Page 10. MAINE COASTAL NEWS September 2010


A GREAT 2010 LOBSTER BOAT RACING SEASON CONCLUDES Continued from Page 4.


aged, Travis Otis’ FIRST TEAM was back out to compete in Class H. As FIRST TEAM thundered up the course for the win. One of the big races of the day was Class J with seven boats on the line. David Myrick’s JANICE ELAINE [Northern Bay 38, 610-hp Cummins] has been the dominate boat in this class, but a real threat has been Wendall Bryant’s 16TH


boat lengths followed by Chris Page’s ABIGAIL & CARTER and Nick Lemieux’ PHANTOM [Young Brothers 46, 825-hp, Detroit].


AVENUE [Holland


38; 660-hp Caterpillar], who is undefeated in the two races they faced off against each other. As they came up the course it was 16TH AVENUE in the lead by a couple of boat lengths and winning his third race of the year. Second went to JANICE ELAINE and third was Chris Candage’s GEORGIA MADISON [Calvin Beal 38, 450-hp John Deere]. The boat that came the greatest distance was Tom Clemon’s MOTIVATION [Duffy 37, 900-hp Mack] from Harpswell and he was going up against Glen Crawford’s and James West’s WILD, WILD WEST [West 28, 466 cu. in. International] and Wayne Gray’s OCEAN BREEZE [South Shore 38, 850-hp Caterpillar]. When the flag dropped it was clear that MOTIVATION had the lead and WILD, WILD WEST was back a couple of boat lengths, but did not have enough to get by before they crossed the finish line. The dominate boats in Class M this year has been Billy Bob Faulkingham’s 51 [Osmond 40, 610-hp Cummins] and Patrick Faulkingham’s GRAMP’S BIRD [Osmond 40, 700-hp Iveco] and were going to finish one two respectively in the points standings. They were to face off against last year’s winner, Colon Alley’s AMANDA JOY & LOGI BEAR [Libby 41, 593 hp Iveco], who had won their last meeting at Moosebec Reach back on the 3rd


of July. When they


crossed the midway point, it was AMANDA JOY & LOGI BEAR in first followed closely by 51, then a little further back Dixon Smith’s SIZE MATTERS [Libby 41, 535-hp Detroit (6V92)] and fourth was GRAMP’S BIRD. For the first time in two years the LAVERNA GAIL [Young Brothers 45, 920-hp Mack] came to the line in Class N. She was formerly owned by Arvin Young who raced her mostly at Moosebec and Winter Harbor and between 2003 and 2008. The boat was recently sold to an owner at Milbridge who brought her out to compete with four others. As they headed up the course it was LAVERNA GAIL out in front by a couple of


In the Gasoline Free-for-All it was BRENDA followed by BLACK DIAMOND second and ROUGH-N-READY third. Who was going to best MOTIVATION in the Diesel Free-for-All? Would WILD, WILD WEST have enough? Off the line they went and it looked close, but as WILD,WILD WEST neared midway her black smoke went white meaning there was a problem and she went dead in the water. MOTIVATION went on for the win with MARY ELIZABETH sec- ond and DUNCAN & BLAKE third. There was no Woodenboat Race on the schedule, but since three boats were there looking to do battle one was put in. BRENDA was back on the line, but this time she was facing off against ABIGAIL & CARTER, who had lots more horsepower, but was also much larger. It was too much for BRENDA to over- come and first across the line was ABIGAIL & CARTER with second going to BRENDA and Vance Bunker’s SARI ANN third. Only one boat, MOTIVATION, came out for the Fastest Lobster Boat and this time she was skippered by James West, Jr, who sped down the course and at almost 42 mph for the easy win.


PEMAQUID – When we arrived at Pemaquid harbor it was another perfect day, bright sun and a nice southwest breeze. When we headed out we had 61 boats ready to race, with 24 in the first three skiff races. One of the most interesting races of the day would be race 3, Clamdiggers and Lob- ster Pickers: Inboards or outboards – 71-hp and over, Skiffs 16 feet and over. There were three boats entered, Steve Johnson’s SUN- BIRD [Custom Boat/Car, Twin 200-hp Yamaha], Taylor Apollonio’s 25 WHALER GUNBOAT [Boston Whaler 25, Twin 175 Evinrudes] and Wayne Eugley’s MANDY J. The two to watch was SUNBIRD and the 25 WHALER GUNBOAT, and there was not much separation as they came up the race course, but the GUNBOAT, a former Coast Guard Guardian, just fell short as SUNBIRD crossed first.


The classes at the Merritt Brackett Lob- ster Boat Races are different than the ones used for the point’s races. There are just two gasoline classes, the first was four and six cylinder gas, 24 feet and over, and it was D. & L. Boatworks’ CRY BABY taking on Bruce Farrin, Jr.’s SUMNAH [Sumner McFarland, 1960, 300 cid Ford]. CRY BABY sped to the finish line ahead of SUMNAH.


Just as we were getting ready for Gas V- 8 any cu. in. and under, 24-feet and over, a call from Bruce Engert came over the VHF saying that THUNDERBOLT [South Shore 30] was on her way. She lined up against Galen Alley’s FOOLISH PLEASURE nd with all the hype around THUNDERBOLT all eyes wanted to see if she had anything for FOOL- ISH PLEASURE. This would also be the first attempt by FOOLISH PLEASURE to break the Gasoline Record of 68.1. When the flag dropped the engines could be heard all over the harbor, but it was obvious right from the start that FOOLISH PLEASURE was well out in front, but about midway she choked and slowed. THUNDERBOLT was coming, but Alley got his machine going and crossed the finish line. Her top speed for the run was 67.4 mph. THUNDERBOLT had developed a fuel pump issue and would not race again. There are just eight diesel class and the first up was Diesel 175 hp and under, 24-feet and over.


There were only two boats competing in race 10, diesel 351 hp to 450 hp, 28 to 35 feet 11 inch and under, Sid Eaton’s KIMBERLY


BELLE [AJ-28, 370-hp Volvo] and Todd Ritchie’s SEACOCK [Calvin Beal 34, 436-hp, Sisu]. It was a great race, but in the end it KIMBERLY BELLE the winner.


The final diesel race, diesel, 651 hp and over, 28 feet and over, and there were six boats on the line. All year there has been a real battle between Tom Clemon’s MOTIVA- TION and Andy Johnson’s WHISTLIN’ DIXIE. Two others were also threats Chris Page’s ABIGAIL & CARTER and Dennis Young’s CHRISTINA & SETH [Mitchell Cove 35, 740-hp GM]. What an impressive sight as they all came up the course and in the lead by just a boat length was WHISTLIN’ DIXIE with MOTIVATION right on her tran- som. Third went to CHRISTINA & SETH and fourth was ABIGAIL & CARTER. In the Wooden Boat race it was a rematch of the Friendship race between ABIGAIL & CARTER and David Lash’s SEA FLEA. With the drop of the flag one could hear SEA FLEA’s Chevrolet engine scream and it was real close, but it was ABIGAIL & CARTER just getting her at the finish. Third went to MERGANSER.


Only two boats came to the line for the Gasoline Free-for-All, FOOLISH PLEASURE and CRY BABY. This would be FOOLISH PLEASURE’s second and last chance to break the speed record. About mid-way one could tell she was going for the record. It took a few seconds before the radar man an- nounced a speed of 68.9 mph, a new record. In the diesel free-for-all it was a rematch between MOTIVATION and WHISTLIN’ DIXIE, but there was also two other threats in KIMBERLY BELLE and CHRISTINA & SETH. As many of the races before this was another great battle and this time it was MOTIVATION just ahead of WHISTLIN’ DIXIE.


Five boats came to the line for the final race of the day, Fastest Lobster Boat Afloat. FOOLISH PLEASURE was the easy winner, and second went to WHISTLIN’ DIXIE by less than a boat length over MOTIVATION.


PORTLAND – It had been three years since the first rumblings of a Portland lobster boat race was discussed. The first race was sched- uled for last year, but unfortunately a sched- uling conflict forced it to be dropped from the schedule and re-scheduled as the last race in the 2010 season. All year anticipation built and finally the day arrived and it exceeded all expectations. What should not be lost in the racing and the good times was that this was a benefit race for multiple sclerosis and in the end raised more than $10,000 for the cause. Out on the course, just off the Eastern Promenade, each side was lined with specta- tor boats. There were also several hundred people up on the Eastern Promenade watch- ing the day’s events. Lobster boat racing had been absent for 24 years and back then the big battle was between Corliss Holland’s RED BARON and the Young Brother’s SOPWITH CAMEL.


There were three Work Boat Classes for boats under 24 feet powered with outboards, outdrives or inboards. The first two races were combined because there was only one boat in each race. Gavin Holland brought BABY BARON down from Belfast and had the largest fan-base there on the tug AN- DREW MCALLISTER, a z-drive tug, which his father, Ed, is engineer on. Sam Whitner’s MOON [Pointer 18, 70-hp Yamaha] from Long Island was entered in Class B. What a great race between the two as they battled the chop up the course and it was Holland by three boat lengths at the finish.


There were four boats in the four Gaso- line Classes, with one entrant in Class A and B none in Class C and two in Class D. Classes A and B were combined, which made for a


great race between D. & L. Boat Works’ CRY BABY and Doug Dodge’s BRENDA from Beals Island. It was a close race and it was just by a boat length that CRY BABY crossed the finish before BRENDA.


The next race, Class D, was going to have a rematch between Galen Alley’s FOOLISH PLEASURE and Bruce Engert’s THUNDER- BOLT. As they came up the course it was easy to see that FOOLISH PLEASURE had the lead and he held it for another easy win. In the Diesel Classes there were no en- trants in Class G and only one entrant in Classes B, D, J, K and L. Since there was only one entrant in Class B, that race was com- bined with Class A sending five boats to the line. For the first time this year Charles Gray’s BLUE THUNDER [Northern Bay 28, 230-hp Steyr] came out to race and was the odds-on- favourite for the win, which he did with ease. Second went to Robert Rutter’s TEMPTA- TION [Repco 30, 650 hp Mack] and third was Steve Murray’s STEPHEN & LYDIA [Young Brothers 30, 210-hp Cummins].


There was only one boat in Class D Todd Hubbard’s MELANIE JEAN so it was com- bined with Class E, which had three entrants Fred Preston’s GLADIATOR [Crowley Beal 33, 287-hp Volvo 74A], Leland Murray’s DIRTY BUSINESS [Young Brothers 33, 425- hp Caterpillar] and Bob Dugas’ ENDUR- ANCE. GLADIATOR took the win, with MELANIE JEAN close on her stern for first in each of their respective classes. Second Class E went to DIRTY BUSINESS and third was ENDURANCE.


One of the best match ups has been David Taylor’s MISTY, Chip Johnson’s THREE STARS and Scott Wood’s WILD ONE. It was another good race as they all came up within a couple of boat lengths of each other and it was WILD ONE first, fol- lowed by THREE STARS, MISTY and Zach Donnell’s HAPPY HOUR.


There was only one entrant in the next three classes, J Bill Hallinan’s APPARITION II [Young Brothers 38, 650-hp GM], K Tom Clemon’s MOTIVATION and L Alfred Osgood’s STARLIGHT EXPRESS. Instead of sending them separately all three were combined. MOTIVATION did her best to stay with STARLIGHT EXPRESS, but there was no holding her as she sped up the course at over 57 mph. MOTIVATION got second followed over by APPARITON II. There were three boats in Class M, 40 feet and over, up to 750 hp, and this was won by Scott Dugas’ SAND DOLLAR III [John’s Bay Boat, 2008, 700-hp Caterpillar]. In Class N, 40 feet and over, 751 hp and over, Andy Johnson’s WHISTLIN’ DIXIE faced off against Tom Clemon’s 4 GIRLS. It was a great race and looked close for awhile, but at the finish it was WHISTLIN’ DIXIE by three boat lengths.


There were four wooden boats for the Wooden Boat Race and it was anyone’s guess who was going to win this one. When the flag dropped we could all hear the 350 Chevrolet engine of BRENDA screaming as she fought her way up the right side of the course. On the left side it was MELANIE JEAN and it was going to be close. At the line it was BRENDA, then MELANIE JEAN, Jake Dugas’ GRASSHOPPER and SAND DOL- LAR III.


Well it was now time for the Gasoline Free-for-All and could THUNDERBOLT make it closer between he and FOOLISH PLEASURE? With the roar of the big engines it was obvious that FOOLISH PLEASURE had just too much and he easily won again. THUNDERBOLT crossed in second place with CRY BABY third.


In the Diesel Free-for-All five boats came Continued on Page 14.


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