Regattas: Chester Race Week – New Sponsor, More Fleets
June 26, 2025
Chester Race Week, the largest keelboat regatta in Atlantic Canada, is charting a course for its 2025 edition, scheduled for August 13–16. This year’s event brings, a strengthened sponsorship lineup, and an exciting expansion in class participation. Leading the charge is Atlantic Yacht Sales, proudly participating as Title Sponsor of Chester Race Week 2025.
Atlantic Yacht Sales specializes in pre-owned boats and delivers unmatched expertise to buyers and sellers throughout the region. This sponsorship underlines their deep commitment to the East Coast sailing community.
“We’re boaters first and foremost, and this event is part of the fabric of our sailing community,” says Chris Power, Co-owner and Broker at Atlantic Yacht Sales. “Supporting Chester Race Week means supporting the sailors, the local businesses, and the future of boating in the region.”
This year’s event will feature:
- The remarkable, colourful Bluenose Fleet, with typically 30+ competitor boats. The history of the Bluenose Class sloop dates to 1946 when naval architect William J. Roué designed the wooden One Design. These days modifications and improvements in construction of the Bluenose reflects the popularity and demand of a quickly evolving race fleet.
- The One Design course, sailing windward leeward. Back again will be the International One Design Fleet, the Farr 30 Fleet, and the Sonar Fleet.
- The PHRF A and B classes will sail a mixture of windward/leeward and around-the-cans courses using fixed and/or inflatable marks. Outside of the Bluenose fleet, these classes are strongly attended with an estimated 70-80 PHRF boats participating in various fleet splits.
- The beautiful Classics sailing a Pursuit Style of race. Competitors who would like to sail non-spinnaker are eligible to participate in the pursuit course.
One of the most exciting developments for 2025 is the growth of the J/105 class, which has expanded by at least four boats, including two new entries from New Brunswick, a first in the event’s history.
“The J/105 class is seeing a real resurgence,” says Luke Porter, Principal Race Officer. “With new crews and returning champions, the competition will be tighter than ever. We’re hopeful this will be our largest J/105 fleet to date.”
The 2025 Entertainment Schedule features four days of on shore celebration and live music at the Chester Yacht Club. This year’s major sponsors include Suzuki Canada, Atlantic Boating / Navigator Magazine, Q104, Dream Imagine Believe, Playwear Canada, Mahone Marine, Salty Dog Tours, Blandford Marine, Nacora Insurance, Sail Nova Scotia, Nor’Easter Apparel, Mercantile on Duke and Royal Flush.
Chester Race Week continues to be a cornerstone of the Maritime sailing calendar. With the support of Atlantic Yacht Sales and an outstanding network of partners, the event is set to deliver an unmatched blend of world-class racing and East Coast hospitality.
About Atlantic Yacht Sales Chester Race Week
Named one of Sailing World magazine’s 14 greatest sailing events in North America, each August, 1,300-plus sailors descend on Nova Scotia’s scenic Mahone Bay to compete.
This is a Bronze-certified Clean Regatta since 2016 Visit Chester Race Week
