Page 8. MAINE COASTAL NEWS March 2012 Waterfront News M A I N E M A R I T I M E A C A D E M Y N E W S


MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY’S A NIGHT BY THE BAY TO OFFER DINNER, DANCING & CELEBRATION


CASTINE – Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) President, Dr. William J. Brennan, has announced that the college will host its sixth annual fundraising event to benefit student scholarship, student services, and academic programs. The event, an evening of dinner, live music, and live and silent auctions, is scheduled to be held on Saturday, March 17, 2012, beginning at 6 p.m., at the Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks in South Portland. According to Brennan, guests at the event may bid on a variety of exciting items and travel excursions ranging from a three-day fishing trip in Costa Rica to an exquisite pair of earrings from A.G.A. Correa & Son. An evening of ultimate disco party fun will be provided by Motor Booty Affair. Dress for the event will be cocktail attire.


Coordinated by the college’s Advancement Office with the support of a volunteer committee of alumni and friends, the event is generously presented by


Cianbro Corporation, one of the east coast’s largest construction and construction service companies. Ocean Properties, Ltd., a leading resort management firm and supporting sponsor, will be joined by event sponsors Strategic Maintenance Solutions, Inc., Harriman Architects + Engineers, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, and Camden National Bank.


The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a social hour featuring a silent auction. Bidding for silent auction items will continue through the early part of the evening. Dinner will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks catering staff will offer plate- service dining featuring a variety of selections. The live auction, featuring a cruise aboard the Academy’s historic schooner, BOWDOIN; Portland Sea Dogs tickets; a one night stay and spa package at the Wentworth by The Sea Hotel and Spa in New Castle, NH; and Red Sox vs. Yankee tickets will kick off at 8:30 p.m.


All auction items, including unique vacation and recreation adventures, are made possible by the generosity of alumni


KUSTOM STEEL


and friends of the college. According to organizers, many attendees in the past have joined forces in advance to establish a team plan for bidding. Clever strategists often bid on items that may not be approachable for individuals.


Organizers also report that the auction item list is dynamic, with donations expanding daily. An online auction site is currently active with online bidding, and event guests and non-attendees are encouraged to logon and participate in the auction. Online bidding, along with a preview of silent and live auction items, is available via a hyperlink at www.biddingforgood.com/mmaafa. Tickets for the event are limited and are available by advance reservation for $80.00 per person or $600.00 for a table of eight. To donate an item for auction or to purchase tickets, contact Jessica Hosford at 207-326- 2470 during weekday business hours.


LEACH APPOINTED TO NATIONAL TOWING AND SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE


Captain Timothy Leach, director of career services and cadet shipping at Maine Maritime Academy (MMA), recently received an appointment from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to serve on the Towing and Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC). U.S. Senator Collins, Maine, the Ranking Republican on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, wrote to DHS recommending Captain Leach for the position.


The Towing Safety Advisory Committee was created to serve as a deliberative body to advise the Secretary of Transportation, via the Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, on matters relating to shallow- draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety.


Lobster Boat Race Pre-Season


Looking to have metal work done at a reasonable cost? Welding a specialty!


Also marina slips with lots of parking and storage available.


Call: (207) 991-1953 South Main Street, Brewer, Maine 04412


JOHANSON BOATWORKS Full Service Yacht Yard


ROCKLAND: The Maine Lobster Boat Rac- ing Association (MLBRA) gathered for its annual meeting at the Trade Winds Motor Inn in Rockland on 22 October. Following a great year of racing there was little discussion on new rules or class changes. It was voted on to make one class change for gasoline powered boats, but no rules changes. The big news was developing a list of names for a Lobster Boat Racing Hall of Fame. The lobster boat race season started as usual in Boothbay Harbor in June and con- cluded at Eastport’s Pirate Festival in Sep- tember for a total of twelve races. Each of the races saw more entrants compared to the previous year, which was great. I was sur- prised that we only had 54 boats at the MS race in Portland when every entrant in each diesel class had a chance to win 100 gallons of fuel. This is a great race and one I would like to see build to 100 racers since it is all for a great cause.


Rockland, Maine • 207-596-7060 info@jboatworks.com • jboatworks.com


There were two races not included on MLBRA’s schedule last year. The first was at Bass Harbor, which was run by Colyn and Wayne Rich of Bass Harbor. This was a very well attended event and by popular demand it will be held again this year. The other race, held in association with Eastport’s Pirate Festival, was in its second year. I missed the first year due to another commitment. There are numerous fun events throughout the weekend with the lobster boat races being held on Sunday. Boats came from as far away as Beals Island and Jonesport and they all had a great time. They try to get Canadian boats to enter, but to date there have been no takers even though there is a separate class for them. There is now discussion among others from as far away as Penobscot Bay who are interested in attending this year’s races. Even if Eastport is too far for some to bring their boat, they say they will come by car.


The program, which is published in May, gives invaluable information about the up- coming races. This could bring in a lot more


funding, but Johansen said that he needs help with getting advertising for it. However, what MLBRA does not want is to take away from race venues and their ability to raise the money needed to run their event. The current officers of the MLBRA are president, Jon Johansen; vice president, Travis Otis; and secretary/treasurer Rachel Elward. It was asked if anyone else would like to run for any of the offices, but no one raised their hand. A motion was made that the slate of officers remain the same. This was sec- onded and all voted in favour.


It was thought that there was no need to make any rules changes for the upcoming year. One suggestion was that we needed to police the rules that were already in place better. Race organizers will do spot check to make sure safety equipment is on board and that pot haulers are functional.


Next on the agenda was about the racing


classes. A discussion was raised about a wooden boat being rebuilt in Bass Harbor. She is 26 feet and under the present rules, would not be able to run in Gasoline Class C, which has a length limit of 28 feet and over. A motion was made to lower the length limit to 24 feet in Gasoline Class C so that it was in line with Gasoline Classes A and B. The motion was seconded and all voted in favour. It was then suggested that Gasoline Class D, Over 502 cid, 28 feet and over, natural aspirated, be brought back. Due to the cost of competing in the current Gasoline Class D, V8, Over 502 cid, 28 feet and over, Turbos/ superchargers, it has become cost prohibi- tive. To be competitive one would have to spend in excess of $200,000 for boat and engine. A motion was made to add this class back in, and this was seconded and all voted in favour. The Gasoline Classes will now be: Class A, Four and Six Cylinder, 24 feet and over; Class B, V8, Up to 375 cid, 24 feet and over; Class C, V8, 376 to 502 cid, 24 feet and over; Class D, V8, Over 502 cid, 28 feet and over, Naturally aspirated; and Class E, V8, Over 502 cid, 28 feet and over, Turbos/super- chargers.


It was pointed out that multiple carbure- tors and fuel injections would be allowed in the new Gasoline Class D, however, no other bolt ons would be allowed.


The schedule for the 2012 season was listed as Boothbay, 16 June; Rockland, 17 June; Bass Harbor, 24 June; Moosebec, 30 June; Searsport, 14 July; Stonington, 15 July; Friendship, 28 July; Harpswell, 29 July; Win- ter Harbor, 11 August; Pemaquid, 12 August; MS-Portland, 19 August; Eastport Pirate


Continued on Page 19.


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