September 2010 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 5. FIDELIO WINS MAINE RETIRED SKIPPER'S RACE


CASTINE – A beautiful sunny day with just a slight wisp of a breeze from the southwest greeted the 30 retired skipper’s for their day of racing on Penobscot Bay on 21 August. This is an annual event hosted at Maine Maritime Academy at Castine that dates back to 1951, when a challenge was issued and accepted between sailors from Bucksport and Deer Isle. There are been changes over the years, but one thing has held true, and that is the competitiveness of those competing and today would be no different.


The skipper’s met at the Waterfront of the Academy for their pre-race meeting. Then they made their way out on to the race course, which would begin at the entrance to Castine harbor. The race committee had a major problem over time last year and they hoped to have the time problem solved this year.


At 1245 hrs. the ‘A’ flag was raised meaning that the course would be from the buoy off the entrance to Castine out to Turtle Head, up to a mark off Islesboro ledge, back to the starting mark, back out to the mark off Islesboro ledge and then back to the starting mark for the finish, five legs about 12 miles in distance. The breeze was now blowing about 15 knots so it was not worried that we would be able to sail the course within the time limit of fours hours. At ten minutes before 1300 hrs. as read off the GPS in the cabin of the committee boat it was soon announced that the time was off. How could this be? A quick check of the GPS on the flybridge showed that it was different from that in the cabin and the correct time according to the racers complaining. So a quick switch was made and the starting sequence continued without an issue. The racer’s handicap is applied to the start of the race, meaning that they should theoretically finish at the same time. Within 36 minutes all boats were off, with only one boat, HARVEST, over early meaning that a penalty of six minutes would be added to her finish time.


Who was the race favourite? Well many figure it could be John Gardner, sailing Bob Scott’s New York 32 FALCON, who had won the two previous races. However , there was a new threat, Chuck Townsend’s FIDELIO, skippered by Ken Eaton, of Eaton’s Boat Yard of Castine. This was the 50th anniversary of FIDELIO’s 1960 win, which she followed up the following year with another win. At her helm was Ken Eaton’s grandfather, Mace. FIDELIO is a 38-foot Sparkman & Stephens yawl and was a sister to the well-known FINISTERRE and had been owned by the Marvins of Bangor. Would she be able to beat FALCON? As both boats came down to the third mark it was FIDELIO by a wide margin as she rounded


the mark and sailed back towards the Islesboro shore on the last windward leg. Would she be able to hold her lead? Well on the last downwind leg to the finish there was no question as she finished almost four minutes ahead of FALCON.


The wind had built as the afternoon wore on and caused four of the racers to bow out. One called in, ARABESQUE, when she developed a rudder problem as she neared the Islesboro ledge and was towed in. SUZANNA had split her foresail and was forced to retire.


It was a great day of racing, so good that I did not hear a complaint.


M.R.S.R. Awards


The Henry Whitney Challenge Cup, donated by the family of Francis W. Hatch. Must be won three times for permanent possession, goes to the first place captain. Ken Eaton


The Gitina/Day Trophy, donated by Captain Ernest Burt in honour of John Day, goes to the first place yacht owner. Chuck Townsend, FIDELIO


The President’s Cup, donated by J. B. Waters, goes to the second place captain. John Gardner


The Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Memorial Cup, donated by the family of George F. Bryant goes to the second place yacht owner. Bob Scott, FALCON


The Philip Buxton Trophy, donated by the family of Philip Buxton, goes to the third place captain. Gary Bennett


The Captain Philip Haskell Memorial Cup, donated by the family of Captain Haskell, goes to the fourth place captain. Bob Harris


The Captain William Abbott Trophy, donated by “Maine Coastal News”, for the first woman skipper to finish the race. Betty Minson


The Captain Leroy H. Greenlaw Memorial Trophy, donated by the family of Lawrence P. Greenlaw, is awarded to the


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www.greatislandboatyard.com Several racers heading to the third mark of the Retired Skipper's Race off Castine.


captain who finishes first in the lower half of the fleet (determined by ratings) provided he has not won another prize. F. Pederson The Elizabeth Merriman Cup, donated by Mrs. Anne Kraut and friends, is awarded to the yacht club that finishes first with three or more entrants. None


The Mace Eaton Trophy is financed by subscription and is awarded to the captain of the first planked wooden boat to finish. Ken Eaton, FIDELIO


The Retired Skippers Race Committee Trophy, awarded to the Captain of the fastest boat in the race, handicap not withstanding and presented in honour of Captain Jack Kenneday. Gary Bennett, J’AITU


The Senior Captain Leslie L. Black Trophy, donated by the family of Leslie L. Black, is awarded to the first Captain from the


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80 years and over age group to finish in accordance with the race rules who has not won in the last three years. Example - Skipper wins award in 2000, the next time he is eligible would be 2004. If there are not five 80 year olds, then the age limit is dropped down a year to include the 79ers, and so on until there is a total of five or more skippers in the race. Robert Fossett


The Claude Ryder Memorial Trophy goes to the first place skipper qualified under the old rules to finish the race. Ken Eaton The Downeast Pilot Trophy goes to the first Maine Maritime Academy graduate skipper to cross the finish line. No winner The Carl Patton Perseverance Award is given by the crew of Mumkin in recognition and memory of Carl Patton’s perseverance in


Continued on Page 6.


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