Jonesport Races – Called by Fog, Great the Next Day

Sandy & Rose powering through swells. Fishermen’s Voice photo

The lobster boat races at Jonesport were called Saturday morning because of thick fog.

Nothing new that far downeast. Sunday turned clear, sunny and just warm enough. Breezes kicked up a bit at times, which were only a problem for the fastest boats.

Galen Alley’s home town Foolish Pleasure remained in the barn waiting for a new engine, which Galen said he ordered months ago. “Worse than the wait is the $32,000 I already paid this engine builder,” said Alley. The builder, said Alley, had apparently spent enough of the money on things other than Galen’s parts that he couldn’t finish the engine. According to another engine builder, this is an all too familiar story in the world of custom racing engines.

There were several well-matched, good, tight races. Fishermen’s Voice photo

The Canadian boat Strait Ahead was racing Sunday. Galen Alley had arranged for the Canadian owners to bring their boats designed and built for speed to Jonesport. In particular, to race Alley’s Foolish Pleasure which to date holds the 74 MPH speed record on the lobster boat racing circuit.

Strait Ahead ran that fast on Sunday, but was said to have reached 90+MPH in the past on smoother water. A past that stretches back to 1959 when it was built. A breeze kicked Strait Ahead up on it’s starboard bilge briefly on one of it’s high speed runs Sunday.

Loves to run. Little Girls rushing back up the course after a good showing.
Fishermen's Voice photo

Race committee boat staffer Aiden Rittenhouse, right,
at helm of Strait Ahead for rapid, nerve-rattling cruise between races.
Fishermen's Voice photo