To Qualify: Must compete in three sanctioned races. (Bass Harbor, Boothbay, Friendship, Harpswell, Long Island, Moosebec, Portland, Rockland, Stonington and Winter Harbor).
Scoring: Only five races will be counted; if more are raced in, you are scored by taking the five best finishes. Scoring: First, 10 points, Second, 9 points and so forth. Scoring for year-end awards does not count non-association racers in an event. If you come to a race and suffer a break down you will be scored one position lower than the number of racers entered in that race.
A racer’s class is determined by the size of the hull and the mount of horsepower of the engine. Once entered into a class, you may move up, but not down unless the boat is repowered with documented evidence. If you move from one class to another during the year, previous race points will not be counted.
START: You should be in the “START AREA” two races before yours.
For the start, entrants should be at idle and line up with the “START BOAT“. Increase speed with the “START BOAT” who will drop the flag when the entrant’s bows are lined up with them.
FALSE START: The “STARTER” will circle the flag over his head and the “START BOAT” captain will call “FALSE START” on the radio. Boats will return to the “START AREA” and try again. Two “FALSE STARTS” by the same boat means disqualification.
1) Hull type must be conventional “LOBSTER BOAT” design with a full keel. A full keel is defined by a straight line from the base of the stem to the base of the rudder shaft. On a fiberglass hull it will be defined by the mould.
2) All boats must be 24 feet or greater. This is measured from stem to transom. Trap racks or fabricated extensions are not included in the length measurement. Work Boat Classes (Not sanctioned by MLBRA) are racers under 24-feet in length and powered with an outboard, sterndrive or inboard engine and are exempt from having a full keel.
3) Type of material used in construction such as wood, fiberglass or aluminum are permitted. To race in the wooden boat class the hull cannot be fiberglassed, with exception of small section on hauling side.
4) The boat shall be powered with a single inboard engine. In all Gasoline Classes fuel injection is allowed.
5) Fuel shall be petroleum based (pump type) with No Nitrous Oxide or Propane Systems. Exception: Alcohol and Nitrous Oxide in Gasoline Class E for modified racers.
6) Boats must be fully equipped with all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment.
7) Boats must be operated from the main bulkhead steering station.
8) No SPADE RUDDERS or SURFACE DRIVES. Trim tabs are not to be used and must be in the neutral position during a race.
9) Spray rails, lifting strakes and rolling chocks are allowed.
10) All floorboards, deck hatches and bulkhead panels must be on board.
11) Transducers, keel pipes, scanner tubes, cages etc., may be removed.
12) Davits and snatch blocks need not be in place, but must be on board.
13) Only one window may be open (NOT REMOVED) while racing.
14) ALL BOATS must have a minimum of two crew members on board, including the skipper. Life jackets or life vests must be worn by all crew members while racing. Due to safety issues all crew members must remain inside the cockpit.
15) All boats must be equipped with a hauler and be able to haul if asked to. However, the hauler may be disconnected while racing.
16) All boats must be equipped with a kill switch. This can be any method that throttles the boat down. Boats that exceed 50 mph must have an electric or mechanical kill switch.
17) When running the course a racer must run perpendicular to the finish line and maintain a safe distant between other competitors. The penalty for not maintaining proper course or a safe distant between other races will be immediate disqualification from that race and the rest of the event with no points given. A second infraction within the same year will mean a disqualification from that event, the remaining races that year and disqualification from the point’s competition. If this happens a third time, the competitor will be banned indefinitely.
18) Anyone leaving the race course will be disqualified, unless forced out of bounds by another competitor. If you are forced out, immediately throttle down and make your way back on the course as soon as it is prudently possible. Redress will be allowed.
19) If a competitor feels that they have been wronged during a race, they may file a protest with the race committee after that race.
20) Unsportsman like conduct as judged by the Race Committee could result in disqualification.
21) There will be ZERO tolerance for the use of alcohol or other controlled substances by racers.
DEFINITION: Working lobster boat – is a boat that the owner makes his living from.
