Racing last year at Winter Harbor
There was more excitement at this year’s Maine Lobster Boat Racing Association’s (MLBRA) meeting at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum at Rockland on 1 March than we have had since I started as president 18 years ago when Galen Alley and Bruce Engert Sr. and Jr. went at it in a meeting. The yelling got so loud that security was called, but Galen ended the confrontation when he pulled out a wad of $100 bills big enough to choke a horse and said that this was all that was needed to beat him.
The new MLBRA president, Dana Beal, knew that there was going to be a minor issue over the Bass Harbor races and that both parties would be at the meeting. Dana had a plan and when they showed up for the meeting, they were gathered together by themselves to sort it out before the regular meeting.
Wayne Rich of Bass Harbor had started these races back in 2011 as a fun event. Unlike all the other races, he did not have an entry fee, feeling that would deter some of the local boats from competing. He was getting good turnouts and then decided to make it a points race, which was agreed to by the Association. This made it easier for the Downeast boats as they could qualify by doing Bass Harbor, Moosabec and the Winter Harbor races. After several years Wayne decided to step away and his son, Colyn, took them over.
Last year, the town had put a committee together to take over the event. Tensions rose and there were several emails, between the former president Jon Johansen and the new committee. Jon felt like this was a hostile takeover and when everything went quiet, he wondered if the topic would be raised at the Annual Meeting and Banquet in October, but it was not. However, as the meeting at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum neared the conflict re-ignited.
Dana sat between both parties and let them state their case. It got a little contentious, but Dana got Colyn to agree that he would be the go-to person for the races and handle all the on-water aspects of the race. The town’s committee would go out and get the prizes and handle all the on-land festivities. The only thing Colyn really stood fast on was that there would be no sign-up charge to the participants. This was agreed to by the town committee and all walked away pleased, and the Bass Harbor races were back on the schedule.
This group then went into the full meeting, which really is just a gathering to discuss what happened at the Annual Meeting in October. No decisions on rules or classes are made at this meeting, but the Association can change some things which they need to do.
After an introduction of officers: Dana Beal, president; David Johnston, vice president; and Amy Tierney, treasurer, Dana asked if Jon was the secretary, but his wife was quick to say ‘no.’ However, Jon said that he had to write up the report for Maine Coastal News anyway, so he would do the secretary’s job, but without the title.
The next discussion was the upcoming schedule, which is:
JUNE
14 Boothbay Harbor Lobster Boat Races
15 Rockland Lobster Boat Races
29 Bass Harbor Lobster Boat Races
JULY
5 Moosabec Reach Lobster Boat Races
13 Stonington Lobster Boat Races
20 Friendship Lobster Boat Races
27 Harpswell Lobster Boat Races
AUGUST
9 Winter Harbor Lobster Boat Races
10 Merritt Brackett Lobster Boat Races
16 Long Island Lobster Boat Races
17 Portland Lobster Boat Races
OCTOBER
18 Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet
Please note that the Bass Harbor races are not the following week after Rockland. The town would like to hold them the last weekend of the month. The only concern here could be if they must be postponed due to bad weather. The local fisherman need the dock as they move their gear out to be set and that could make it difficult for them if the race date moves into July. However, it was given the okay so it will be held on the 29th.
What about a one-time payment up front for all the races? This had been thought of before and just needed the details worked out. Chris ‘Buddha’ Byers of Winter Harbor had a rather good system for signing people up before his race last year. There was only one problem, those that signed up this way and had not raced before there were no details of the boats so they could not be classed. This could be easily rectified. It was thought that racers could pay a one-time fee, and they could be signed up for the year. It was also thought that this would only be done by those racing the circuit, but not by those going to just one or two races.
Then there was a discussion regarding how much should be charged for the entry fee. For most of the races, it has been $20 ever since the 1990s. There are only two, Stonington and Winter Harbor, which charged more. Stonington was $25 and Winter Harbor $50 since they include a T-shirt for all those that enter. After some discussion it was thought that $30 would be the new entry fee for all the races, except Bass Harbor, and Stonington and Winter Harbor said that they would agree to that too. Bass Harbor will remain without any entry fee.
Next came the membership prices. This had been raised several years ago to cover the cost of the dinners at the Annual Banquet, which at the time the meal was costing the Association just over $30. Thus, the $50 membership covered the dinner and some of the Association’s expenses. However, at October’s banquet the meal price was $65, so, the question was, should the membership fee be raised? It was suggested to go to $65, $75 or even $100. When the dust settled the members agreed that they would raise the membership fee to $100.
The budget to run the races has also climbed and the goal was to raise $8,000 to cover all the expenses. Dana had been out talking with possible sponsors and had received one solid yes. This is always the challenge, raising the funds needed, but when leaving the dinner that evening, it looked like a number of companies had stepped up and the racing season was already fully funded.
This season might be a little different than last years. The fastest boat last year was Jeremy Beal’s MARIA’S NIGHTMARE II, but she was sold last fall. Robert Johnson of Harpswell has purchased Alfred Osgood’s STARLIGHT EXPRESS and she should be ready. One that many want to see go is Tom Clemon’s new boat, a Morgan Bay 43 powered with a 1,700-hp MAN, which he thinks will do 55 mph right out of the box. Another one, and hopefully ready for Boothbay, is what Steve Johnson of Long Island is going to do. We know that he has been working on another car boat, this time with a replica 1940s MG. There is no question that this year should be another great racing season.
