Wifey's Fotothing

History of The Legend

The Miami to Nassau race is a historical race that has attracted some of the best sailors in the world and in 2008 we will celebrate the race's 75th anniversary! The prestigious Miami to Nassau Ocean Cup is a highly sought after trophy that is emblazoned with the names of world famous skippers on some of the world's finest racing sailboats including Ted Turner of America's Cup fame on the yacht Tenacious. Other noteworthy sailors that vied for the Cup are: Dennis Conner, Dick Bertram, Ted Hood and Bobby Symonette.

The Miami to Nassau Race has taken place from 1934 to 1988 and is one of the oldest races in this hemisphere! There was an interruption in the Race from 1942-1946 due to World War II. The race was then revived in March 2003 after a 14-year break. In the 1940's-1980's the Miami to Nassau Race was part of the very popular Southern Ocean Racing Circuit (SORC). The SORC was a 4 week long regatta that included races in southern Florida, the Miami to Nassau race and then an around the buoy race in Nassau for the coveted Governor General's Cup. The SORC was ultimately restructured in order to accommodate the modern world's work requirements and as a result the Miami to Nassau race ceased in 1988.

In 2003 the Miami Yacht Club (MYC) and the Nassau Yacht Club (NYC) revived the Miami to Nassau Race (now known as the Legend)! In fact it was these two prestigious yacht clubs that first organized this race in 1934 and continued to do so up until 1988. Prior to the 2003 regatta, the Nassau Yacht Club created the Nassau Race Week in 1998, which consisted of 3 days of around the buoy races off of New Providence. This successful race week, which ran from 1998-2002, has now been merged with the Miami to Nassau Race to create the ultimate in international sailing regattas, the Miami to Nassau Race Week! At its peak in the early 1980's the Miami to Nassau race would have over 150 boats competing in the race and Nassau Harbour was abuzz with activity.

The current race organizers anticipate the race regaining its stature in the international sailing scene and the numbers of competing boats growing to substantial proportions over the next few years. The Race The race starts outside of Government Cut in Miami and then you leave Great Isaacs Light to starboard proceeding on to leave Great Stirrup Light to starboard and finally finishing at Nassau harbor. The Miami to Nassau Race is 172 miles long and George S. Coumantaros on the yacht Boomerang set the course record of 14 hours, 26 minutes and 39 seconds in 1986. This is an average speed of approximately 12 knots as the crow flies over the course! The technology of sailboats has increased dramatically since the course record was set in 1986 and we will see an all out assault on the record books in the coming years.