The event's recent history, however, has been plagued by catastrophe, the worst coming in 1998 when six sailors perished.

Eight sailors perished when their 18-foot schooner sank during the storm.

Seventy sailors perished in the Great Blizzard of 1888.

When it was over, six sailors from three different vessels had perished.

Historian Gerald Graham estimates that about 150 sailors also perished in the disaster.

All 118 sailors and officers aboard Kursk perished.

But after a chase and major battle that lasted nearly a week, the ship was sunk and nearly 2,300 German sailors perished.

Nearly 700 sailors perished while a small number survived on lifeboats.

The weather was still not as severe as in 1998, when six sailors perished in the race.

Three hundred Norwegian sailors - almost the entire crews of the two vessels - perished.