For Immediate Release
Press Contact: Marnie Read – 207-266-9381
Inaugural Penobscot Bay Rendezvous a Smashing Success!
Camden, Maine: It was just what the organizers, participants and sponsors hoped for: great weather, a fantastic mix of boats, some challenging on the water conditions and three nights of fabulous parties. More than a good time was had by all who participated in the first Penobscot Bay Rendezvous, held August 18-21st and presented by Wayfarer Marine and Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding.
Lyman- Morse kicked off the event with yard tours of their impressive facility on the banks of the St. George’s River in Thomaston, ME. Maine Coast Catering served a delicious “all local fare” barbeque; local historian, Renny Stackpole provided the context of boatbuilding in the state of Maine with a brief talk before the night came to a brilliant finale with a fireworks display. Central Maine Pyrotechnics put on a show no one will forget!
After a forecast of “widespread fog” the skies Friday were bright blue and the breeze filled in nicely out of the south for the first race. A 1.8 mile weather leg greeted the competitors in three divisions, PHRF racing 1 and 2, double handed and cruising canvas.
As expected, Isobel, the magnificent new Stephens Waring custom 75-footer (sporting a PHRF rating of minus 69!) powered away and but was not able to save her time, with Hoi Ann (Center Harbor 50) finessing a corrected win and War Bride (J/124) second followed by Isobel in third.
In PHRF 2, the J/80 Chaise Lounge was first followed by the J/24 Havoc in second, and for variety, Cabot Lyman’s vintage Puffin was third.
The double-handed fleet saw the J/42 Bravo win the start and the first leg but then get run down by eventual winner, J/46 Abracadabra, and the well-sailed Sabre 386 Esmeralde in second, withBravo third. The top two boats were sailed by experienced (and very compatible) husband and wife teams.
Cruising canvas featured a wild variety of types and sizes from the C & C 110 sailed by the Lorraine family, to three 53-foot J/160s, to a Little Harbor 68 and the trophy laden veteran 48’ cat Frers designed-ketch,Acadia. Acadia took the honors followed by the J/160 True on her maiden voyage under command of Howie Hodgson and the relatively diminutive C & C 110 Hightail.
The powerboat fleet of nine departed Rockland on the southern Photo Pursuit course. The seven subjects ranged from the specific – Owl’s Head Lighthouse to the more general – a schooner and lobster boat.
The fleet arrived in Camden Harbor on time for the 5-8pm cocktail party at the Camden Yacht Club sponsored and hosted by Bettina Doulton of Cellardoor Winery and Lani Temple of Megunticook Market. Participants of the Rendezvous were by now fully convinced that they were taking part in a very different regatta as the food, wine and décor was savory, delicious, and elegant. As Ted Smith, PRO grinded out the results, the Photo Pursuit participants downloaded the images of the day and the results were mixed into a slide show for all to see. When the results were announced, the Class winners were awarded Yellow PBR jerseys and instructed to wear them the following day.
Saturday’s forecast was for 8 knots out of the south with some fog. Instead it was 20 knots and a wide range of visibility from 1/8 mile to unlimited sparkling seas.
PHRF 1 got one race off. WithIsobel taking first, followed by Sans Coulottes and War Bride. PHRF 2 was joined by the very experienced Snow Star team on their 40 Walstead (woodie). With the increase wind, Puffingarnered a 1, 2 followed by the J/24 with 1,3 and Snow Star with a 3, 2.
Double-handed saw the addition of the Irish Oyster 56 A Lady, who was passing through Camden on their circumnavigation. The stiff breeze was exactly to their liking and they won the day followed by the J/46Abracadabra in second and the J/42 once again in third.
Cruising canvas once again saw the domination of Acadia, followed by the blue water proven Kanter 65 Te Manain second and Machbuster (Little Harbor 68) also reveling in the big breeze.
The powerboats tracked down 7 subjects on the Photo Pursuits northern course. Images on the list to capture included the Islesboro Ferry, a seal and Grindle Point Lighthouse.
This was a Saturday night in Camden to remember, the evening was August-perfect reminding everyone why we love Maine so much. Making the night truly special, Isobel’s owners graciously invited the Rendezvous’ participants aboard to view Isobel during the cocktail hour.
A surf and turf buffet fortified guests before the band kicked up. This group probably would have danced to the hokey pokey (the energy was that electric). Boston’s Nightlife delivered with dance hit after hit. With the lights of Camden Harbor as a backdrop, the dance floor was packed as the group celebrated. Yellow jerseys were again handed out during a break in the dancing and guests admired the photography of the powerboat fleet. Penobscot Bay Rendezvous strives to be good neighbors, and the party ended with a full dance floor shouting out Steve Perry’s anthem of Don’t Stop Believing just a bit after 11pm (in accordance to Camden’s sound ordinance.)
Stephens Waring Yacht Design, one of nine Commodore sponsors of the event, hosted Saturday night’s dinner dance at Wayfarer Marine. Design partner Paul Waring had this to say: “There really was something for everyone over the four days: a dinner and fireworks display on Thursday, a well-appointed cocktail party on Friday, a superb dinner and dance Saturday and great PHRF racing as well as social activities for the powerboat fleet each day. The balance between competition and light social affairs in the evenings made for a wonderful success and we can't wait for next year's Rendezvous."
On Sunday, finally the forecasters were spot on – 15 to 20 knots of southerly and “patchy fog”. They were only a bit off on the fog which frequently dropped visibility to the 100 foot range adding a wonderful bit of excitement as some of the boats rocketed around the course at 10 knots plus.
PHRF 1 was having a great race until the leeward mark forced an abandonment and restart. The second attempt was won by the J/124 War Bride with the Beneteau 40.7 Sans Coulottes in second.
PHRF 2 saw the J/24Havoc with the win followed by the J/80 Chaise Lounge and Puffin in third.
In double handed, the J/42 Bravo finally found the pace and concentration necessary for the win, with the Oyster 56 A Lady in second and the J/46 Abracadabra in third.
The powerboat field wrapped up the weekend with a Poker Run. Specially designed PBR cards with sponsors logos had to be collected over the weekend from the hosts Cabot Lyman and Shane Flynn, a French & Braun, Camden’s local grocer and other stops. Sunday’s cards had to be collected from the PretiFlaherty and Merrill Lynch race marks. Cellardoor’s Bettina Doulton returned to deal out the cards and Liberty Call’s owner Marie Martus got up from the table with the winning hand and $100 gift certificate to Rockport’s hot spot Shepherd’s Pie. In order to not get arrested, PBR would like to remind Maine’s Gaming Authority that “no additional fees were paid to play or participate in the Poker Run.”
Awards Presentation wrapped up the weekend. With the awards themselves in keeping with the distinctive feel of the weekend. The First Place trophy was a custom designed buoy crafted in Sitka spruce and mahogany by Lyman-Morse’s Dan Mercuro; second place was a custom designed and crafted bronze medallion by local artist Richard Remsen and third place was a customized key ring from Maine’s ChartMetalworks. Full scoring can be found here - http://www.penobscotbayrendezvous.com/final-results
Over the weekend it became clear that some participants deserved to be recognized. Five of the 28 boats were helmed by women. Patti Spalding, owner of the J24 Havoc won her class and a $500 gift certificate to 412, one of Rockland’s finest boutiques for Best Performance by a Female Skipper. Ben Blake, single-handed his J160Atlantic quite respectfully, and was awarded An Extra Hand. And Stephen Hyde of Cork, Ireland, owner and skipper of the Oyster 56 A Lady was given a souvenir snow globe and a couple of nights retreat at Lincolnville’s Point Lookout. He and his wife are completing a circumnavigation. Wayfarer Marine and Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding each awarded 5 gallons of paint to one of their owners.
Next year’s dates August 16-19, 2012. Penobscot Bay Rendezvous is Maine’s newest sailing and power event presented by Wayfarer Marine and Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding. Super yachts, to classics to performance racers, Picnic Boats and lobster yachts are invited to enter. The Penobscot Bay Rendezvous is a celebration of boating and boatbuilding. Featuring daily races for sailboats and a Poker Run and Photo Pursuit events for powerboats, the participants will have access to both Wayfarer Marine and Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding world-renowned boatyards and will be hosted each night at a different exclusive venue. Lobster bakes, barbeques, dancing and fireworks are all a part of the ticket. To see photos and results from the 2011 event click here -http://www.penobscotbayrendezvous.com/final-results
