November 2017 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 19. A L B R A B
SOUTHPORT ISLAND – I bet for some the lobster boat racing on the coast of Maine seems like it never ends. Well on the 14th
of
October the last event for the 2017 season, the Awards Banquet, was held at Robinson’s Wharf on Southport. Almost 60 racers and guests gathered at the Banquet to make ad- justments to rules, classes and fi nalize the calendar for next year. First, thanks was given to this year’s
sponsors Scania engines and Liferaft Ser- vices, without their support there would not be formal lobster boat racing. Scania has already committed for next year and a new sponsor, New England Fish, a bait company located on Commercial Street in Portland, has also said they will be a sponsor for the 2018 season. Next was the treasurer’s report, which
showed what was in the checking account, what was owed and how much would be left over for next season. Also explained were the annual payables (insurance, pro- gram, posters, trophies and banquet) and receivables (sponsorship, memberships and program). The program is aimed at the tourist
industry and is handed out a number of the information locations on the coast. Amy Tierney is taking over the advertising aspect of the programs and is already creating a list of potential advertisers and will begin soliciting them right after the fi rst of the year. The current officers are President:
Jon Johansen; Vice President: Travis Otis; Treasurer: Rachel Elward; and Secretary: Genevieve McDonald-Kurilec. It was asked if anyone would like to run for any of the
offi ces, and the room went very quiet. After a few moments of silence someone said let us put forward the same slate of offi cers for the coming season. This was seconded and all voted in favour. There was just one rule change pro-
posed and that was eliminating the second person in the work boat classes, with the exception of those under age. There was a minor discussion whether the second person could assist the driver if something happened. Another concern was trimming the boat out with a person in the bow. It was thought that if someone knew they would go better with two people, two people would be in the boat. Some thought that it would be better if there was just one to rescue if something happened. A motion was made to change the rule for the work boat classes to having one person in the boat unless the operator is under age. This did allow for another person to be in the boat if wanted. This was seconded and passed unopposed. It was raised that the age limit on Work
Boat Class A diff ers at some of the venues and it was thought that it should be uniform. It was suggested that the age limit on this class should be 16 years old. A motion was made, seconded and all voted in favor. It was generally thought that there
would be no changes to the classes until about a week before the banquet when a cou- ple of conversions mentioned adding a class for the pure racing boats in the diesel classes. A discussion amongst the offi cers and those aff ected by the change came up with a new class, Class O. This class would be for those racers who do not make their living from the
Boat And Ship Yard News Continued from Page 15.
fl oor is next, and this will not be smooth so water will pool, again great for a wooden boat. The fi rst project going into the paint bay will be a Hinckley 51, which will have her deck rehabbed. Other projects at the yard will be to re-
place the keel on a Paul Luke 42 foot sloop; rehab the teak deck on a 40 foot sloop, and refurbish two Dark Harbor 12s.
Brion Reiff , Boatbuilder in Brooklin
fi nished the restoration of a Fishers Island sailboat the end of July. She will be coming back this winter and have some minor items fi nished. They have just started on a new boat, a
36 foot schooner, designed by Brion. This boat will be built plank on frame, cedar over oak and have a simple interior. She is being fi nished for a local customer and is scheduled to be launched next summer. The Reiff 28 knockabout, which is
based on a Herreshoff design, is getting close to being done. The bottom has been altered slightly, she sports a fi n keel, spade rudder and increased sail area. Her 40 foot carbon fi ber spars were built at the yard, which weighs just 50 pounds. This boat will be completed this winter. An 8 metre is also in the shop being
modifi ed. The keel design has been com- pleted and the boat is being fi nished. One of her alterations included splitting her apart on the centerline and increasing her width 16 inches in the stern at the rudder post. Brion has designed a 22½ foot daysailor
with a Norwegian stern. This boat will be started in December. They are working on is building Doug-
las fi r garage doors for a Boston customer. Ellis Boat in Manset is nearing com-
pletion on the restoration of a 1980s 28 YORK'S MARINE 11 Gordon Drive Rockland, Maine 04841 (207) 596-7400
www.yorkmarineinc.com
foot Ellis runabout. They removed the top, made a new one, added a new platform with hatches, and is now working on her interior. An Ellis 20 is coming in to be complete- ly refurbished to like new condition. In the shop presently is a Wilbur 38,
which is in to be repowered. They also have another repowered on an Ellis 24, which they will be changing from stern drive to an outboard. A customer is looking for a 46 footer to
be fi nished off as a pleasure boat. They are searching around to see if any hull would suit their purpose or whether they need to build a custom one. A local fi sherman is interested in having
them fi nish off a Mussel Ridge 42 as a lobster boat.
WILD, WILD WEST will be one of the boats in the new Diesel Class O.
boat they are racing. It still must conform to all the other rules of the Association. There was a discussion on the wording of “working boat” and this may be addressed further as issues are brought forward. One example is Adam Kimball and MISS ATTITUDE as this change would mean he would be racing in Class O. MISS ATTITUDE is not a racing boat, but he makes his living in the merchant marine, which is an example of one of the problems. There are others in the same situation, do not make their living with the boat, but they are also not a pure racing boat. After a brief discussion a motion was made to create Class O for the non-working racing boats. This was seconded and all voted in favour. The real purpose of this change is to get more working boats to come out and compete. It is well known that many do not race if they have to go up against a boat that is strictly a race boat, like Cameron Crawford’s WILD WILD WEST. The Association off ers awards for the
Gasoline and Diesel Classes only. At times we do award a trophy in the Work Boat Classes to a youngster that competes at most of the races. It was proposed that if trophies were off ered to the Work Boat Classes, the Gasoline and Diesel free-for-alls and the Fastest Lobster Boat may be there would be more participation. This got a lukewarm reception and died a very quiet death. Then Steve Johnson proposed that we
allow nitrous to be run in Gasoline Class E. This is met with some argument until it was explained that this would only be allowed in Gasoline Class E, where alcohol is already permitted. A motion was made to make this change, which was seconded and was voted
in by a majority. There are some changes to the schedule
for next year as Rockland will be run by Nick O’Hara and Mike Mayo of Journey’s End Marina; and Harpswell is BACK! Over the last several years when no one stepped up to run the Harpswell races I have been constantly asked will there be racing at Harpswell? A race committee was formed over the summer and they have been making plans for next summer, which they hope to run back at Pott’s Harbor. Next year’s tentative schedule: June
16 – Boothbay Harbor 17 – Rockland 24 – Bass Harbor 30 – Moosabec Reach July
8 – Stonington 22 – Friendship 29 - Harpswell August 11 – Winter Harbor
12 – Merritt Brackett, Pemaquid 18 – Long Island
19 – MS Harbor Fest, Portland October 13 – Awards Banquet, Robinson’s Wharf, Southport
It was another great year with more
racers competing than in the last previous years. It is hoped that the changes will even bring out more in 2018. I am sure there will be some conversation about Diesel Class O, but that can be discussed over the winter and fi nalized at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum in March, which is where we meet next.
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