Three days of fantastic sailing under cloudless blue skies and three nights of parties under starry skies lit by a waxing moon made for maybe the best year yet for the Penobscot Bay Rendezvous, a three-day celebration of yachting held between Thomaston and Camden. Fifty sail and powerboats, almost double the 2011 fleet, participated in what is becoming, according to participants, New England’s best regatta for power and sail.
Accolades attest to the growing reputation that something special is happening here. Yachting named PBR as one of the Year’s Best Events and this year’s press corps was bigger than ever with editors from Yachting, Cruising World, Ocean Navigator, Points East Magazine, Maine Boats Homes and Harbors, Southern Boating, and Windcheck.
The event kicked off Thursday evening at Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding in Thomaston. Popular local food trucks Uproot Pie and Matt & Rena’s served fresh-from-the-oven pizzas and Italian street food. Maine Coast Catering created a PBR Fish Taco Shack for the evening. The 4-piece band Girls, Guns and Glory performed their stylish retro country rock. A spectacular fireworks display announced the end of a fun first night!
Friday morning pre-race highlight was a flyover by 3 bi-planes and a Piper Cub. The Rendezvous is pleased to partner with the Owls Head Transportation Museum.
Sailboat racing this year featured four classes and was again artfully managed by PRO Ted Smith. The Powerboat Fleet Guide, Steve Bunnell, ushered the powerboat fleet through a day of photography. The primary challenge of Friday’s Photo Pursuit was to take fine pictures of each other’s yachts while underway and framed by worthy local scenery like Owl’s Head Light. This year’s powerboat fleet included a 36’ Ellis Express Cruiser Blue Sky, owned and skippered by Linda Bean, who also sponsored the event with the donation of delicious appetizers for Friday night and lobsters for Saturday night’s dinner dance.
After a sunny day of sailing and power boating off Rockland Harbor, Friday night’s post-event party for the regatta was held at Wayfarer Marine in Camden. Linda Bean’s Chef Andrew Omo prepared delicious appetizers and guests also enjoyed sampling Fiore Artisan Olive Oils and Vinegars. Atlantic Baking Company provided the baguettes.
“We set out three years ago to create an event that highlighted the local riches of this area,” says Shane Flynn, owner of Wayfarer Marine. “Local riches from the gorgeous yachts designed by Stephens Waring Yacht Design; exemplary products and customer commitment from Allen Insurance and Financial, Linda Bean’s lobster, Fiore olive oils and vinegars to bread from Atlantic Baking Company.” Flynn and Cabot Lyman of Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding present this annual event.
The tradition of handing out Yellow Jerseys and a showing of photos from the powerboat fleet continued this year. Winning skippers were presented with a brilliant yellow jersey with the requirement that they or a member of their crew must wear the jersey during the following day’s competition. (A la Tour de France, fellow competitors can easily spot the boat to beat!) The Crew Party ended at 7 p.m. so participants could tuck into Camden’s many excellent restaurants.
Saturday was again beautiful with plenty of breeze. The powerboaters headed to Castine for lunch at Dennett’s Wharf and did some exploring along the way.
That afternoon the happy fleet returned to Wayfarer ready for a festive Saturday night. For the third year, Stephens Waring Yacht Design sponsored the cocktail party and this year displayed Goshawk, a 76’ stunningly beautiful yacht – competitors had admired her on the racecourse and loved seeing the boat up close and talking to the designers Bob Stephens and Paul Waring. The design firm also showcased ZOGO, a 29’ diesel/electric hybrid launch. She was designed for owners to enjoy poking around in protected waters at slow speed, running silently under electric power, but to have the capacity for a speedy return under diesel power if weather threatens.
Cocktails were followed by a delicious meal of Linda Bean’s lobster and sliced flank steak both prepared perfectly by Josh Gammage of Maine Coast Catering. The band “Night Life” rocked the house until curfew.
Sunday was a sunny hazy day. And another series of great racing took place off Camden Harbor.
The Awards Ceremony capped off the weekend. Chelsea Clocks donated classic Boardroom Clocks to the first place finishers and handsome nickel-plated Chart Weight Compasses for second place. Bronze medallions designed and created by local artist Richard Remsen were awarded for third place. Jim Bennett and the J34 Astraea received a medallion for Most Improved Performance by a skipper. He rose from tenth to fifth over the course of the weekend in the double-handed class. And George Sayre recaptured First Place in the Photo Pursuit. He has won the contest two out of the three years. Linda Bean received Second Place.
For the full results from the 2013 Penobscot Bay Rendezvous, click here.
Whether a sponsor or participant, all are excited for next year’s event, to be held August 14-17, 2014.
With much thanks and appreciation, the event also received continued sponsorships from Allen Insurance and Financial, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Stephens Waring Yacht Design, Linda Bean Maine Lobster, Awlgrip, Billy Black Photography, Chelsea Clock, East Coast Yacht Sales, Bruce Schwab Energy Systems, Epifanes, WRI Weather Routing Inc, Thompson & Bowie, Jaret & Cohn Real Estate, Camden Riverhouse, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, Fiore Artisan Olive Oils & Vinegars and Aurora Sails & Canvas. Media Partners: Maine Boats Homes & Harbors, Yachting, Cruising World and Points East.
Photos of Third Annual Penobscot Bay Rendezvous Proves a Charm
