Boats lined up along both sides of the course to watch each wave of racers barrel down the stretch between Grindstone and Schoodic. The few landlocked spectators that braved the rain gathered around the closest vantage point at Frazer Point, donning ponchos, umbrellas and sets of binoculars.
The 52nd annual Winter Harbor Lobster Boat Races was about to start, with more than 70 boats and their fishermen racing around Henry Cove Saturday from early morning to afternoon.
“Trying to battle between all of the wakes and paying attention to your own boat and everyone else’s boat was kind of scary,” said Michaela Byers, 18, a fourth generation lobster fisherman. “But it’s a lot of fun and really exhilarating. I can see why people do it every year.”
Byers competed in her first solo race in the Class C Diesel and procured a second place finish.
For others, the race is a longstanding tradition. Sheldon Jacobs, 53, of Winter Harbor has been attending the races every year as far back as he can remember — the races started the year he was born. Jacobs custom built second-place finisher Atonement that ran in the 501-750HP Diesel Class M race.
“It’s the ‘I’ll get him next year’ type of mentality,” Jacobs said of the race. “It’s a big thing around here for bragging rights. You say, well my boat beat yours by a little bit and you tease, but we’re all a big family. At the end of the day, we’re all in the same boat so to speak.”
After Saturday’s races, the championship circuit wraps up with three remaining races at Pemaquid, Long Island and Portland.