(Rockland, Maine)- An increasingly popular race on Penobscot Bay happens
to be a “pursuit-style” race that takes place over a weekend.
Thirty-five boats made the starting line of the Penobscot Pursuit
Regatta in Rockland, Maine last weekend. Sailing “lights out” against
all comers were a J/40, a J/34C, a J/32 and a J/24.The Pursuit Style race started on time at 11:00am with the first (slowest) boats on Saturday just off the Rockland breakwater. The faster boats then started afterward between 11:00 and 12:15 and made their way up West Penobscot Bay over a roughly 25NM course that was mostly downwind. The fleet finished just outside Belfast Harbor with the majority of the fleet within 20 minutes of each other. A very nice 10 to 15 knot southerly wind helped the fleet make the journey in just over 4 hours.
First boat to cross the line was KAHIKI, a J/24 skippered by Ken Russell at 15:00:27. Boats finished in rapid-fire procession after KAHIKI, with Jacob Gerritsen’s J/40 EX LIBRIS winning Cruising Class 1, Gary Bennett’s J/35 JAI TU taking 3rd in Racing Class 1 and James Bennett’s J/34C ASTRAEA sailing into 2nd place in the Shorthanded Class.
All
boats arrived at Front Street Shipyard to a wonderful meal, live music
and plenty of refreshments provided by Rising Tide Brewing Company.
“Catcha Vibe”, a reggae band, played some great tunes that kept the
crowd dancing for hours. After the party wrapped up most everyone stayed
to enjoy the long and impressive fireworks show put on within feet of
all the boats and Front Street Shipyard in the town of Belfast for the
Celtic Celebration that takes place the same weekend.On Sunday, the story was a bit different. The Race Committee postponed onshore immediately at the first timed radio transmission. Fog and light air were preventing an on-time start. The fleet made their way to the rendezvous point of Turtle Head near the north tip of Islesboro Island but after more lack of wind and some fog the Race Committee decided to move south towards Seal Cove off Islesboro.
The
race committee was able to start the sequence around 1pm with a course
of about 14.5NM with the last boat starting just past 1:40pm. A nice 5
to 8 knot southerly had filled in the bay, however, it wouldn't stay and
by the time most of the fleet had made it near Camden the wind had shut
down to 2 to 3 knots. Most boats kept moving and didn't give up,
however, and after about an hour of very light wind the evening sea
breeze kicked up and brought the fleet home to a bell off Rockport
Harbor which was the next mark of the course. With the unstable wind
and a very late afternoon in progress, the race committee shortened
course at the Rockport Bell with boats finishing between 5 and 6pm.In the abbreviated race, the various J teams sailed well, with many taking home lots of silverware and pickle dishes for their mantelpieces. Gerritsen’s J/40 EX LIBRIS too a 3rd to finish 2nd overall in Cruising Class 1. Bennett’s J/35 JAI TU placed 2nd and, consequently, took 3rd in Racing Class 1. Racing Class 3 saw the top two spots swept by J sailors with Russell’s J/24 KAHIKI taking another 2nd to win the class. Winning the last race and taking 2nd place was Henry’s J/32 MIGIS MAGIC. Finally, also winning the last race and sealing the deal to take Shorthanded Class honors was Bennett’s J/34C ASTRAEA. For more Penobscot Pursuit Regatta sailing information
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