Something New

 Halifax harbour is noted for its variety of activity from cargo to cruise, container to breakbulk, Naval to Coast Guard, bulk to tanker, research to pleasure and so-called "tall ships" from time to time. This week however marks the start of a different waterborne activity - international sail racing.

While the local yacht clubs have formal sail races in the harbour including Bedford Basin, high end "Sail GP" scale racing is something new for Halifax. The 50 foot high speed catamarans, representing several nationalities will be carrying out exercises then racing in the main harbour over the next several days. Normal harbour activity, including commercial and ferry activity will be curtailed during race times and spectator craft will be confined to specific zones.

The setting up of the boats and their maintenance and support facilities are located in Dartmouth on the site of the former Dartmouth Marine Slips, now partially infilled for the Kings Wharf high rise residential development.

Throngs of spectators are expected on the Halifax and Dartmouth shores to view the races - which will be north of George's Island in the widest area of the main harbour. Shipfax may not be able to reach those areas easily and so coverage of the racing and "action photos" may be left to others. Instead I offer the same technology (lift foil) but in the mono hull variation...

 

Just for the record, high speed hydroplane unlimited power boat racing did take place in Halifax harbour in 1989, but has been largely forgotten now - they were highly disruptive too. 

The international schooner races in the 1920s and 1930s also took place alternately off Halifax for the International Fisherman's Cup with the original Bluenose defeating American rivals from Gloucester.

The rebuilt replica, Bluenose II is in Halifax this week as part of the race-related festivities.

The most noteworthy high speed craft in Halifax however must be HMCS Bras d'Or HFE 400, the experimental hydrofoil ship that was based in Halifax and conducted operations in the harbour approaches and at sea, not in the main harbour, in the late 1960s. It has been preserved by Musée maritime du Quebec, Captain J.E.Bernier in l'islet, QC.

Its memorable departures as its turbine wound up and the ship lifted to its foils off Point Pleasant Park are etched in many sensory memory banks, but regretably not in my photos.

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