March 2013 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 7. UPDATE ON THE 2013 LOBSTER BOAT RACING SEASON There are only four months before
the fi rst lobster boat race at Boothbay. The 2012 season was a good one with every event seeing more participation, however the weather could have been a little better at times. As the Maine Lobster Racing As- sociation looks forward to 2013 there are a few minor changes they have made and it is going to be a little busier with a new race at Long Island, off Portland. The Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet was held at the Mermaid Inn in Searsport last October. There were approx- imately sixty attendees that were treated to a quick look at some of the fi lm shot over the summer. This was followed by their annual meeting, which was followed by dinner and the presentation of the trophies.
The annual meeting began with thank- ing the three sponsors, Allen’s Coffee Brandy, Cummins and Mack Boring. Keith Otis will contact the sponsors and see if they wanted to be sponsors again this year. There were no rule changes made for the upcoming year, but there was a discussion about classes. The issue was in the Gasoline Class and involved the Ford 460 engines. When they are modifi ed they become 514s, which was their answer to Chevrolets 502. A motion was made to change the 502 des- ignation in Classes C, D and E to 525. This was seconded and all voted in favour. The Gasoline Classes will now read:
GAS POWERED WORK BOATS 24 FEET AND OVER. 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 525 cid, 24 feet and over. Class D, V8, Over 525 cid, 28 feet and over, Naturally aspirated, no bolt-ons.
Class E, V8, Over 525 cid, 28 feet and over, Turbos/superchargers.
MLBRA will have a new race at Long
Island off Portland on 30 June, which will celebrate their freedom from the City of Portland. This addition will make no chang- es to the point races or how a racer is scored. MLBRA has eight point races (Boothbay, Rockland, Moosebec, Searsport, Stoning- ton, Friendship, Harpswell, Winter Harbor and Portland) leaving Bass Harbor, Long Island, Pemaquid and the Eastport Pirate Festival as non-point races. You still need three races to qualify for the year end awards and we will only count your best fi ve races if you race more than fi ve events. The Mermaid Inn did an excellent job hosting the MLBRA Annual Meeting and Awards, but the general consensus was that may be the venue should move around. Ston- ington said that they would like to host the next event at Fishermen’s Friend. Everyone agreed, but wondered if there were enough places for people to stay. It was assured that between the local hotel and bed and break- fast establishments there would be plenty of rooms available. Nick Wiberg will be heading up the logistics for this event. The schedule was a little harder to do this year since some wanted to make changes and with as many events as MLBRA current- ly has that is not easy. This year’s schedule is: Boothbay, 15 June; Rockland, 16 June; Bass Harbor, 22 June; Moosebec Reach, 29 June; Long Island, 29 June; Searsport, 13 July; Stonington, 14 July; Friendship, 20 July; Harpswell, 28 July; Winter Harbor, 10 August; Pemaquid, 11 August; Portland, 18 August; and Eastport, 8 September. The date for the Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet has not yet been fi nalized.
OCEAN BOUNTY competing at Winter Harbor last year.
The election of offi cers took place and the slate remained the same with President Jon Johansen, Vice President Travis Otis and Secretary/Treasurer Rachel Elward. The rumours are fl ying and there seems to be more new boats coming out this year than in year’s past. Glenn Crawford of C&C Machine in Ellsworth and owner WILD, WILD WEST has purchased two big diesel engines and he plans to put one of them in his
racer. This could be real interesting. THUN- DERBOLT is in Cundy’s Harbor having her engine installed and if the rumours are true show could be a real threat to Galen Alley’s FOOLISH PLEASURE. There is talk about a couple of new boats coming out in both the gasoline and diesel classes.
If all the rumours become reality this could be one incredible year for lobster boat racing!
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