The Monhegan Race has been run every August for 79 years, so when changing the destination and moving the date to July, we knew we might face a few challenges — and we did. However, Mother Nature was on our side and feedback from race participates was “wow,” “great course,” fun party,” and “we’ll be back next year!”
The running of the race kicked off Saturday morning, with warm tempatures, no fog and no wind. The first gun for was scheduled for 10:00 and was delayed until 10:35 when enough wind filled in to get the first class off the starting line.
The racers were treated to sightings of minke whales, pods of dolphins swimming past their boats, starry skies, warm gentle breezes and challenging tides.
The first finisher over the line was Portland Yacht Club member Scott Smithwick, skippering Kaos, a Frers 41. Kaos won the Monhegan Class B, finishing almost an hour ahead of second-place Zubenelgenubi, a Norlin 2-ton owned by Clifford Goudey.
Isobel, a custom boat with a rating of -72, finished first and won Monhegan Class A. The minus rating meant that owner Richard Schotte had corrected time two hours longer than the actual elapsed time! Member Rich Stevenson finished second in Buzz, a Sydney 38.
Cats Paw, a Lindenberg 28 skippered by Butch Minson of Verona Island, took first in the Manana Race. New-member-this-year John Wilkinson placed second in the Omega 36 Impulse.
Randy and Gail Rice, well-known racers from Freeport, drove Imagine, a Pearson 34, to victory in the Cruising Class. Second place went to Marc Lorraine in the C&C 110 Hightail. Mr. Lorraine is based in Camden and was one of was involved in the Monhegan Planning Committee.
The Multi-hull class started with three registrants. Only two started, and only one finished: Casey Mulligan in Supply & Demand, a Reynolds 33 catamaran.
Click here for complete results from the 2013 Monhegan Race.
–-By PYC member Ann-e Blanchard
Photos of PYC’s Monhegan Race Kicks off New Racing Tradition
