehead, where they will have arrived on the afternoon of the 17th, if on time.

The annual regatta of the Eastern club will have been sailed on the 19th, Saturday, and on Monday, the 21st, there should be the largest fleet of the year in Marblehead harbor.Refreshed by a day of rest on Sunday, their crews should be eager to start on such a splendid summer sea turn as from Boston bay to Halifax, with the anticipation of a royal welcome from our provincial cousins at the end of the race.The owners of the leading schooners, single-masted vessels and yawls in the New York yacht club have been invited to participate in the race.

[3] In the 1939 race, thirteen yachts started and saw light-to-moderate winds and fog conditions that proved challenging for the racers.

[9] The 363 nautical miles (672 km) course runs slightly north of due east leaving Marblehead and sailing past Cape Ann.

The tremendous tidal currents in the Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy system, as well as the ever-present changing weather conditions create a unique tactical challenge for the racing crews.

They took more than two hours off the 2011 record set by Bella PITA (Bill Tripp design 75 foot (23 m), skippered by Jim Grundy).