Marion Bermuda Race Sets Sail This Summer

All hands on deck! The 24th Marion Bermuda Race is quickly approaching.

Before you know it, the local waters will be packed with boats enjoying a day on the ocean. The race is slated for Friday, June 20.

"It's a race from Marion, Massachusetts to Bermuda for sailboats over 32 feet in length and it's usually between three to five days of sailing depending on the boat," Marketing Coordinator Lisa McCurdy said.

The Marion Bermuda Race began in 1977 and welcomes families, friends, long-time mariners and novice sailors of all ages.

Race Details

Here on the SouthCoast, sailing culture is strong and for locals looking to take their love to the next level, consider this local competition with a tropical finish line.

"There's two ways that we score the race. One is line honors which is whoever crosses the line in order like a road race or marathon," McCurdy said.

The second is with a calculation to make for a more even playing field, taking into account the boat's rating and the time in which they finished, similar to a golf handicap.

"I would say around 50 percent are from the Buzzard Bay area," McCurdy said. There are even some sailors who hail from Bermuda and race the course home.

The Boats Vary in Size and So Do the Crews

"Some boats will race it double-handed, so with two people, that's it," McCurdy said. "I would say the average crew size is between five and seven people, but for the larger boats that we get it can be 10 up into the teens."

Occasionally, a tall ship will enter and could see 25 workers on board.

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The competition is serious, but the camaraderie and love of the water is what makes this race and its participants stand out.

Award Ceremony

Awards recognize a variety of achievements including the person who did the most cooking on the last boat to finish, best overall time, fastest time for a boat using no technology for navigation, best finishing time by an all-female crew and plenty more.

"There's a lot of history with these trophies," McCurdy said.

She has completed the race three times over the years and appreciates the time spent working alongside her father and taking in the scenery.

"There's this really amazing moment right before the sun rises when you're out at sea, so there's nothing on the horizon," McCurdy said. "You just can't get that experience anywhere else without being really deeply into the wild. It's peaceful, it's awe-inspiring."

Register Now for the Marion Bermuda Race

There's still time to enter this unique competition. Registration information can be found on the Marion Bermuda Race website.