Lobster Boat Races
Two Months In, Five Races To Go
Justin & Colby II and Ole Mossey going head to head at Bass Harbor.
The passenger is still in the Justin & Colby II. Laurie Schreiber photo
One of many gatherings at the Bass Harbor races. Weather led to the cancellation of the
June 28th date. They raced on July 5th. Laurie Schreiber photo
Wild Wild West after a 54.3 MPH run at Stonington on July 12, 2015. C&C Machine Shop in
Ellsworth built the V12 diesel powerplant. Fishermen’s Voice photo
The Maine lobster boat racing season is into its second month. Bass Harbor was rained out on June 28th and was rescheduled for July 5th. Searsport cancelled its races two weeks before the scheduled start. Organizer Keith Otis said, “We didn’t get enough support from the town”. They also came up short on race sponsors. The town has been restoring the town landing where the races are centered. That project has been on going for the last couple of years.
Stonington drew the usual large and enthusiastic crowd. A lot of spectators, good natured rowdiness and a full field of racers. Galen Alley brought his Foolish Pleasure from Jonesport. While he got Foolish Pleasure up into the low 50’s it sounded like he was having fuel problems as it sputtered along the last two thirds of the course. Alley has been going after breaking his own speed records for a few years. It’s been running in the mid 70s and for the most part unchallenged. He’ll have five more opportunities after Stonington.
The Baby Baron topping 30 MPH with a 30 HP Yanmar at Stonington. The perennial winner of the
16’ and under skiff class this Holland 14 is willing to move. Fishermen’s Voice photo
Brent Oliver’s Jarsulan 4, Stonington, ME carrying plenty of ballast. Wesmac 46', finished by SWBoat.
C-18 CAT-1,000HP. Fishermen’s Voice photo
The wooden Calvin Beal pouring it on for a high speed, high pitched run at Stonington.
FIshermen’s Voice photo
Andy Gove’s Uncle’s UFO and its new Volvo diesel was not racing at Stonington. A couple of other built for speed vessels strutted their stuff. The wooden Calvin Beal, Little Girls was in good high pitched and paced form. It went head to head with the V12 diesel powered Wild Wild West. The heat pouring out of Wild Wild West’s huge stack warped the light above it.
Jim Tripp of Spruce Head ran his new 47’ Outer Fall in the Peter Kass built race.
The Stonington races started late and ran late, about three hours late. Several restarts and overbooked races and resultant split races made for a long race day. And a beautiful day it was with predicted high temps eased by cool breezes and good times.
Family Tradition with 51 in the foreground and lead. Both Stonington boats at Stonington, July 12, 2015.