Page 10. MAINE COASTAL NEWS September 2012 LOBSTER BOAT RACE SEASON WINDING DOWN - 2 LEFT


Travis Otis’ FIRST TEAM is rarely beaten, but with some new competitors in Diesel, 351 to 450 hp, 36 feet and up how would she fair? It looked close until they reached the three quarter point when one could see they had the lead and were pulling away. In the 12th


race, Diesel 451 to 650 hp, 28 feet and


over, MISTY would come out on top with THREE STARS second. Next was the big boys class, Diesel, 651 hp and over, 28 feet and over. WHISTLIN’ DIXIE took the lead and by just several feet it was LISA MARIE getting by 4GIRLS. In the Wooden Boats, MERGANSER had no problem winning this one, with Ron- ald Poland’s TIMBER CRUISER a distant second and Josh Harvey’s WHY KNOT third.


Chris Smith's MISTY battles Chip Johnson's THREE STARS at Pemaquid.


In the Gasoline Free-for-All it had been a weekend of racing between CRY BABY and BLACK DIAMOND and again it was CRY BABY the winner. In the Diesel Free-for-All there were six boats on the line, but the battle was between WHISTLIN’ DIXIE, 4GIRLS and THREE STARS. As they passed the halfway point it was still too close to call. As they neared the fi nish line WHISTLIN’ DIXIE moved ahead and now the battle was between 4GIRLS and THREE STARS, which was close, but 4GIRLS got second. Now came the fi nal race of the weekend, Fastest Lobster Boat, and only the top three boats from the Diesel Free-for-All came to the line, but with a slightly different results. It was WHISTLIN’ DIXIE fi rst, but in a real close race it was THREE STARS by less than half a boat length over 4GIRLS. Now there were just four races to go:


Winter Harbor, Pemaquid, Portland and Eastport with just Winter Harbor and Port- land being points races. Some of the classes have been decided, however there are still some undecided.


The ninth race on the lobster boat racing


calendar is Winter Harbor, which is associ- ated with their lobster festival. On Saturday morning, 11 August, we arrived at the town dock in the centre of Winter Harbor to fi nd fog and a good northwest breeze blowing. Chris Byers, who organizes the races, felt that due to the conditions it was thought that it would be best to wait until 8 September to run the races.


The following day, Sunday 12 August,


it was off to Pemaquid and the Merritt Bracket Lobster Boat Races. These races are not sanctioned and in fact they run with totally different classes. Most like the change because they race against different competitors. However, just like the previous day the weather was the big question mark. The fi rst three races of the day were


for skiffs. There were eight boats in the fi rst race, which was Clamdigger and Lobster


Pickers: Outboards 25 hp and under, skiffs 16-feet and under, age 18 and under, and was won by Larry Wellman’s DIRTY SHAN- CHEZ. There were 13 boats in the next race, Clamdigger and Lobster Pickers: Outboards up to 70 hp. Skiffs over 16-feet. First over was QUICK PENETRATION, owned by Roger Feltis. In the fi nal Clamdigger and Lobster Pickers: Inboards or outboards, 71- hp and over, Skiffs 16 feet and over, race it was Nikolas Poland’s BIM taking fi rst. There are only two Gasoline Classes, four and six cylinder gas, 24 feet and over and Gas V-8 any cu. in. and under, 24-feet and over. In the four and six cylinder class there were three boats on the line CRY BABY, Bruce Farrin, Jr.’s SUMNAH and Matthew Taylor’s OLD GLORY. CRY BABY was the easy winner, but there was a great battle for the second spot and with a couple of boat lengths lead it was SUM- NAH. In the eight cylinder class it was Randy Durkee’s BLACK DIAMOND get- ting the best of Ronald Poland’s TIMBER CRUISER.


There are eight Diesel Classes and some of them had a good number of boats in them, which was quite a sight coming down the race course. In the fi rst (175 hp and under, 24-feet and over) it was Peter Kass’ JOANNA A. fi rst. There were only two boats in the next event, 176 hp to 210 hp, 24-feet and over, and it was Spider’s HELLBLAZZER fi rst. In Diesel 211hp to 250 hp, 24-feet and over, it was MERGAN- SER fi rst. In the next race, Diesel 251 hp to 350 hp, 24 and over, there were 12 entered. In the fi rst attempt there was a false start by MISS ATTITUDE owned by Adam Kimball who said after the race that he was paying more attention to the two brutes on either side and was not watching the fl ag. The next start was perfect and Ed Torosian’s MS. ROSE led the fl eet to the fi nish. In Diesel 351 hp to 450 hp, 28 to 35 feet 11 inch and under the winner was GOVERNOR owned by Marshall Farnham of Boothbay Harbor.


Lobster Boat Race Banquet


At the Homeport Inn's Mermaid Restaurant and Pub 121 East Main St., Searsport (207) 548-0084


27 October 2012


5 pm - Annual Meeting; 6 pm - Cocktail Hour; 7 pm - Dinner; Awards to follow Limited Number of Rooms Available at Homeport $80 per night


Additional rooms at Comfort Inn, Belfast (207) 338-2090 $65 per night


Call for Reservations Now! I am not sure how many times the Gas


Free-for-All has come down to CRY BABY and BLACK DIAMOND and thus no one was surprised when CRY BABY bested BLACK DIAMOND again. In the Diesel Free-for-All it was the big diesel class, plus THREE STARS and Matt Thibault’s SANDRA ANN. There was no surprise when WHISTLIN’ DIXIE crossed the fi nish line fi rst.


There have always been those that want to see just true working boats com- pete. There are others that love to watch the race-only boats. The bottom line is that they are both crowd pleasers so you really need to fi nd a solution allowing them both to race. Two years ago Moosebec and Stonington separated the Fastest Lobster Boat with one for working and one combining both. It seems that other race venues are going to follow suit. This year the Merritt Bracket races did. The only problem is that if no go- fast pure racing machines show up it is the same competitors.


In the Fastest Lobster Boat Afl oat four boats came to the line, four which had just competed in the Diesel Free-for-All minus SANDRA ANN, with the same results. In the Fastest WORKING Lobster Boat 4GIRLS decided to sit out and the results repeated themselves again.


The Merritt Bracket Lobster Boat Races are one of the most popular venues on the coast. When we fi rst arrived that morning it did not look like many would race, but 67 boats came out and competed. It was a great day, with lots of great prizes and those that missed this one really missed out. There was also a sad note to the day as we honoured the passing of Jerry Farrin, who for a lot of years ran these races. Without his determination and great character these races would not be what they are without the effort he put forth all those years.


One of the most important races on the coast of Maine is the MS Harborfest Lobster & Tug Boat Races, which is part of a fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis. Almost everyone knows someone that is affl icted with this debilitating disease and lobster


Looking Back Continued from Page 7.


tion (we were still in that New England mode where “if a 2x4 will suffi ce use a 2x6). Week later, four of us met Nick in Lauderdale and spent the week putting her back together, doing touch-ups, and further sea trials. Mr. and Mrs. Grant were quite pleased and years later Mrs. Grant told me that when it came time to sell “Little Boat” and take delivery of our fi rst 62’ footer it just about broke her heart. She enjoyed “Little Boat” so much. When it came time to settle the contract on “Little Boat”, Mr. Grant, with a smile said, “You went over a fair amount on the cost didn’t you.” I agreed. “He replied, “I knew right along you couldn’t fi nish her for that.”


fi shermen have come out the last three years to support this event. This year the entrants exceeded 60 boats and what was also im- pressive is the over 150 spectator boats that lined each side of the course. Last year Global Energy stepped up and donated 1,600 gallons of diesel fuel. This was given to the 14 diesel classes, the Novi Race and the Fastest Lobster Boat Race. If there are no entrants in one or more of the regular diesel classes than the Diesel Free-for-All and the Wooden Boat Race are included. The winner is drawn out of hat so that everyone competing has a fair chance to win.


The races opened with the fi reboat com- ing down the course spraying water that was red and blue.


The day of racing opened with the skiff classes. In Class B WARM SPOT, owned by Mason Moody, was going to be in his fi rst race ever, but he missed the start. Since there was just one boat in Class C, he jumped in. He did not have enough horsepower to get by Dave Johnston’s CASCO MISS, but he still was guaranteed a second place fi nish. There was only one boat in each of the Gasoline Classes, with the exception of Class E. In Class A, CRY BABY; Class B, TILLY; Class C, BLACK DIAMOND, Ran- dy Durkee; and in Class D, Steve Johnson’s STRETCHED VET. The rumours and been out since mid-winter that Steve had built a new Car-Boat and that it involved a Corvette body. We all waited patiently for the Booth- bay races, but when he arrived he said she was broken.


Diesel Classes were next up. In Class


A, BLUE THUNDER faced off with LYNN MARIE and came up just short. In Class B, MERGANSER was the victor. In Class F the dominate boat for the last several years has been Ed Torosian’s MS. ROSE and today was no different. Another dominate boat has been Travis Otis’ FIRST TEAM in Class H, but he was in a real battle with Nick Martinez’ PRETTY WOMAN. FIRST TEAM got the win but he had an advantage with all the press people from China who had come to Maine to visit some of the boatbuilders here in the state. All year Class I has been a battle ground and the results have been varied. There were three boats on the line, Chris Smith’s MISTY, Chip Johnson’s THREE STARS; and Scott Wood’s WILD ONE. At the line it was WILD ONE, MISTY and then THREE STARS. This certainly tightened the points race as there was now a tie between MISTY and [?????]. In the fi nal diesel race, Class N, it was no surprise when Andy Johnson’s WHISTLIN’ DIXIE won with Tom Clemons’ 4GIRLS second. The winner of the Wooden Boat Race was MERGANSER with Jake Dugas’ GRASSHOPPER second.


Only two boats came to the line for the Gasoline Free for All, which was won by CRY BABY with BLACK DIAMOND second.


There were eight boats on the line for the Diesel Free-for-All and yes no surprise, WHISTLIN’ DIXIE with WILD ONE sec- ond and 4GIRLS third. In the Fastest Lobster Boat race it was almost the same results with WHISTLIN’ DIXIE fi rst, WILD ONE second, but third went to ALL SET. Portland Yacht Services served up ham-


burgers and hot dogs to the racers, which was followed by the awards. What was most important was the money raised for MS, which at this time the total is not known. It is now onto Winter Harbor on 8 September and some things could change in the points standing. Hopefully some will venture around the bend to Eastport for the Pirate Festival the following day. It should be another great time.


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