Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/589641
50 | NOVEMBER 2015 nshoremag.com Marblehead is known as the "Yachting Capital of the World." TOWN FOCUS BY BRANDY RAND A strong community of artists, sailors, and families makes Marblehead a coastal treasure worth exploring. Spirit of the Sea photograph by Robert Boyd Even early on a Saturday morning, Marblehead bustles with activity: runners, cyclists, kayakers, boaters, fishermen—it's a town where every- one makes the most of the outdoors all year round. Given that water comprises 15.2 of Marblehead's 19.6 square miles, the title "Yachting Capital of the World"—in addition to its rich history as a fishing village and maritime port—makes sense. "Marblehead's picturesque, glit- tering harbor is unmatched, inviting sailors from across the globe," says Beth Ferris, executive director of the Marblehead Chamber of Com- merce. Its six yacht clubs is evidence that sailing has long been a pas- time—and a way of life—for many residents. Many of the yachts in the legendary America's Cup race were built in town at Graves Boatyard, and the 1974 Cup winner, Ted Hood, was a longtime Marblehead resi- dent, establishing Hood Sailmakers in 1950. Marblehead Race Week has been going strong since 1889 and brings over 200 boats into the harbor every July. The town's economy has always thrived on the sea. After a visit in 1660, the King of England's agent