Teams at the starting mark for the 74th annual International Dory Racing Series in Lunenburg, NS. Photo: Town of Lunenburg.
The International Dory Races returned to Lunenburg this past weekend, carrying on a cross-border tradition that has outlasted political disputes and even storms.
Canadian rowers won five of the six events, but the Americans took home the most prestigious title, the Open Mile.
Still, participants and organizers say the real story is the 74-year-old bond between Lunenburg and Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr, who attended the races, said the weekend demonstrated the strength of the connection between the two ports. “This is a great tradition between our two communities and our two ports, and it’s been going on for 74 years,” he said. “It didn’t matter what was happening politically — the event went on just as it always has, with spirited competition and strong friendships.”
Tarr said both communities share deep roots in fishing and maritime heritage, which keeps the bond resilient even as Canada and the U.S. navigate turbulent relations. “When all the dust settles, we’re still great allies, United States and Canada, and we’ve supported each other through the ups and downs of history,” he said.
During his visit, Tarr and Lunenburg Mayor Jamie Myra rowed one of the dories together. The voyage was filmed by Boston’s NBC which aired a segment on how the tradition continues in spite of increased tensions between the two nations.
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr and Lunenburg Mayor Jamie Myra at the 74th International Dory Racing Series in Lunenburg, NS. Photo: Town of Lunenburg.
The International Dory Races alternate annually between Lunenburg and Gloucester. They first began in 1951 and have since become a symbol of kinship between the two communities.
