>>Fishermen's Voice Monthly Newspaper, Gouldsboro Maine

At right the Lorna R picking up one of the her two wins at Harpswell. Photo:Sam Murfitt Photo ©

A Those who hoped for a rematch between the Underdog and the Lorna R. at either Friendship or Harpswell late last month were disappointed. Galen Alley experienced water pump problems while winning his race at Friendship and did not put the Lorna R. into the gas free-for-all, which was handily won by Ellery Merchant of Jonesport, who purchased the new glass Underdog from Ernest Libby Jr. after the July 4th Moosabec Reach races where she came in behind Alley’s refurbished old wooden boat.

In Gas Class A, D. & L. Boatworks collected two more firsts July 29 and 30, unopposed in both races. The 2005 cup winner has now qualified for the 2006 cup.

In Gas B, Phillip Genthner’s M. Crack N placed first at Friendship, followed by Matt Taylor’s Nancy Ruth and Josh Harvey’s Minnie I 2. The Colby Joseph, which led going into the third and fourth venues of the season, was disqualified, but her owner, Randy Bertrand, piloted her to a solo victory the next day at Harpswell.

Underdog was uncontested in Gas C at Friendship, but Merchant did not race her at Harpswell. The Lorna R. collected two more firsts in Gas D. There have yet to be any entrants in Gas E, the modified engine class, this year.

Howard Gray continued his winning ways in Diesel Class A by finishing first at both venues in Blue Thunder, clocked at 30 mph at Friendship. There, he was challenged by Chris Hutchinson in Minor Debt, Samuel Lash in Clockwork, and Norman Carter in Hustler. At Harpswell July 30, he outsailed David Yanok in Diana Marie, T. J. Wessel in Uptown Girl, and Brian Moody in Pa Pa’s Pride.

All in all a graet day for racing at Harpswell and Friendship. Photo:Sam Murfitt Photo ©

Don Drisko’s season debut on the racing circuit in Diesel B was successful, as he pushed his Merganser to 26 mph at Friendship and finished ahead of Daniel B. Carter’s Carolyn. At Harpswell, his only opponent was Tom Cloutier in Penalty Box.

David Grant got 35 mph out of his Venom to command first place at Friendship and quality for the Diesel C cup. Travis Harrington in Addiction was second, followed closely by Kevin Glover in Quick Step. At Harpswell, Matt Brewer’s Casper cranked 29.6 mph as she crossed the line first, and Marshall Farnham in Miss Attitude and David Taylor in Andrea & Donna continued to battle for second and third place. There were no entrants in Diesel D at Harpswell. At Friendship, Raymond Carter’s Who’s Buyn won, churning 29 mph, over Spencer Dyer’s The Chain.

In Diesel E, Bill Grant logged his third straight win, pushing the Gladiator to 41 mph ahead of Scott Carter’s Lez & Greg and Kenton Feeney’s Terry Luan at Friendship. He did not race at Harpswell, and the field was clear for three newcomers: Nicholas Hawke in Optical Illusion, Bob Johnson in Susan Mariah, and Skip Murray in Dirty Business.

In Diesel F, Jim Minott is well on his way to another class cup, as he collected his third and fourth 10 at the last two July venues. He was unopposed at Friendship (but showed the crowd he could get 41 mph out of his Hooked Up), and finished ahead of Michael Bibber’s Ryan’s Will, Ron Firzgerald’s No Cents and Bob Johnson’s Susan Mariah Harpswell.

At Harpswell, Wayne and William Clemons went head-to-head, with Wayne’s Temptation outsailing William’s Hannah Carson. Photo:Sam Murfitt Photo ©

There was little competition in the remaining eight races at either venue. Todd Ritchie raced his Seacock unopposed in Diesel G at Friendship, and no one raced at Harpswell. Ira Guptill’s Mystery Machine sailed down the Diesel H course alone at Friendship, and it belonged to Keith Jordon in Hot Spot II at Harpswell. Steve Johnson’s Wild One collected two firsts to qualify for the Diesel I cup. Chip Johnson in Three Stars was his only competitor (at Harpswell).

Hey Baby, piloted by Matthew Briggs, raced alone in Diesel J at Friendship, and there were no entrants at Harpswell. In Diesel K, Keith Simmons’ Heather & Isaac took first at Friendship, and Tom Clemons’ Motivation did the same, clocked at 42.8 mph, at Harpswell. Diesel L attracted no racers at Friendship, and only Rick Albertson at Harpswell, where his All Set recorded 42.3 mph on the radar gun.

In Diesel M, Billy Bob Faulkingham’s 51 went up against Isaac Lash’s Big Dipper at Friendship, with Faulkingham, clocked at 32 mph, grabbing his third victory of the year. At Harpswell, Wayne and William Clemons went head-to-head, with Wayne’s Temptation outsailing William’s Hannah Carson.

Four boats lined up the for Diesel N race at Friendship. When the wake settled, Bert Witham’s Lobstar had posted a speed of 42 mph, good enough to lead a pack completed by Chris Young in Miss Madelyn (39 mph), John Drouin in Rebbie’s Mistress (37 mph) and Richard Hildings in What’s Left (36 mph). Hildings was unopposed the next day at Harpswell.

Minott’s Hooked Up won the Diesel Free-for-all at both venues and was clocked at 43.8 mph at Harpswell. At Friendship, he was followed by Lobstar, 51, and Christina & Seth. Finishing second, third, fourth and fifth at Harpswell were Motivation, All Set, Wild One and What’s Left.

The Lorna R. owned the Wooden Boat race, winning at both venues, followed each time by Drisko’s Merganser. Alley roared to a 44.8 mph finish at Harpswell, where other competitors included William Clemons’ Hannah Carson, Todd Hubbard’s Lizzie, and Jeff Conant’s Tammy Lynn.

No one caught the Underdog in the Fastest Lobster Boat race at Friendship, where she recorded a speed of 44 mph. Churning a close 42 mph, Hooked Up placed second and would win the title the next day at Harpswell, clocked at 43.8 mph. The only other challenger at Friendship was 51. At Harpswell, Hooked Up was followed across the line by Motivation, All Set, and Wild One.

Look for a face-off between the Underdog and the Lorna R. at Winter Harbor.

Sam Murfitt, photographer and boatbuilder, is photographing all of Maine’s Lobterboat races this year. He’s planning a book.