Winter Harbor Rallies for
55th Lobster Boat Races

Winter Harbor 2018. The August 10, 2019 Winter Harbor lobster boat races will be giving a 35’ Mitchell Cove hull as its top prize. The race committee and sponsors have rallied to support this years racing event in recognition of Keith Young, an organizer of the Winter Harbor lobster boat races for 40 years. Fishermen’s Voice photo.

The Winter Harbor lobster boat races are scheduled for August 10. Races here have long been an event that draws a crowd. This year the race committee has grander plans with a cause behind them for the 55th annual event.

The race committee is going all out in recognition of Keith Young, who has been an organizer of Winter Harbor lobster boat races for over 40 years. In 2002 Young brought 130 boats to the Winter Harbor races. That was the last year a hull, a 35' Duffy, was won. He helped get the sponsorships and prizes that drew racers and spectators. This is the first year Young has not been involved with the committee.

Race day coincides with the town’s annual lobster festival, which fills the town center with visitors, vendors and residents. This year a fireworks display is planned, which will make it an all-day and night celebration of lobster boat racing, lobster fishermen, lobster and Keith’s dedication to the marine community.

Twenty years ago Young, Chris Byers of D.C. Air and Bill Crowe of the Fishermen’s Voice, got together to make the Winter Harbor races a venue that would attract more boat racers, sponsors and spectators. “We want to break Keith’s 2002 record of 130 boats and bring 200 boats to race at Winter Harbor in Keith’s honor. Keith was committed to making the races here something special and we would like to do the same for Keith,” said Byers, Winter Harbor Boat Race Committee Chairman.

The big-ticket prize this year is a 35' Mitchell Cove hull. “A collaboration of sponsors,” said Byers, “have made this possible. Feeney’s Boat Shop in Cutler built the hull. Patrick Feeney specializes in building a range of Mitchell Cove boats and contributed $8,000 in labor to build this hull. Composites One LLC in Rockland contributed $8,000 in materials, including resin, matt and gel coat. Darling’s Auto Mall in Ellsworth contributed $5,000 and we, D.C. Air and Seafood in Winter Harbor, contributed $5,000. Other sponsors generously contributed to the races as well. Hamilton Marine gave $1,500, Ocean Marine Insurance gave $1,500, Varney Insurance gave $1,500 and Kennedy Marine in Stueben gave $1,500. The list of all the sponsors is too long to publish here, but they will be recognized at the races on August 10.”

The Winter Harbor races are known for the prizes donated. “Nautilus Marine Hardware in Trenton always donates good-looking original custom trophies that they design and make. R.E.Thomas Marine Hardware in Hancock donates something from their line of custom machined marine bronze. The generosity of sponsors is impressive. The value of Keith’s work in making these races happen over the years, I think, is being reflected in the outpouring of support this year,” said Byers.

This year, for the first time in many years, an 18' and up outboard race will be held. Entrants must have a working electric or hydraulic hauler in place. As a part of making the 2019 Winter Harbor races an event to recognize Keith Young’s commitment over the years, the committee hopes to bring a record number of boats to race at Winter Harbor.