Welcome to the 2023 Downeast Challenge Information page.

Downeast Challenge hosted by Marblehead YC is a 80 mile overnight race from Marblehead, MA to Portland, ME for Spinnaker, Jib & Main, and Shorthanded classes, sponsored by Rumson's Rum, Rising Tide Brewery, and Points East Magazine. 

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Contact John Murray at Marblehead YC for any questions or to reserve a complementary Marblehead mooring at 781-632-8828 or jmurray97@yahoo.com. 

To reserve a dockspace at Forepoints Marina in Portland contact DownEast Challenge — Fore Points Marina  spaces are guaratnteed until March 31 - then reservations on a first come first serve basis.

Marblehead Yacht Club is committed to providing environmental stewardship. The Marblehead Yacht Club will operate the Downeast Challenge as a Clean Regatta, executing to the greatest extent possible all best practices defined by Sailors for the Sea in its Clean Regattas program.  All competitors should plan to promote and adopt a 'leave no trace' approach throughout the event, both at sea and ashore.  All competitors and support personnel, including vendors, are asked to cooperate by reducing waste, avoiding use of single-use plastics (such as bottled water), and preventing toxins from entering marine habitats.